When I first came across the Are You Dead app, I had the same reaction most people do… That’s a terrible name.
Then I read what it actually does and why millions of people are downloading it, and the discomfort suddenly made sense.
The app doesn’t do anything flashy. There’s no AI, no wellness dashboard, no motivational quotes. It simply asks you to confirm you’re alive once every two days. That’s it. Miss the check-in, and the app alerts someone you trust, saying you might be in trouble.
It sounds extreme until you stop and think about how many people live alone now, and how quietly things can go wrong.
A Small Idea That Hit a Big Nerve
The Are You Dead app was launched in China in May 2025 and barely registered at first. No big marketing push. No viral launch campaign. Just a simple description: a safety companion for people who live alone, like office workers, students, and anyone choosing a solitary lifestyle.
And then, suddenly, it took off.
Within weeks, it shot to the top of China’s paid app charts. According to the BBC, it’s especially popular among young urban residents, people who’ve moved away from family, work long hours, and don’t necessarily have someone checking in on them every day.
What struck me isn’t that the app exists. It’s that it took this long for something like it to go mainstream.
App Overview
| Feature | Details |
| App name (China) | Are You Dead |
| International name | Demumu |
| Launch date | May 2025 |
| Core function | Bi-daily check-in |
| Alert trigger | Missed check-in |
| Emergency contact | One pre-selected person |
Built for Almost Nothing, Now Worth Crores
Here’s another part of the story that feels almost unreal. The app was built by three young developers born after 1995 in Zhengzhou, Henan. Small team. No major funding. The reported development cost? About 1,000 yuan. That’s roughly ₹13,000.
Today, one of the founders says they’re planning to sell 10% of the company for one million yuan, around ₹1.29 crore, putting the app’s valuation close to ₹13 crore.
That kind of jump usually comes from cutting-edge tech. Here, it came from understanding a very human fear.
Financial Snapshot
| Metric | Amount |
| Development cost | 1,000 yuan (≈ ₹13,000) |
| Planned stake sale | 10% |
| Fundraising target | 1 million yuan (≈ ₹1.29 crore) |
| Estimated valuation | ≈ ₹13 crore |
Why People Are Downloading It?
China is changing fast. Solo living is no longer an exception; it’s becoming the norm. Estimates suggest that by 2030, the country could have nearly 200 million one-person households.
When you read user reactions online, the appeal becomes obvious. One comment said people living alone, introverts, those dealing with depression, and the unemployed need something like this. Another comment was even more blunt: “If I died alone, who would collect my body?”
That question is uncomfortable. But it’s also honest.
One user, Wilson Hou, who works in Beijing far from his family, explained it simply. If something happened to him, no one would know. That’s why he set his mother as his emergency contact on the app.
No philosophy… Just practicality…
Solo Living Context in China
| Indicator | Data |
| Estimated one-person households by 2030 | ~200 million |
| Solo living trend | Rapidly increasing |
| Primary user groups | Young professionals, students, migrants |
Note: We have also compared Chinese Startups vs Indian Startups. You can read the article for surprising details.
The Name Problem and Why It Might Actually Work?
Not everyone likes the name Are You Dead app, and I get why. Some users say it feels inauspicious, even unlucky. Others have suggested softer alternatives like “Are You OK?” or “How Are You?”
The company agrees, at least partially. Internationally, the app already goes by a different name: Demumu. And yes, they’re considering a rebrand.
But here’s the thing: the bluntness is part of why the app went viral. It doesn’t sugarcoat the issue. It forces you to confront a reality most apps carefully avoid.
Going Global and What’s Next?
Outside China, Demumu is already climbing paid app charts in places like the US, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and Spain, largely among Chinese users living abroad.
The app now costs about 8 yuan, roughly ₹100, after initially being free. The founders say the fee helps cover growing operational costs. They’re also exploring new versions aimed at elderly users, another group for whom isolation is a real concern.
Pricing and Expansion
| Aspect | Details |
| Current price | 8 yuan (≈ ₹100) |
| Initial pricing | Free |
| Key international markets | US, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Spain |
| Future focus | Elderly users |
Final Words
The success of the Are You Dead app isn’t about technology. It’s about timing and honesty.
It asks a question most of us don’t like to think about. And maybe that’s exactly why it works. In a world where more people are living alone than ever before, the app isn’t morbid. It’s practical. And for many users, it’s reassuring.
Sometimes, being checked on is enough!
