How KindChat works

New to KindChat, or just want a hand? This handbook explains KindChat in plain language — one topic at a time.

This handbook is also built right into the KindChat app — in nine languages (English, Deutsch, Español, Français, Italiano, Nederlands, Polski, Português, Türkçe). You will find it any time under Settings → “How KindChat works”.

In the app it is built to scale with larger text and to be read aloud by screen readers (VoiceOver on iPhone, TalkBack on Android).

Welcome to KindChat

KindChat is a messenger, like the ones you may already know, but with one big difference: it helps everyone stay kind.

A calmer place to talk. Messages that attack or hurt people are stopped before they are sent. So conversations here stay respectful.

Private by design. Your messages are locked so that only you and the person you are writing to can read them. Not even KindChat can.

The same for everyone. Kindness is not a paid extra. The same gentle rules protect every person, on every plan.

Your first steps

Ready to send your first message? It takes three small steps.

1. Add a person. Open the Contacts tab at the bottom of the screen. Tap the plus (+) button to add someone by their phone number or their personal code.

2. Open a chat. Tap a contact's name to open your conversation with them.

3. Write and send. Type your message in the box at the bottom and tap the send arrow. To send a photo, tap the Attach button (the paperclip) first, then choose Camera or Photos.

Why a message can be stopped

Sometimes KindChat will gently stop a message before it is sent. This is normal. Here is why, and what to do.

Your phone does the checking. Before a message leaves your phone, KindChat quietly checks it for anything hurtful. This happens on your device, in a moment.

If a message is stopped. You will see a kind note explaining why. Nothing is sent, and no one is told. You can simply reword it in a friendlier way and try again.

It is not about you. The check looks at the words, not the person. Strong feelings, disagreement, and honest talk are all welcome. It only stops words that would harm someone.

More on how our AI is used only for moderation, never to generate content: AI Transparency.

Your privacy

Your conversations belong to you. Here is how KindChat keeps them private.

Only the two of you. Your messages are protected with end-to-end encryption. That means only you and the person you are writing to can read them, with no one in between, not even us.

Nothing kept on our servers. We do not store the words of your messages. The kindness check happens on your phone, not on a computer somewhere else.

One gentle exception. If you ever write to KindChat Support, that one chat can be read by our support team so they can help you. Every other conversation stays fully private, and you will always see a note when a chat can be read.

The full details are in our Privacy Policy.

Your personal code

A personal code lets people reach you without you giving out your phone number.

What it is. Your code is a short set of letters and numbers. Share it with someone, and they can ask to connect with you, without ever seeing your phone number.

You are always in control. When someone uses your code, it does not add them straight away. Their request waits for you, and you decide whether to accept or decline. Nobody is added automatically.

Make a new one or turn it off. On the Public code screen you can tap "New code" to replace it, and the old one then stops working, or "Turn off my code" to remove it completely.

A KindChat Plus feature. Creating your own code is part of KindChat Plus. Using someone else's code to reach them is always free.

Your Care Circle

The Care Circle lets someone you trust help look after you on KindChat.

A trusted helper. You can invite someone close to you, such as a family member or friend, into your Care Circle. It is built for peace of mind.

You choose what they can do. Care is set up together, step by step, and you decide what is shared. You can end it at any time.

Sending later and opening later

Two calm ways to write now and let a message land at the right moment. They sound alike and do opposite things: Send later moves when it is sent. A time capsule moves when it is read. Both work in one-to-one chats and in groups.

Send later. Write now and pick when the message should go out: this evening, tomorrow morning, or a day and time you choose. Until then it waits in an encrypted store on your phone only, and signing out clears it. We are straight with you about the timing: it goes out the next time you open the app at or after that moment, so it is a calm way to write at 2am without waking anyone, not a to-the-second alarm. Up to 8 per chat, and cancelling one is free even without Plus.

Time capsule. A time capsule is sent right away, but it arrives gift-wrapped and stays wrapped until the day and time you chose. The other person sees a sealed card saying exactly when it opens, and once that moment has passed, it is open the next time they look. Peeking early is always allowed, so treat it as a wrapping, never a lock: it sets the mood of a surprise, not the secrecy of a safe.

The kindness check still comes first. Both are checked on your phone before they are sent, and again on the receiving phone before anything is shown. A sealed capsule is checked when it arrives, not when it opens, so nothing harmful can wait inside one. Writing either is part of Plus; receiving, opening and reading are free for everyone.

Sharing with Pulse

Pulse is a gentle place to share little updates, but only with the people you have chosen.

Only your contacts. What you post on Pulse is shown only to your contacts. It is not public, and strangers can never see it.

Share, like, and comment. Tap the camera to share a photo or a few words. You can like and comment on what your contacts share, too.

Stay comfortable. You can delete anything you post, and you can mute a contact to quietly hide their posts. The same kindness check applies to Pulse.

Voice and video calls

You can talk face to face or voice to voice, right inside KindChat.

Start a call. Open a contact and tap the phone or video button to call them. Calls are private and encrypted, just like your messages.

Answer a call. When someone calls, tap the green button to answer or the red button to decline. You will find your past calls in the Calls tab.

Making KindChat easier to see and hear

KindChat is made to fit you, with bigger text, gentler colours, and full support for screen readers.

Bigger text. KindChat follows your phone's text-size setting. Make the text larger in your phone's settings and KindChat grows with it.

Light or dark. Prefer a darker screen? Open Appearance in Settings to choose light, dark, or match your phone.

Screen readers welcome. KindChat works with VoiceOver on iPhone and TalkBack on Android, so every button and message can be read aloud.

Staying safe and getting help

If something does not feel right, you are not alone. Here is how to stay safe and find help.

Block someone. If a contact is bothering you, open their details and choose Block. They will not be able to reach you, and they are not told.

Report something. You can report a photo that should not be there by pressing and holding it. Our team reviews reports carefully.

Talk to us, or to someone who can help. You can message KindChat Support at any time. And if you or someone you know is in crisis, Settings has a list of free helplines you can call right away.

Still have questions?

Write to us any time at hi@kindchat.app. If you or someone you know is in crisis, the app has a list of free helplines under Settings that you can call right away.