FAQ
Questions, answered
Do I need an account?
No. There's no sign-up, email, or password. Tally Stick generates a 24-word recovery phrase on first use — that phrase is your whole identity.
Can you read my data?
No. Everything is encrypted on your device before it's sent. The sync server only ever sees opaque ciphertext, so we — and anyone who runs a server — cannot read your expenses.
What happens if I lose my recovery phrase?
There is no reset. Because we hold no keys and no account, nobody can recover your data for you. If you lose every device and haven't written the phrase down, the data is gone. Write the phrase down and keep it safe.
Is it really free?
Yes. Tally Stick is free to use. It's part of an open-source suite you can inspect or self-host.
Is it open source?
Yes — the apps, the shared encryption core, and the server are all public. You can read exactly how the cryptography works, or run your own server.
Can I self-host the sync server?
Yes. The server is a single small binary (Docker image provided). Point the app at your own server URL and your ciphertext syncs through infrastructure you control.
Does it work offline?
Yes. It's a Progressive Web App with a local encrypted cache. It works without a connection and syncs when you're back online.
How do I use it on more than one device?
Scan a setup QR code from a device you already have (or type the 24 words) and the new device pulls your encrypted keystore — the same expense groups appear everywhere. Every device stays live in sync, and one that's been offline automatically catches up the moment it reconnects, so they all end up showing the same thing.
How does sharing work — who can add or remove people?
Each shared space has owners and members. Whoever creates an expense group is its owner; they can invite others (a QR code or invite carries just that one space's key), hand co-ownership to someone they trust, or remove a member. An owner can also step down. Ownership is checked cryptographically by the server — which still can't read anything you store.
What happens when I remove someone from a shared space?
The space's key is immediately rotated and re-shared to everyone who remains, so the person you removed can't read anything added afterwards. What they already saw while they were in the space isn't clawed back — so removal cuts off future access rather than erasing the past.
What currencies does it support?
Each group has its own currency, chosen when you create it.
How are balances simplified?
Tally Stick nets everyone out and finds a minimal set of payments to settle the group, so you make as few transfers as possible.
Start using Tally Stick
No sign-up, no email, no password. Open it and go — your data is encrypted before it leaves your device.