Why did Sarahah shut down?
Sarahahclosed in 2018 after one year of meteoric growth. The primary reason: no anti-harassment infrastructure on a platform that reached 300 million users. A 470,000-signature petition asked Apple and Google to remove the app, and both stores complied in February 2018. Founder Zain al-Abidin Tawfiq couldn't build out the moderation infrastructure needed, so he formally abandoned the project by late 2019.
The outcome: a complete vacuum in the Arabic anonymous-messaging market. Weak Sarahah clones emerged (Sarahah Plus, Saraahah, sarhne) but none reached the maturity Arabic-speaking audiences deserve.
Sarahah vs Sarhny — quick comparison
| Feature | Sarahah (2017) | Sarhny (today) |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Closed | Active + shipping |
| Anonymous messages | ✓ | ✓ with smart spam filter |
| Mirrors (targeted Q&A) | — | ✓ unique feature |
| Post crystallization | — | ✓ unique feature |
| Daily streak | — | ✓ rewards consistency |
| iOS + Android + web | ✗ Removed from stores | ✓ all three |
| Arabic language support | Mediocre | 100% Arabic-native |
| Clear privacy policy | Limited | Published + readable |
| Reveal sender identity | Not offered | Not offered (permanent commitment) |
Why 1.5M Arabic speakers picked Sarhny
Sarhny's user base grew past 1.5 million Arabic-speaking accounts for a simple reason: no other quality option existed for Arabic users wanting a respectful anonymous-messaging experience. Sarhny delivers what every alternative failed at:
- Arabic-native UI — every string written not translated, custom fonts, flawless RTL.
- Effective anti-harassment — automatic abuse filtering, moderation team responding to reports within 24 hours.
- Explicit commitment to never sell identity— no “reveal sender” subscription, regardless of revenue potential.
- Original features — crystallization, mirrors, streak, attention points. Found nowhere else.
Moving from Sarahah to Sarhny — 3 steps
- Sign up for Sarhny — open sarhny.com or install from the App Store or Google Play. Username choice matters — if you had a Sarahah username, try to claim it on Sarhny first.
- Share your new link — your profile is
sarhny.com/username. Put it in your Instagram bio, Twitter bio, Snapchat — anywhere you used to share your Sarahah link. - Create your first mirror— a feature Sarahah never had. Ask one question (e.g. “describe me in 3 words”), share the link, and receive honest answers organised in a way random anonymous messages never were.
Full comparison with all alternatives
If you're considering options beyond Sarhny (like NGL, Curious Cat, Tellonym), we published a deep history of the anonymous-messaging market explaining how each player evolved post-Sarahah.
FAQ about Sarahah alternatives
What is the best alternative to Sarahah in 2026?
Sarhny is the best Arabic alternative to the original Sarahah app. It combines the original concept (anonymous messaging) with modern features (mirrors, crystallization, streak, advanced safety) in an Arabic-native experience on iOS, Android, and web.
Will the original Sarahah app come back?
No. Sarahah shut down in 2018 and its founder officially abandoned the project. The original sarahah.com still resolves but is not maintained. Any 'Sarahah' you find in app stores today is a renamed clone, not the official app.
Is Sarhny free like Sarahah was?
Yes, Sarhny is fully free for core usage. The difference: Sarhny is financially sustainable via light ads and an optional Plus subscription, so the team can support users and ship updates — instead of the sudden shutdown that hit Sarahah.
How do I move my old Sarahah followers to Sarhny?
Simple: share your new Sarhny link (sarhny.com/username) on your Instagram, Snapchat, X. Anyone who used to send you Sarahah messages can now message you better on Sarhny. No data import needed — it's a brand-new app.