# Shy — Discover People Around You > Proximity-based instant messaging app for connecting with people nearby. (iPhone/iPad app by Shy Inc..) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shy/id6444877711 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Shy Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1657587459) - Category: Social Networking, Lifestyle - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.00/5 from 4 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 17+ - Requires: iOS 16.4 · 93 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2022-12-30 - Data updated: 2026-08-23 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shy/id6444877711/reviews.md ## What is Shy? Shy connects you with the people actually around you. Not strangers across the country. Not faces in a feed. The people in the room. Walk into your apartment building, your gym, your coffee shop. If someone interesting is right there, open Shy and see if they're there. Send a chat request or let them notice you and send first. The moment is yours. No photos. No real names. No swiping. Just real proximity and real conversation. HOW IT WORKS When you enter a Shy location or a Shy Venue, the app quietly shows you who else is there. You read short, honest descriptions of the people around you and send a chat request. Once they accept, you are connected. You can keep talking even after you both leave the Shy location or venue. They become a contact, on your terms. MUTUAL DELETE Changed your mind? Either of you can initiate Mutual Delete. Once you delete a contact, all chats and contacts vanish from both devices at the same time. A clean break, by mutual consent. Closure built in. WHERE SHY SHINES In your apartment building. The neighbor you have nodded at in the elevator for six months has a name now. At your gym. Find a lifting partner who actually shows up. Or someone who runs your pace. At your coffee shop or co-working space. The regulars stop being strangers. At concerts, conferences, lounges, and festivals. Everywhere people gather and somehow never connect. DON'T SEE A SHY LOCATION NEAR YOU YET? Open the app and request a Shy Location for your building, your gym, your favorite spot, or your office. Chat with Zai & Sky, your AI companions in the lobby. Keep Shy installed. Right now, someone in your building or your gym could be ready to connect. The day your spot turns on, you do not want to be the one who missed it. This is the app you keep just in case. The one that turns rooms full of strangers into rooms full of possibility. SHARE THE SPOT Found your people somewhere? Put it on the map for everyone. Turn any Shy location or venue into a story, post, or video and share it to Instagram, TikTok, or your group chat. Every share helps turn on more spots, the more people who show up, the more alive the lobby gets. WHY SHY IS DIFFERENT Every other social app pushes you into an endless scroll of people you will never meet. Shy does the opposite. We only show you people who are here, right now, in the same physical space. That is the whole point. When proximity ends, the noise ends with it. This is not dating. This is not networking. This is just meeting the people who are already in your life. You just have not been introduced yet. PRIVACY BY DESIGN We built Shy on something we call the ARN Protocol. You are described, not displayed. No profile photo (up to you). No surname. No map pin tracking your every move. You are visible in the room, not on the internet. Leave the room and you stop appearing to people there. Combined with Mutual Delete, you stay in control of every connection you make. You can update your user name, description, and photo anytime you want. This is useful for those wardrobe and venue changes. We do not sell your data. We do not feed it to advertisers. We do not need to. SHY PLUS Unlock the full Shy experience. Shy Plus members get unlimited chat-request and group-join tokens, AI-powered outfit descriptions with Shy Camera, and a completely ad-free experience. Free users receive 10 tokens every month to send chat requests and join groups. One token is used each time you start a new conversation or join a group. Regular users see occasional ads and can purchase additional token packs for more connections. FOR PROPERTY MANAGERS AND COMMUNITY OPERATORS If you run an apartment building, co-working space, gym, or venue and want to bring real community to your residents and members, Shy has a partner program. Visit theshyapp.com to learn more. Closer Than You Think. Terms of Use (EULA): https://theshyapp.com/eula Privacy Policy: https://theshyapp.com/privacy ## Key features - Proximity-based connections - Anonymous chat requests - Mutual delete for privacy - No photos or real names - Location-specific user discovery - User-controlled descriptions ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Shy | $19.99 | per month | | Shy | $19.99 | per month | | Shy | $0.99 | per 7 days | ## Recent user reviews (1 of 1) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shy/id6444877711/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Wow *2026-06-22* Super cool, can’t wait till more people get on it! This is going to big. ## Frequently asked questions about Shy ### What is Shy? Shy is a social networking app designed to connect you with people who are physically near you in real-time. It focuses on spontaneous interactions in shared spaces like apartment buildings, gyms, or coffee shops, emphasizing proximity over online profiles. ### How does Shy work? When you enter a designated Shy location, the app shows you other users present. You can view short descriptions and send chat requests. Once accepted, you can communicate even after leaving the location, with connections managed on your terms. ### Is Shy free to use? Yes, Shy is free to download and use. It offers optional in-app purchases for enhanced features or subscription plans, providing users with choices for their experience. ### What are the subscription plans for Shy? Shy offers several subscription plans, including a weekly option for $0.99 and monthly options for $19.99. These plans provide ongoing access to premium features or services within the app. ### Does Shy have ads? No, Shy does not contain advertisements. The app is designed to provide an uninterrupted user experience, focusing on connections rather than ad revenue. ### What is Mutual Delete in Shy? Mutual Delete is a feature that allows either user to initiate the deletion of a chat and contact. Once initiated, all conversation history and the contact vanish simultaneously from both devices, ensuring a clean and mutual separation. ### What age rating does Shy have? Shy has an age rating of 17+, indicating that it is intended for mature audiences. This is likely due to the nature of social interactions and the potential for adult conversations. ### How often is Shy updated? Shy was last updated on May 10, 2026, with version 2.6.9. This indicates a recent update, suggesting ongoing development and maintenance for the application. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2.6.28 — 2026-08-16 Discover what's happening around you. The map now surfaces nearby events (concerts, sports, community, arts) and Shy spots in one place, with quick category filters to find your vibe fast. • New "Happening nearby" discovery carousel on the map • Filter events by category: Concerts, Sports, Community, Arts • Tap any event for tickets or directions • Smoother, faster scrolling • Tapping a chat request notification now opens your requests right away • Your AI companion stays in your contacts • Bug fixes and performance improvements Thanks for using Shy! ### 2.6.26 — 2026-08-14 Share any Shy location as a video or post straight to your Story, Reel, or feed. Plus a faster map, smoother sharing, and polish throughout. New Ai companion chat. ### 2.6.23 — 2026-07-29 Bug fixes - account management fixed. ### 2.6.21 — 2026-07-22 Bug fixes. ### 2.6.19 — 2026-07-18 Presence is now more reliable, including in the background. 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