The basics
What is Ciao!, in one sentence?
An iPhone app that tells you, once a week, which of your friends you have drifted from, and gives each of them a little creature that goes quiet when you do.
How is this different from a reminder?
A reminder counts from a date. Ciao! counts from the last time you actually spoke, so talking early moves everything. Reminders cannot say “three weeks after the last time we talked”. That is the whole reason this exists.
Does it read my WhatsApp or iMessage?
No, and it cannot. iOS gives no app access to your messages in any app. You tell it yourself, with one swipe, which takes about two seconds.
Do my friends know they are in it?
No. Nobody is contacted, nothing is shared, there is no feed and no profile for anyone to find. Nobody wants to learn they are on somebody’s maintenance schedule.
Does it send the message for me?
Never. It reminds, you write. A friend can always tell when a machine typed it, and a message you did not write is worth less than no message.
How often does it buzz?
One quiet note a week, plus a note on the morning of a friend’s birthday. That is all. Turn them off in iOS Settings and the app still works.
Money and accounts
What does it cost?
Three friends are free, for good. Room for everyone else is one payment, from €3.99 depending on where you live. There is no subscription and nothing to cancel.
Do I need an account?
No. No email, no password, no phone number, no Sign in with Apple. There is no server of ours to hold an account on.
Where do my notes live?
On your iPhone, and backed up to your own private iCloud if you are signed in, so a lost phone does not mean lost notes. That is your Apple Account, not our server. We cannot read any of it.
Living with it
What if I miss a Sunday?
Nothing happens. No streak breaks, no badge appears, nothing turns red. The cards are still there next week.
Can I pause somebody?
Yes, any time, and their creature settles into a calm face and stays there. This matters more than it sounds: a face that keeps fading for someone who has died would be unforgivable.
Can I set my own rhythm?
Every day, every week or so, every couple of weeks, once a month, once every couple of months, or an exact number of days or weeks you choose.
Is there a widget?
Two sizes, both showing who is missing you and whose birthday is coming up.
Is there an Android version?
No, and there is no plan for one. It is iPhone and iPad only.
What languages does it speak?
English, Italian and Spanish. Not translated word for word either: each one was written to sound like a person in that language.
