Frequently Asked Questions
Does Shona work without internet?
Yes. Offline-first is how Shona is built, not a fallback mode — every action writes to your phone first. You can add clients, take orders and record payments with no signal at all, and everything pushes to the server the next time you're connected.
How do I back up my data?
It happens on its own. Every change is pushed to your account whenever your phone has a connection, and there's a Sync Now button in Settings if you want to force it. Two small things stay on the device only: any measurements you added to the catalog yourself, and your daily reminder time.
Can I use Shona on more than one device?
Yes — sign in on the new phone and your clients, orders and payments are pulled down. Shona is one account per shop, though, so use one device at a time. If the same account is open on two phones at once, whichever one saves last wins.
How do I send a WhatsApp message to a client?
Open any order and tap the message button — Shona opens WhatsApp with the message already written for that client. You can send over SMS instead, and choose Swahili or English.
Can I change what the customer messages say?
Yes, all of them. There are eleven templates — a welcome, one for each order stage, deadline changed, staff assigned, a payment receipt and a sales receipt — and each one can be rewritten in both Swahili and English. Placeholders like {name}, {outfit}, {deadline} and {balance} are filled in when you send.
Can I use the app in English but message customers in Swahili?
Yes — that's the common setup. The app's language and your customer-message language are two separate settings, so you can read the interface in English while every client hears from you in Swahili.
Can I sell ready-made clothes too?
Yes. There's a shop counter for selling finished items: build a cart, apply a discount, take payment, see the change due, and send a receipt over WhatsApp or SMS straight away. It also tracks stock, handles returns line by line, and gives you sales reports. If you don't sell ready-made items, switch it off and it disappears from the app entirely.
How do I add a staff member?
Staff live in shop mode. In Settings, switch your tailor mode from Solo to Shop — a Team section appears, and you can add people there and assign orders to them. Solo tailors never see it.
I forgot my password. How do I reset it?
On the login screen, tap Forgot Password and enter your email address. You will receive a reset link within a few minutes. If you signed up with Google or Apple, use that same button to sign back in instead.
What can Shona not do?
Worth saying plainly: there are no PDF invoices — receipts are plain text for WhatsApp and SMS. There's no barcode or QR scanning, no appointment or fitting calendar, and no general expense tracking (costs attach to a specific order). Staff are records rather than logins, so there's one account per shop.
How do I delete my account?
Go to Settings → Account → Delete Account. This permanently removes all your data from our servers. This action cannot be undone.
Is Shona free?
Yes — Shona is free to download and use, and no subscription is required to run your shop from it. The app is supported by occasional ads, which helps us keep it free for all tailors.
Support Shona
Shona is free to use — no subscription required. Contributions cover the servers that keep your data synced and safe, and pay for the next features on the roadmap.
Give any amount from TZS 1,000 to TZS 5,000,000 — you enter the amount and your mobile number on the Zipay page.
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