Chikooya

About

A dating app built around real people

Chikooya is an Indian dating app for adults who are tired of endless swiping, recycled profiles and conversations that go nowhere. We are building it around one simple idea: if you know the person on the other side is real, and if the product rewards a good conversation instead of a fast swipe, dating online stops feeling like a chore.

Chikooya is launching on 1 December 2026.

What we do differently

Verified before visible

Every new member completes a live selfie check before a profile can go live. Automated facial analysis confirms that one clear, unobstructed, real human face is present. It stops most fake and stolen photo profiles at the door.

Conversations, not a scoreboard

Messaging opens only after a mutual match, and there are sensible limits on how many conversations can be started at once. That keeps the inbox human and makes mass copy paste messaging pointless.

Safety built into the product

Photos, chats and video calls are screened by automated systems for nudity, abuse, scams and other unwanted activity. Blocking and reporting are one tap away on every screen, and reports are reviewed by people.

Clear, honest billing

Free to join. Paid plans are optional, priced in Indian Rupees inclusive of GST, cancellable in two taps, and never hide a charge behind a dark pattern.

How it works

  1. Sign up with your email address, your mobile number, or a Google, Apple or Facebook account. You must be 18 or over.
  2. Verify your face with a live selfie. It takes a few seconds and it is the single biggest reason our profiles stay real.
  3. Build your profile with photos, a bio, your interests, and the things that actually matter to you, from what you are looking for to your date and place of birth if you want astrology compatibility.
  4. Set your preferences so discovery shows you people worth meeting.
  5. Match, chat and video call. Messaging opens on a mutual match, and video calling lets you check that the person is exactly who they said before you agree to meet.

What Chikooya is not

We think it is fair to be equally clear about the limits. Chikooya is not a matrimonial bureau or a marriage broker. We do not run criminal background checks or police verification on members. A verified badge means our photo check passed, not that a person is safe, honest or suitable for you. Astrology and compatibility content is offered for cultural interest and entertainment, not as prediction or advice. Always take sensible precautions before you meet anyone from the app: video call first, meet in a public place, and tell someone where you are going.

Who is behind it

Chikooya is built and run by Rohit Kohli, an independent founder based in India. It is a small, self funded product rather than a large company, which is exactly why every policy on this site is written in plain language and why support goes to one inbox that a person actually reads.

Get in touch

Partnership, press and hiring enquiries are welcome at hello@chikooya.com. Everything else has a dedicated channel on the Contact page. The rules that govern the service are in our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, and plan pricing is on the Plans and Pricing page.