Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to what people ask most. Still stuck? Contact us.
Getting started
Who is ALTShadi for?
Adults looking for a marriage introduction, and the guardians — parents, elders or trusted matchmakers — who take part in that process with them. You must be at least 18 and using the service for genuine matrimonial purposes.
How do I sign in?
With your phone number or your email address. We send you a one-time code or link rather than asking you to remember a password.
Is it free?
You can create a profile and browse for free. Some features need a subscription or credits; what each plan includes is shown on the pricing page and again at the point of purchase.
Privacy and photos
Who can see my photos?
Nobody, until you both agree. Photos are blurred at upload and stored encrypted. The original is served only after both sides clear the photo-reveal stage, and only briefly, through a watermarked link.
What does a new profile show?
A display name you choose (not your legal name), an age bracket, country and broad region, a blurred photo, and broad faith or community labels. Everything else stays private until you share it.
What are the consent stages?
Information reveals in order — photos, then identity, then contact details, then meeting. Each stage needs explicit agreement from both sides, neither side can skip ahead or advance a stage alone, and every consent is recorded.
Is caste or community used to match me?
Caste is optional, is never a search filter, and is not used to rank anyone. Sect, community and similar fields are yours to fill in or leave blank.
Can someone message me out of the blue?
No. There is no open inbox. A conversation only opens after a formal introduction has been accepted by both sides.
Guardians
What can a guardian do?
Exactly what you grant them, and no more. A guardian can help run the search and take part in introductions within the scope you set. Every action they take is logged and visible to you.
Do I lose control of my own account?
No. Your own consent decision always overrides a guardian’s, you are notified of what they do on your behalf, and you can narrow or revoke their access at any time in Settings.
Matching and introductions
How are profiles suggested to me?
From the preferences you set — and your guardian’s input where you have granted it. Browsing shows you profiles; acting on one means sending an introduction, which the other side has to accept before anything else happens.
Do you guarantee I will find a match?
No. We provide the platform and the safeguards; we cannot promise a match, a reply, or a marriage, and we cannot independently guarantee any other person’s conduct.
Verification and safety
What does a verified badge mean?
That a third-party provider checked an identity document and a selfie. We keep only the result, the document type and a token — never the image itself. Verification reduces risk; it does not remove it.
Someone asked for my number, or looks fake. What do I do?
Report them in the app and email trust@altshadi.com. Asking for contact details before the mutual reveal stage is against our Terms, and we act on reports. Reports are confidential.
Subscriptions and billing
How do I cancel?
If you subscribed through a mobile app store, manage and cancel it in that store’s account settings — renewals are billed by the store, not by us. For anything bought directly with us, email support@altshadi.com.
Can I get a refund?
Except where the law requires it or we have said otherwise, payments are non-refundable. App store purchases follow that store’s refund process.
Your account and data
How do I get a copy of my data?
Settings → Privacy → Export My Data.
How do I delete my account?
Settings → Account & data → Delete. A 30-day grace period applies before permanent erasure, and the full detail — including the limited records we must keep — is on the account deletion page.
Do you sell my data?
No. What we share with the providers who run the service, and why, is set out in the Privacy Policy.
Didn’t find it?
Try the Support page for step-by-step help, or get in touch and a person will answer.