The Repair App: A New Tool Empowering People to Fix Instead of Toss
A new platform called The Repair App launched today—fittingly on International Repair Day—with a simple yet powerful mission: to make it easier for people to fix their stuff. The app connects users with trusted repair services nearby, helping communities choose repair over replacement.
Currently in beta testing in the US and France, The Repair App is the brainchild of cofounders Robert Lise and Caleb Faruki, who hope to expand to more countries if the launch goes well. Their timing is deliberate. Around the world, conversations about the right to repair are gaining momentum, pushing back against corporate restrictions that make repairing modern technology increasingly difficult.
“You don’t actually own something if you don’t have the ability to repair it,” says Lise. His statement reflects a growing frustration with companies that tightly control who can fix their products and what parts can be used.
The Right to Repair Movement Gains Strength
Right to repair advocates argue that consumers should have the legal right to repair, upgrade, and maintain the products they purchase. This includes access to service manuals, spare parts, and tools—resources often locked away by big corporations like Apple, Samsung, and John Deere.
While these companies have been resistant to letting customers tinker with their devices, consumer pressure and new legislation are changing the conversation. The Repair App enters this landscape as a practical tool to connect people with vetted, independent repair services, giving more power back to consumers.
Connecting Communities with Trusted Fixers
The Repair App aims to include repair businesses that cover nearly everything: electronics, clothing, bicycles, and eventually even vehicles. Lise and his team have reached out to verified repair providers, ensuring users are connected with reliable, trustworthy shops.
Matt Zieminski, vice president of Repair.org and VP of partnerships at iFixit, has been closely involved in the project. “If the app is utilized by enough people, it could make finding options for fixing your stuff easier than it is now,” he says.
Searching for local repair shops online can be frustrating. A quick Google search often brings up big-name franchises or paid listings rather than the small community shops that can offer affordable, quality work. The Repair App flips this dynamic, prioritizing independent, vetted repair shops closest to the user.
“I think this is really cool,” Zieminski says. “It’s going to level the playing field and allow everybody to find the services they need and offer their services to people who may not even know they exist.”
Standing Out in a Crowded Marketplace
Of course, linking customers to service providers isn’t new. From the days of phonebooks to modern platforms like Thumbtack, Angi (formerly Angie’s List), Upwork, and Fiverr, consumers have long relied on directories and marketplaces to find services. There are even niche platforms like RepairPal, which focuses on car repair and was recently acquired by Yelp.
But what makes The Repair App unique is its dedication to the repair ecosystem. Instead of being a broad gig platform, it’s built specifically to strengthen local repair networks and champion sustainable choices.
A Future Focused on Repair, Not Waste
If the app succeeds, it could change how people view ownership. Instead of throwing away devices, clothes, or bikes, people could simply open the app and find someone nearby to fix it—saving money and reducing waste.
With the right to repair gaining ground and tools like The Repair App making solutions more accessible, fixing what we own might soon become the default choice, not the exception.
👉 Learn more at www.therepair.app
