Frequently asked questions
Clear, honest answers — and if something’s missing, write to us.
Is Cidna really free?
Yes, completely. Cidna has no subscription, no in-app purchases and no paid tier, and it shows no ads. The code is open source under AGPL-3.0-or-later.
Can I use the app offline after signing in?
Yes. After you create an account and sign in successfully once, your records live on the phone, so recording transactions, browsing history, budgets, piggy banks, debts and analytics all work without internet. Changes sync the next time you’re online.
Note: creating an account, the first sign-in and syncing need internet. If you remove a device from your account remotely, that device finds out the moment it goes online.
Is my data end-to-end encrypted?
Yes — for your financial records. Transactions, categories, budgets, debts and savings goals are encrypted on the phone with AES-256-GCM before upload. The key is generated on your device and leaves it only in wrapped form. Your password and recovery key are never sent to the server, so neither we nor an attacker who compromises the server can open your data without guessing your password.
Scope matters: the details the service needs to run (such as your phone number and device list) are not covered by this encryption. Full details are on the Security page.
Do I have to sign up to start?
No. Guest mode works with no account and no phone number, protected by a passcode or fingerprint. Create an account whenever you like and choose whether to move your guest data into it or start fresh.
What if I lose my password or recovery key?
If you only forget the password, the recovery key gets you back in. It is shown just once at the end of sign-up, so store it somewhere safe. If you lose both, synced data can’t be recovered — that is the flip side of end-to-end encryption.
Does Cidna connect to my bank account?
No. Cidna isn’t connected to any bank account or payment system and never moves money. It’s a record-keeping tool.
How does bank-SMS detection work?
This exists only in the “direct” build and only after you grant the permission. SMS text is processed on the phone, never sent to a server, and offered as a pending transaction for you to confirm. Other builds have no SMS permissions.
Does Cidna have ads or trackers?
No. The app has no advertising, analytics or third-party trackers. This website sets no cookies either; it only remembers your theme choice in your own browser.
How does account deletion work?
Deletion is “soft” first: sessions end immediately and you can restore the account by signing in within 30 days. After that, the account and synced data are erased permanently. Steps are on the account deletion page.
Which calendars and currencies are supported?
Jalali and Gregorian calendars, amounts in Toman or Rial, and a fully Persian and English interface with proper right-to-left and left-to-right support.
Which devices does it run on?
Cidna is an Android app (Android 8.0 or later). There’s no iOS or web version.
Can I use it on more than one phone?
Yes. Sign in with the same account on another phone and your data syncs. You can see your device list, remove a device remotely, and get an alert whenever a new device signs in.
Can I export my data?
Yes — PDF and Excel (XLSX) exports of transactions from the app’s settings, plus shareable image cards for individual transactions.
Can people under 18 use it?
Use by people under 18 should be with the knowledge and supervision of a parent or legal guardian.
How do I contact support?
Email cidna.app@gmail.com, WhatsApp or social media — every channel is on the Contact page.