Question 1

Why not just make a Google Doc or a slideshow?

Accepted Answer

You could. Most people don't — because a blank page asks you to be a writer before you've even remembered anything. Preserve gives you three human questions instead: what makes them special, what you remember, and how they changed you. Write it or say it. A sentence or two is enough. Your words stay your words. Preserve handles the sequencing, the pacing, the photos and voice notes, and the ending — so what they open reads like a finished book rather than a folder.

Question 2

How is Preserve different from Storyworth or Remento?

Accepted Answer

Storyworth and Remento are built primarily around collecting someone's life stories over time and turning them into a printed book. Preserve is a digital gift about what someone means to you, made from memories, photos, video, voice, and words. You can start one in minutes, make it entirely yourself or invite others, and publish it for $19.99 once.

Question 3

Do I need other people to help, or can I do this alone?

Accepted Answer

One person is enough. A Preserve made by you alone is complete — it has a beginning, a middle, and a real ending. If you want it to be bigger, you can invite up to 5 other people, and each of them adds one meaningful contribution — a memory of their own, with photos or voice notes. That makes a Preserve broader, not more legitimate.

Question 4

How long does it take?

Accepted Answer

Most people spend somewhere between fifteen minutes and an evening. You can stop at any point — your answers save as you write, and you can come back and pick up where you left off. You can write your answers or simply say them. Preserve turns what you say into editable text, so you can review it before continuing.

Question 5

Can I edit it after I publish it?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You stay the owner. You can rewrite text, add or remove photos, videos, and voice notes, change the cover, and reorder memories after publishing — the person you shared it with sees your latest version, not a frozen copy.

Question 6

Who can see it? Is it searchable on Google?

Accepted Answer

Only the people you choose. A Preserve is private by default — there is no public gallery, no directory, and no option to make one public. Share links are excluded from search engines, and uploaded photos, videos, and voice notes are served through short-lived signed links rather than public URLs. You can add a password to a share link, give it an expiration date, or revoke it entirely at any time.

Question 7

What does it cost?

Accepted Answer

$19.99, once, per Preserve. There is no subscription and no renewal. Creating, writing, adding media, and previewing the whole thing is free. You only pay when you're ready to publish and share it.

Question 8

What happens if I create a Preserve but don't publish it?

Accepted Answer

Nothing is published or shared until you choose to publish it. If you've saved your Preserve to your account, you can leave it unfinished and come back to keep editing later. Publishing is when the one-time $19.99 payment applies. If you start before creating an account, that draft remains in the browser you started it in until you save it to your account.

Question 9

Does it expire? What happens years from now?

Accepted Answer

Your Preserve doesn't run on a timer, and nothing is deleted because a plan lapsed — there is no plan to lapse. The honest answer about “forever” is this: we intend to host your Preserve for the long term. When you share a finished Preserve, you can choose to let recipients download the photos, videos, and voice notes you’ve included.

Question 10

Is my payment information safe?

Accepted Answer

Card details are entered directly into Stripe's payment fields and never touch Preserve's servers or database. We store only the fact that a Preserve was paid for.

Question 11

Will my memories be used to train AI?

Accepted Answer

No. Preserve uses AI to help organize and sequence what you write and to suggest prompts. We do not use your photos, recordings, or written memories to train AI models. Content processed through our AI provider's gateway at runtime is not used to train its models, and its agreements with the underlying model providers restrict use of that content to providing the service, including restrictions on training. See our Trust page for how retention works. AI helps you find the words. It doesn't replace yours. Preserve helps organize and shape what you already know and feel. Preserve does not invent the relationship.

Question 12

What if the person doesn't like it, or I change my mind?

Accepted Answer

You can delete a single memory, an entire Preserve, or your whole account at any time. If something has gone wrong with a purchase, email us and we'll sort it out with you directly.

Question 13

What's the refund policy?

Accepted Answer

Not happy with your Preserve? Contact us within 14 days of purchase for a full refund, no questions asked.

Question 14

Can I use this for someone who has passed away?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and people do. Preserve was built so the person can still be here to read it — that's the whole point — but the same form works as a tribute afterward, for a family that wants the stories in one place.

Question 15

How do I reach a person if I need help?

Accepted Answer

Email hello@thisispreserve.com. A person reads every message, and we aim to reply within one business day.

Questions people ask before they start.

Preserve, in plain terms

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