Questions

Hush Chat FAQs

From encryption details to billing policies, here are the answers we keep sending in DMs.

Do I need an account to use Hush Chat?+

Only if you want to operate the service (create rooms, manage settings, and use subscription features). People who join via a shared link do not need an account and can participate anonymously.

Can Hush Chat read my messages?+

No. Hush Chat uses end-to-end encryption with per-room keys. Messages and attachments are encrypted on your device using AES-GCM before they are sent. We never see plaintext content or room keys.

Do you log IP addresses or who joins a room?+

No. Our model is zero logs, zero knowledge. We do not log IP-based room activity or participant identity. We keep only the minimum account and subscription data needed for operators.

What’s the difference between ephemeral and persistent rooms?+

Ephemeral rooms are designed to expire automatically after a configured lifetime. When they expire, encrypted data and metadata are deleted.

Persistent rooms stay active for as long as the operator keeps them but can be destroyed at any time, which permanently removes stored encrypted content from our systems.

Can I regenerate room keys?+

Yes. Operators can perform key rotation for a room. New messages are then encrypted under a new key (distributed via a new invite link), while old messages remain encrypted under the previous key. Participants without the new key lose access to future content.

What is your refund policy?+

We offer a 7-day money-back guarantee for subscriptions. If you're not satisfied, you can request a full refund within 7 days of an initial purchase or renewal by emailing billing@hush.chat. After 7 days, payments are generally non-refundable unless required by law.

How do upgrades and downgrades work?+

Paid plans auto-renew every month until you cancel in the dashboard. Hit the Change Plan button to move between Free, Basic, and Pro. Upgrades activate immediately and Stripe automatically prorates the remainder of your current cycle, so you only pay the difference on your next invoice.

Downgrades (including going back to Free) take effect at your next renewal. You keep full access until the cycle ends, and you can cancel a pending downgrade anytime from the Subscription tab by clicking Cancel downgrade next to the renewal row or by upgrading again. If a payment fails, we retry nightly for up to 7 days (three attempts) and email you each time with a link to pay the outstanding balance. If the invoice is still unpaid after that window, the subscription is cancelled and your account moves back to the Free plan.

What data do you store about me?+

We store only what's needed for operators to sign in and manage subscriptions: things like your email address and plan status. We do not store message plaintext, room keys, or behavioral tracking profiles. See our Privacy Policy for details.

Are conversations really anonymous?+

For guests joining via a shared link: yes. We do not request identity or login information from room participants, and we do not log who joins which room. Operators should still treat room links like secrets and only share them with people they trust.

What happens if I lose a room link?+

If you lose the room link (and therefore the key), we cannot restore access. Our servers never see or store your keys, so there is no recovery mechanism. This is a trade-off for strong end-to-end encryption.

Where can I learn more about your security model?+

Check out our Security Overview and Threat Model & Security Whitepaper. They explain what we protect, which attackers we assume, and where the limits are.

Didn't see your question? Email us atsupport@hush.chat or hop into a room with us.