Sidedoor is a private contact-sharing app for professionals and their clients. Professionals set a secret word. They tell it to clients in person. Clients download Sidedoor, type the word, and instantly get the professional's direct contact — no booking platform, no commission, no middleman.
Search "Sidedoor" on the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android). Download and install it like any other app. It's free to download for both professionals and clients.
Professionals need an account — this is where you set your secret word and manage your subscription. Clients in most cases just need to enter the word; a lightweight account may be created automatically to track your connections.
Not yet — Sidedoor is currently a mobile app only. A web companion is planned for a future update.
🔑 For Professionals
After signing up as a professional, tap "Set my word" on the home screen. Choose anything memorable — a random word, a number combo, anything that's not too obvious. Confirm it, and it's live immediately.
Yes — go to Profile → Reset Word. Clients who already connected with your old word keep your contact. Only new connections will need the updated word. Use this if you think your word has been shared too widely.
In person, quietly. That's the whole point. Don't text it, don't write it down, don't put it on Instagram. Say it once, face to face, to clients you trust. "Download Sidedoor, type in [word] — it goes straight to me."
Unlimited. There's no cap on how many clients can connect using your word. One word, as many trusted clients as you want.
Not in the current version — one word per professional. Multiple words (for different client groups) is planned for a future Pro tier update.
Sidedoor is a private contact-sharing tool. Whether you can take on private clients depends entirely on your employment contract — specifically any non-compete or non-solicitation clauses. Most contracts restrict actively soliciting your employer's clients; they don't restrict clients from finding you. Read your contract and make your own informed decision. We don't give legal advice.
📱 For Clients
Words are exact-match and case-sensitive. Check: (1) correct spelling, (2) no extra spaces, (3) capitals match what you were told. Still not working? Ask your professional to confirm their word — they may have reset it.
Sidedoor doesn't appear as an app with a logo on your phone. Instead, it saves itself as a contact called "Steve Work." Tap that contact and the app opens. It's designed to look unremarkable — nobody asks who Steve Work is. That's the point.
Reinstall Sidedoor from the App Store or Google Play, and enter your professional's word again. You'll get their contact back immediately and Steve Work will reappear in your contacts.
Yes. Once you've connected, you have their direct contact. If they update their number in Sidedoor, you'll get the update too (depending on how they've set up their profile). Either way, you're connected to the person — not the place.
Yes. Always free. No subscription, no in-app purchases. Clients never pay anything.
🛡️ Privacy & Security
No. There is no public directory, no searchable profiles, and no way to find a professional without knowing their exact secret word. You are invisible to anyone who doesn't have your word.
No. We don't build advertising profiles, we don't sell data to third parties, and we don't index your information publicly. Read our full Privacy Policy for details.
Sidedoor keeps the minimum data needed to run the service. The connection event (word matched, contact delivered) is logged internally for app function — not surfaced publicly, not visible to employers, not sold.
Go to Profile → Settings → Delete Account. This deactivates your word and removes your data. If you're a professional, your connected clients retain any contacts they already saved.
💳 Billing & Subscription
Professionals pay £1/month. That's it. Clients are always free. No setup fee, no annual lock-in.
Go to Profile → Subscription → Cancel. You can cancel any time — no questions, no retention flow. Your word stays active until the end of the billing period, then deactivates.
Your secret word deactivates. New clients won't be able to connect with it. Clients who already connected still have your contact — that doesn't disappear. You can reactivate any time and your word becomes live again.
We handle refunds case by case. Email hello@sidedoor.app and we'll sort it out.
🔧 Troubleshooting
Try: (1) force-close and reopen, (2) restart your phone, (3) delete and reinstall Sidedoor. If it still won't open, email us at hello@sidedoor.app with your device model and OS version.
Check you have a network connection. Make sure the word is exact (case-sensitive, no spaces). If it says "word not found," the professional may have reset their word — ask them for the new one.
Sidedoor needs permission to access your contacts to save Steve Work. Go to your phone Settings → Sidedoor → Contacts → Allow. Then re-enter the word in the app.
Use the "Forgot?" link on the login screen to reset your access. If you signed up with a phone number, you'll get a verification code. Still locked out? Email hello@sidedoor.app.
Still need help?
We're a small team and we actually read every email.