Questions are answered by ChaCha Guides, individuals trained by ChaCha, who utilize the Web to find and send answers to users. When initially launched in 2006, ChaCha functioned as a web-based social search engine. Users would enter a search query, and answers would be returned by a human guide. The company's social search function was discontinued in 2008. ChaCha now focuses primarily on answering questions via mobile devices.

• September 1, 2006: Alpha launch of social web search service
• November 6, 2006: Beta launch
• January 3, 2008: Launch of textChaCha, mobile question and answer service
• April 1, 2008: Social web search service discontinued

1. OPTION 1: Send question via text message to ChaCha (242242)
2. OPTION 2: Leave question following the voice prompt by calling 1.800.2ChaCha (1.800.224.2242)
3. OPTION 3: Type question into ChaCha website
4. Receive answer from ChaCha Guide via text message