Questions about Zuzu Club
Simple answers about how Zuzu works: anonymous chat, the Let Go and Sky of Thoughts rituals, privacy and safety. If your question is not here, write to me at hello@zuzu.club.
Ask Zuzu
Quick answers from Zuzu's own pages. This is a small helper, not the AI Companion.
Type a question about Zuzu Club and get a short answer taken from Zuzu's own pages (the FAQ, Privacy, Safety, About, Meet Again, Chat Hour and more), with links to where it says so. If Zuzu's pages do not cover it, it says so and points to a real person at hello@zuzu.club. It only answers questions about Zuzu.
People often ask
- Is Zuzu really anonymous?
- Are my chats saved?
- How can I chat with the same person again on Zuzu?
- What is Zuzu’s Chat Hour?
- Is Zuzu free?
Other questions to try: Is Zuzu really anonymous? · Can I reconnect with someone? · Are my chats saved? · How does Chat Hour work? · Is Zuzu free?
About Zuzu Club
What is Zuzu Club?
Zuzu Club is a whimsical website and a free, anonymous place to say what is on your mind. There is no signup, no login and no account. It has three simple ways to feel lighter: privately, in Let Go, where you release a worry into the night sky; shared, in the Sky of Thoughts, where you post a feeling anonymously and see what others feel; and with a person, in Vent and Listen, where you chat one to one with a real stranger.
Is Zuzu Club a whimsical website?
Yes. Zuzu Club is a small, whimsical website for your feelings, with a starry night sky, soft music and gentle rituals. Let a worry float away in Let Go, share a feeling in the Sky of Thoughts, or chat with a kind stranger. It is a calm, playful corner of the internet you can visit anytime, free and with no signup.
Are there any projects that inspired Zuzu Club?
Oh yes. In fact, Zuzu is full of little pieces of inspiration from years of wandering the internet.
I first tried anonymous chat on Omegle, and later on platforms like Blah Therapy. I loved the idea of talking to someone new, but I wanted a calmer, kinder version of it.
The idea for the Sky of Thoughts comes from Ashris and his original sky. I wanted to recreate it in my own way: more personal, more inclusive and more connected. So, due credit to him.
Let Go is inspired by Pixel Thoughts, a project by Marc Balaban. I found that ritual really powerful, and wanted to give it a Zuzu touch.
Thank you to everyone who makes small, kind things on the internet. Zuzu wouldn't exist without them.
Why the name Zuzu? What does Zuzu mean?
Zuzu is warm, easy to say in any language, and means "sweet" or "loved" across cultures.
I chose Zuzu after careful brainstorming on a simple framework: feel, pronounceability, memorability, meaning, domain availability and trademark safety. It came out on top. It feels warm and gentle, like a soft word you would use for someone you care about. It is easy to say in many languages, so it belongs to everyone, not one place, and it sticks after one hearing.
It also carries kind meanings across cultures: "lily" in Czech and Polish, a flower of new beginnings; "sweet" or "lovely" in Arabic and Yiddish; and "loved" in Akan, in West Africa. In French, Zouzou is a term of endearment, and in the film It's a Wonderful Life, little Zuzu Bailey stands for innocence and hope.
And why Zuzu Club? Because it is a small circle of strangers who show up for each other, and anyone can join, with no membership needed.
That is what I want people to feel here: safe, cared for and a little lighter.
Is Zuzu only for bad days?
No. Zuzu is also a gentle boredom buster and an antidote to toxic doomscrolling. Instead of another endless feed, you can let a worry go, read what others are feeling in the Sky of Thoughts, or have a real conversation with a kind stranger. Or just yap about your day with someone new. A few quiet minutes that leave you lighter, not drained.
Is Zuzu free?
Yes. Good vibes, no ads and no paywalls: Zuzu is free for everyone. It is self-funded and kept alive by people who share it, volunteer or choose to donate.
Do I need to sign up or download an app?
No. Zuzu works in any browser on any phone or computer. If you like, you can add it to your home screen like an app, but you never need an account.
Can I install Zuzu as an app on my phone?
Yes. On a phone, tap Install App at the bottom of the home page. On Android, your browser asks if you want to install Zuzu. On iPhone and iPad, Zuzu shows you how: tap Share in Safari, then Add to Home Screen. Zuzu then opens from your home screen like any other app, full screen, and always has the latest updates. There is nothing to download from an app store, and still no account.
How accessible is Zuzu? Can I make it easier to read or listen to?
Yes. Tap the accessibility button (the small figure at the top right) or press Alt + A, or Option + A on a Mac. You can make text bigger, add more space between lines and letters, turn on high contrast, switch to a font that is easier to read, and have new chat messages read aloud with a voice on your device. Your choices are saved on this device only. Zuzu also works with screen readers and a keyboard.
Can I turn off the music but keep chat sounds?
Yes. Tap the speaker at the top. Ambient music and Notification sounds each have their own switch, so you can keep the alert when someone joins or sends a message and still have a quiet page, or the other way round. Turn both off for complete silence. Your choice is saved on this device, with no account.
Is Zuzu designed for neurodivergent people?
Yes. Zuzu is consciously designed for everyone, including autistic people, people with ADHD and dyslexic people, to help anyone reconnect with their emotions. It is calm and predictable: text chat instead of calls, gentle prompts to help you start, no endless feed, no ads and no timer to reply. The accessibility settings let you make text bigger, add more spacing, turn on high contrast, switch to an easier-to-read font and have messages read aloud, and all animations follow your device's reduce-motion setting.
Where can I read more about the latest updates on Zuzu?
On the What's new page. Zuzu changes a little almost every week, and every update is listed there in plain words, newest first, from new features like Meet Again and the endless Sky of Thoughts to small fixes.
What is Zuzu doing for World Mental Health Day?
World Mental Health Day is on 10 October. Zuzu has a free resource for it with the 2026 theme, WHO facts, activities for schools and workplaces, messages to share, mental health organizations, films, books and music, and free helplines. On the day, come talk, or come listen.
World Mental Health Day 2026 resource
Can I use Zuzu from any country, at any time?
Yes. Zuzu is open 24 hours a day to people all over the world, in every time zone. The Zuzu interface is currently in English, while the AI Companion can understand and respond naturally in multiple languages, including mixed-language conversations.
Who runs Zuzu? How can I trust it if the founder is anonymous, and who is accountable?
One person runs Zuzu, and stays anonymous so the space can stay private. Anonymous does not mean unaccountable. The rules are public (Privacy & Terms and Community Safety), every report reaches Zuzu right away, and every update is listed in What's new. For privacy, safety or legal questions, write to hello@zuzu.club or use the Contact page. Every message is read and answered. Trust also comes from how Zuzu is built: chats are not saved and there are no accounts, so there is no personal history to lose or sell. If Zuzu grows into a real community, the plan is to set up a nonprofit around it.
How is Zuzu paid for? Will it stay free, and what if it shuts down?
Zuzu is free, self-funded so far, and runs on donations from people who want to keep it open. It has cost about $1,000 so far, and running it (servers and AI) costs under $100 a month. There are no ads, no paywalls and no selling of data. I plan to keep it going for a very long time. If Zuzu ever had to stop, there would be a notice on the site first, and the aim would be to hand it to a nonprofit or open it up for others to run.
What is the background music on Zuzu? Where can I find it?
It is "Winter" by Alexander Nakarada, from the album Emotionalism. I chose it because it feels like a quiet hand on your shoulder: no words, no rush, just room to breathe. Music: Winter by Alexander Nakarada (creatorchords.com). Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0): creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. You can listen to the full music and find more of his work on his page.
Chatting with a stranger
Who will I talk to?
You choose a role. If you want to vent, you are matched with someone who chose to listen. If you want to help, you are matched with someone who needs to be heard. If no one is around, you can chat with the Zuzu AI Companion, which is clearly marked as an AI, until someone is.
Is Zuzu a 24/7 anonymous emotional support chat?
Zuzu is open 24 hours a day, for people all over the world. It is free and anonymous, with no signup: you chat one to one, by text, with a real person who chose to listen, but a real person may not always be online since the community is still new and growing.
If no one joins within about 10 seconds, you can keep waiting or chat with the AI Companion, which is always labeled as AI. Twice a day, Chat Hour brings people together at the same time, so it is the best time to find a person.
Zuzu is peer support, not therapy or a crisis service. If you are in danger, please find a free helpline.
When people are most likely online
How can I chat with the same person again on Zuzu?
Yes, with Meet Again. In a chat with a person, once you have both written something, tap Meet again at the top (two hands and a heart, soft pink until you tap it, then green with a small check, so you can see yours is on). If you both tap it, during the chat or up to 10 minutes after, Zuzu lets you both know when you are on Zuzu at the same time ("🌻 They are here"), and you both tap to start a new chat. If only you tap, nobody knows. You can save up to 5 people, and add a short note so you remember who is who. The other person never sees your note; Zuzu keeps a private record of the pair (temporary names, roles, device type, rough location and notes) that only Zuzu's maker can see. A Meet Again ends after 30 days without meeting, when either of you lets go, or after a block or report, and the other person is not told. It is saved in this browser only, so a new phone or cleared browser starts fresh. Most people are here at Chat Hour, so that is a good time to come back.
Can I volunteer as a listener?
Yes, and thank you. Anyone kind can listen on Zuzu: just tap Listen on the home page, whenever you have the time and energy. Listeners who want to do it more often are called Zuzu Ambassadors. The listener guide has example chats, words that help, what to do when a chat gets heavy, and a short list of do's and don'ts.
Are the suggested messages written by AI?
No. The short suggestions above the chat box are messages Zuzu wrote ahead of time, not AI. They change with the moment in your chat, for example when you are starting, after a long message, or when it goes quiet, and they step aside once you are writing on your own. They are picked on your device, so nothing in your chat is read or sent anywhere to choose them. Tap one to put it in the box, then change it or send it as it is.
What can I say when I vent?
Anything that is on your mind, in your own words: stress, family, a relationship, loneliness, a habit or an addiction you are struggling with, or something you have never told anyone. No topic is too small or too awkward. You do not need to explain everything or make it sound right. Starting with one small line is enough. Talking about something hard, like sex or porn, is fine; sending sexual messages or role-play is not. Zuzu is peer support, not therapy, so for an addiction a professional or a free helpline can help alongside it.
For example: "It has been a heavy day." "I just need someone to listen." "I do not know where to start."
What is the Zuzu AI Companion?
When no one is around to chat, you can talk with the Zuzu AI Companion. It is always labeled "Zuzu AI Companion" at the top of the chat, and it tells you it is an AI if you ask. SI (Super Intelligence) is the next step after AI. Zuzu keeps people at the heart, whatever the tech. It is not a person and not a therapist, and it can get things wrong. It stays with feelings and what is going on in your life, and gently turns away things like homework or code. To write its replies, your recent messages in that chat are sent to OpenAI. Zuzu does not save these chats.
Can I send photos or voice notes?
Yes, in chats with a person. To protect you from unwanted images, photos from the other person arrive blurred, and you choose whether to tap and see them. When the other person opens a photo you sent, you see a small "Viewed" under it. Zuzu never shows that a photo was not opened, and nothing about it is saved. Voice notes only play when you press play. Photos and voice notes go straight to the other person and are not saved. They are not checked automatically yet, so if something is not okay, report and block.
Zuzu’s Chat Hour
What is Zuzu’s Chat Hour?
Zuzu’s Chat Hour ⏳💬 is 60 minutes, twice a day, when people come to Zuzu at the same time to talk and listen. With more people here at once, venters find a listener faster and listeners find someone who needs them. It is the same moment everywhere in the world, and Zuzu shows it in your own time.
For example: You open the Chat Hour page and see the next one starts at 11:30 PM your time. You set a reminder, come back then, and are in a chat within seconds.
When is Chat Hour in my time?
Chat Hour starts at 06:00 and 18:00 UTC every day and lasts an hour. For example, in summer that is 2 AM and 2 PM on the US East Coast and 7 AM and 7 PM in the United Kingdom, and all year it is 2 PM and 2 AM in the Philippines. The Chat Hour page reads your device time zone, shows both times for you with a countdown, and lets you tap the world map to see any other place.
Can I chat outside Chat Hour?
Yes, always. Chat Hour is simply when the most people are here. Outside it you may wait a little longer. If no one is around after about 10 seconds, Zuzu tells you when the next Chat Hour starts, and the AI Companion is there if you would rather not wait.
How do Chat Hour reminders work?
On the Chat Hour page, pick one or both Chat Hours and choose a reminder 10 minutes before or when it starts. Your browser asks for permission first. Zuzu keeps only an anonymous address for your device to send the reminder, never your name, email or phone number, and you can turn it off on the same page. On iPhone, reminders work once Zuzu is added to your Home Screen. You can also add Chat Hour to Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook instead.
Let Go and the Sky of Thoughts
What are Zuzu rituals?
Rituals are short, calm, interactive moments that help you feel lighter and put a feeling into words. Zuzu has two today: Let Go, where you release a worry into the night sky, and the Sky of Thoughts, where you share a feeling anonymously and see that others have felt it too. Each takes about a minute, and you do not need to talk to anyone.
What is Let Go and how does it work?
Let Go is a one minute ritual for a worry you keep carrying. You type the worry, it gathers inside a glowing star, and you watch the star slowly shrink and drift into a vast night sky while soft music plays and gentle words keep you company. Seeing your worry grow small against the whole sky can make it feel lighter.
For example: You write: "I keep replaying what I said in the meeting today." You place it in the star, and watch it fade into the night.
What is the Sky of Thoughts?
The Sky of Thoughts is a shared sky of anonymous feelings on Zuzu. Each emoji floating in it is a real thought from a real person. Tap an emoji to read the thought and leave a kind reply, or add your own and pick an emoji for how you feel. When you share, Zuzu shows you that other people have felt something similar. The Sky has room for every thought: drag in any direction, or use the arrow keys, to find more. The newest thoughts are always on the first screen, and emojis with replies are a little bigger. Prefer reading? Tap the list button at the top right to search, filter by feeling or replies, and sort newest or oldest first.
For example: You tap a 😔 and read: "I have good friends, but there are things I have never told anyone." Then you add your own thought with a 🌧️.
What are feelings and "Me too" in the Sky of Thoughts?
Every thought gets one or more feelings, like Lonely, Heartbreak, Stress and work, Family, Self-worth, Anxiety, Grief, Anger, Hope or Other emotions. Zuzu's check suggests them when you post, and you can change them with a tap. Tap a feeling at the top of the Sky and its thoughts gather in the middle, so you can read what others with the same feeling shared. If a thought feels like yours, tap Me too: the writer sees how many people felt it too, never who. Each feeling also has its own page, like zuzu.club/sky-of-thoughts/lonely, where people searching for that feeling can find these thoughts, without any location or name. See all of them on the feelings page.
For example: You post about feeling alone at night and Zuzu picks Lonely. It tells you a few others felt lonely this month, and you tap Read them to see their thoughts gather together.
How do I know if someone replied to my thought?
The next time you come to Zuzu on the same device, a small card tells you "Someone replied to your thought", with a link straight to it. To do this, your device remembers the thoughts you post for 90 days. That memory stays in your browser (only the IDs of posts still waiting are checked with Zuzu), so it does not work in private browsing or on another device. You can also open the list in the Sky, search a few words of your thought, or tap "With replies" or "Mine".
For example: You shared a thought last night. Today you open Zuzu and see: "Someone replied to your thought". You tap Read it and the thought opens with the reply.
Can I thank someone who replied to my thought?
Yes. Open your thought and tap the heart next to a reply. Everyone who opens the thought then sees "The writer loved this" under it, and the person who wrote the reply is told the next time they come to Zuzu. Only the writer of the thought can do this, from the device they posted it on. Your thought gets a secret key that stays on your device; Zuzu keeps only a scrambled version of it, so it can check it is you without knowing who you are. Tap the heart again to take it back.
Can I talk to the person who wrote a thought?
Sometimes. If the person who wrote a recent thought is still on Zuzu, you will see a gentle note when you open it, and you can tap Reach out. They get a quiet invitation and can say yes or not now. A chat only starts if they say yes, and you both stay anonymous. Posting a thought never means someone has agreed to talk.
For example: You read a thought that feels close to your own and tap Reach out. If they say yes, you are both taken into a private 1:1 chat.
Can I remove a thought I posted?
Thoughts have no account attached, so there is no delete button. If you want one taken down, write to Zuzu with the exact text of the thought and it will be removed from the Sky. Zuzu keeps a private copy of removed thoughts for analysis and moderation; it is never shown again.
Privacy and anonymity
Is Zuzu really anonymous?
Yes. You never give a name, email or phone number, and there is no account. Each session gets a random, temporary name that is never linked to who you are. Like any website, Zuzu still handles some technical data, such as your IP address, to run and protect the service and to see roughly which country and city a visit comes from. It is never used to find out who you are.
For example: Today you might be "Serene Stone". Next time you might be "Quiet Lantern".
Are my chats saved?
No. Chats with a person go straight to the other person and are not saved, including photos and voice notes. When the chat closes, it is gone. If you report someone, Zuzu keeps the reason, the two temporary names, the time and the approximate country, for 90 days. Never the messages.
Is what I write in Let Go shared with anyone?
No. Worries you release in Let Go are never posted to the Sky of Thoughts, never made public and never shown to other users, and no name is attached to them. Zuzu keeps them privately in its records, to understand how Let Go is used and to keep it safe.
Safety and moderation
Does Zuzu read or moderate my chats?
No. To protect your privacy, chats with a person are not read by Zuzu, by a person or by AI, and they are not saved. There is one light check: if a message has words that suggest someone may be in danger, like "suicide", "want to die" or "hurt myself", Zuzu gently shows a free helpline to the person who wrote it, and a tip to their chat partner. This happens in the moment and nothing is stored. Safety for chats is meant to grow with privacy-first AI guardrails, and this is being worked on now. If you are an expert in AI guardrails, please reach out. I would love to work on this together.
Offer your AI guardrails expertise
Are thoughts and replies in the Sky of Thoughts checked?
Yes, every one, in three quick steps: simple rules (for links, phone numbers, emails and spam), Zuzu's moderation check, and a short AI review that reads it like a caring person would. Most posts go live in a few seconds. Sad, angry, lonely or heavy feelings are welcome, and so is the way people really write: slang, short forms, typos, mixed languages and emojis. Zuzu moderates harmful behavior, not uncomfortable emotions: a post waits for a person to review it only if it could do real harm (like mocking someone, a threat or dangerous advice) or breaks a clear rule (like spam or a phone number). Nothing is deleted automatically. Please do not add names, phone numbers, places or anything that could identify you or someone else.
Why do some replies in the Sky wait before they appear?
Zuzu welcomes different perspectives and honest conversations. A reply doesn't have to be perfect or agree with everything. The goal is to prevent cruelty and harm, not to control how people express themselves. So kind replies, honest ones, a different view and everyday advice ("Have you tried talking to your manager?") go live right away, even if the tone is a little clumsy, blunt or preachy. A reply waits for a person only when it crosses from tone into harm: dismissive or preachy in a way that shames someone's pain ("others have it worse, stop complaining"), mocking ("cry about it"), cruel, harassing, or dangerous advice. The person who shared never sees a reply until it passes.
For example: Someone shares: "Got rejected in my third interview this month." "Sending you a hug 🫶", "Have you tried asking them for feedback?" and even "just pray more, it will be fine" all go live at once. "lol cry about it" waits, so it never lands on them.
What happens if my thought or reply is waiting for a check?
It is waiting, not lost. You see right away that it is waiting for a quick check. A waiting thought stays in your Sky, a little softer than the rest, and only you can see it until it is checked. If it was held for something simple, like a link, a phone number, an email address or a social media handle, Zuzu tells you what it is, so you can take it out and post again straight away. Otherwise a person looks at it as soon as they can, and there are two outcomes. Approved: it appears in the Sky for everyone. Not published: it could hurt someone or breaks the guidelines, so it stays hidden (Zuzu keeps a private copy for moderation). Either way, the next time you visit, a small card tells you what happened, and if it was not published you can write it again in your own way. These notes work on the device you posted from.
For example: You post a thought with your Instagram handle in it. Zuzu says it is waiting because it has a social media handle. You tap Edit and post again, take the handle out, and it goes live.
Is Zuzu a safe place for LGBTQ+ people?
Yes, always. Zuzu is a safe, welcoming space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, intersex, asexual, non-binary and gender-diverse people, and everyone else under the LGBTQIA+ rainbow. You can talk about coming out (or not being ready to), crushes and relationships, family or friends who don't understand, faith and identity, how you feel in your body, or simply feeling different. Chats are anonymous: no name, no profile, and nothing is saved, so you can be fully yourself. Hate, slurs or mocking anyone's sexuality or gender identity are not allowed, in chats or in the Sky of Thoughts. If someone is hateful, tap ••• to Report and Block, and the chat ends at once. You are valid, and you are welcome here. 🏳️🌈
What if someone is rude or makes me uncomfortable?
Tap the ••• menu at the top of the chat. Report tells Zuzu what happened. Block ends the chat right away, and you will not be matched with that person again for the rest of your visit, even if the page reloads. Because there are no accounts, a block cannot follow someone after they close Zuzu. If you had a Meet Again with them, a block or report ends it for good. The other person is never told who reported or blocked them. They only see that the chat ended.
What does Zuzu do about harassment or sexual messages?
They are not allowed. Tap ••• at the top of the chat, choose Report and pick "Sexual or inappropriate" or "Rude or harassing". You can block at the same time, which ends the chat at once. Photos from the other person are blurred until you choose to see them, so an unwanted image does not catch you by surprise. Zuzu is told about every report right away. Because chats are not saved and there are no accounts, Zuzu cannot read the chat afterwards or ban someone by name, so blocking is the fastest way to protect yourself. Reports help Zuzu spot patterns and make its safety tools better.
Tell Zuzu more on the Contact page
Is there a minimum age?
Zuzu does not ask your age, because it does not ask for anything that could identify you. Zuzu is intended for users aged 16 and above. If you are younger, please use Zuzu only with the awareness and guidance of a parent or guardian.
Getting help
Is Zuzu therapy?
No. Zuzu is peer support and self-expression, not therapy. The people you talk to are not therapists, and Zuzu is not a replacement for a doctor, therapist or counselor. It is a place to be heard, not to be diagnosed or treated.
Is Zuzu a crisis line?
No. If you are in danger or thinking about ending your life, please contact local emergency services or a crisis helpline right away. You can find free, private helplines for your country at findahelpline.com. If a chat sounds like someone may be in danger, Zuzu gently shows these resources.
