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Ishtamഇഷ്ടം
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Launching first in Kerala

Real Connections. Meaningful Chemistry.

Ishtam (ഇഷ്ടം, “love” in Malayalam) is a dating app for people who want to actually meet someone. Discover people nearby, match only when the interest is mutual, and chat in a space designed to feel safe.

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  • Free to join
  • 18+ only
  • Private by default

ഇഷ്ടം തോന്നിയാൽപറയാൻ ഒരിടം

A place to express yourself whenever you feel like it

When you like someone, here is a place to say it. Made in Kerala for people who want something real, and you can chat in Malayalam, English or a bit of both.

The conversation shown is a sample.

Ok, but why Ishtam?

Ishtam is made in Kerala, for the way people here actually meet. You say what you are looking for, see people in your own town and nearby, and talk only to the ones who chose you too. Profiles can be photo verified, your exact location is never shown, and the app works in English, Malayalam and Hindi.

Create a profile, say who you would like to meet, and start swiping. Like someone and they like you back: that is a match. From there it is yours. Send a message, plan a chaya, see where it goes. You can also show your Ishtam code to someone you meet in person and connect on the spot.

Ishtam is free to join and works in the browser on any phone or computer.

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Discover

Only on Ishtam

Three things you will not find elsewhere

  1. Your own Ishtam code

    Met someone at a cafe, a wedding or college? Show your code, they scan it, and you are matched on the spot. No searching, no waiting.

  2. A map of your town, without GPS

    See how many people are around each town near you. You appear at the town you picked, never at your real position, and only if you switch the map on.

  3. In your language

    Use Ishtam in English, Malayalam or Hindi, and switch whenever you like. Your chats stay exactly as you wrote them.

How Ishtam works

From hello to a first date in four steps

No endless feeds and no cold messages. Each step leads to the next.

  1. Step 1

    Create your profile

    Add photos, a short bio, your interests and what you are looking for.

  2. Step 2

    Discover people nearby

    Browse profiles that fit your age range, distance and intentions.

  3. Step 3

    Match when it's mutual

    Like someone. If they like you back, it's a match. No one-sided messages.

  4. Step 4

    Start the conversation

    Chat in real time with your matches, and meet when you both feel ready.

What you get

Designed for chemistry, not for scrolling

Everything in the app exists to help two people decide whether they want to meet.

People near you

Set your own discovery distance. Others see your city and a rough distance, never your exact location.

Matching with intent

Say whether you want something casual, serious or long-term, and see the same from everyone else.

Verified profiles

A badge appears only after a completed check, so you know when a profile has been verified.

Safety built in

Only matches can message you. Block, report or unmatch in two taps, and our team reviews every report.

Opening city by city: Kochi · Thiruvananthapuram · Kozhikode · Thrissur · Kollam · Kannur · Kottayam · Palakkad

Safety and privacy

You decide who gets close

Dating only works when you feel safe. These protections are on for everyone, on every plan.

  • No one can message you until you have both liked each other.
  • Only mutual matches can chat
  • Exact location is never shown
  • Block and report on every profile and chat
  • Phone number and email stay private

Meeting someone new?

Read our short guide on staying safe online and on a first date, including what to do if something feels wrong.

Read the safety guidelines

Premium

Free to use. Better with Plus and Pro.

Start free and upgrade only if you want more reach and more control.

Free

Everything you need to meet someone.

₹0

  • Create your profile
  • Discover people nearby
  • Limited likes each day
  • Mutual matching
  • Messaging with your matches
Start free
Most popular

Ishtam Plus

More likes and more control.

₹199/ month

  • More daily likes
  • Rewind your last swipe
  • Advanced filters
  • Enhanced discovery
  • Extra profile controls
Join and upgrade later

Ishtam Pro

The full Ishtam experience.

₹299/ month

  • Everything in Plus
  • See who liked you
  • Boost credits
  • Incognito mode
  • Travel mode
  • Priority support
Join and upgrade later

Launch pricing. Paid plans open after your account is set up.

Stories

What a good match feels like

Sample content, shown to illustrate the layout. Real member stories will replace these after launch.

Sample
“We matched over a shared love of monsoon drives. Three months later we are still planning the next one.”
Sample user, Kochi
Sample
“I liked that nobody could message me until I had liked them back. It felt calm.”
Sample user, Kozhikode
Sample
“Seeing what people were looking for up front saved both of us a lot of time.”
Sample user, Thiruvananthapuram

Where Ishtam works

Every district of Kerala, and wherever you call home

Choose any town or neighbourhood in India on your profile. We are launching in Kerala first, so that is where you will find the most people to begin with.

Outside India, Ishtam is not open yet. Each page says plainly what works where you are.

Know someone who should see this?

Ishtam works best when the people around you are on it too. Send it to a friend in one tap.

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FAQ

Questions, answered

Your next conversation could start today

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