Staying close to the people you love is hard when life pulls everyone in different directions — school drop-offs, work meetings, time zones, and the sheer busyness of daily life. Marco Polo is the video messaging app that bridges that gap, letting you send face-to-face video messages that friends and family can watch and respond to on their own time.^1
Unlike social media, Marco Polo has no public feeds, no algorithms designed to keep you scrolling, no ads, and no data selling. It combines the warmth of seeing someone's face with the convenience of texting — send a video, get one back, continue the conversation whenever life allows. Talk one-on-one or in groups, with features like Sharecast (send one video to your whole circle where only you see replies) and emoji reactions.^2 Co-founded by Vlada Bortnik and her husband Michal, Marco Polo grew from a personal need to stay connected with family scattered around the world. "We just felt like there had to be a better way for people to really feel like they're part of your life, as opposed to just an effort to stay in touch," Bortnik told the Deseret News.^3
Marco Polo has become especially beloved in faith communities. Church members across the country use it for ministering to one another, small group connection, and staying close across distances. During the pandemic, faith-based groups worldwide adopted Marco Polo as scaffolding for "church without walls."^4 In Utah, where family and faith run deep, roughly 1 in 5 people use the app — the highest adoption rate in the U.S.^3 One writer described her Marco Polo group as "spiritual practice" and "ministry," saying: "The speaking and listening, the witnessing and accompanying that happens is real and healing."^5
Why Christians Love Marco Polo:
"My three siblings are all over the country so we don't see each other often. But with Marco Polo we talk several times a day and now feel so much more connected and closer than ever! It's as if we were living near one another and having coffee daily."^6 Users describe using the app for everything from daily encouragement with missionary family members to youth ministry group chats to women's Bible study groups that meet asynchronously across time zones. "For me Marco Polo has been pivotal in maintaining relationships with friends across the globe," shared one user.^1 A preschool teacher even sent bedtime stories to kids in her class via the app during school lockdowns.^3 In a study, 90% of participants felt closer after trading texts for Marco Polo.^1
Platforms: iOS, Android
Pricing: Freemium (core features free; Marco Polo Plus subscription for speed control, background listening, custom emojis)
