Frequently asked

Things people want to know
before they run a room.

The short version: it’s free, there’s no login page, and it works on any phone with a browser. The longer version is below.

The basics

Is AskStage really free?: Yes — free forever. No trial, no card, no upsell. If we ever add a paid tier for very large events, everything you use today stays free.
What is a session?: A single event you're running — a talk, an all-hands, a class, a comedy set. You create a session, share the QR, take questions until you end it. Sessions live for six hours by default; you can end one earlier.
What's the difference between Q&A and the live vote mode?: Q&A is open-ended: your audience writes anything, you moderate. Live vote is structured: you set two or more options, start a countdown, the audience picks one. Same rooms, different question shape.

Do I need to sign up?: No. You name a session, and you're running. A private host link is generated for you and saved in your browser — you can also copy it to open the dashboard on another device.
What if I close the tab by accident?: You'll see a "Rejoin" prompt on the home page if the session is still live in your browser. If you cleared your data, the host link you copied earlier still works.
Can I put the display on any screen?: Any device with a browser. Open the Display link on the projector's laptop, cast a tab to a TV, or point a phone at the wall — whatever the room has.
Can I moderate questions before they show?: Yes — the host dashboard has Approve, Dismiss, Pin, and Show Live for every question. Nothing appears on the display unless you tap Show Live.
Can I export the questions after?: Yes. The host dashboard has an Export Transcript button — you get a plain text file of every question, who asked, and its status.

Does my audience need an app?: No. They scan the QR, the page opens in their browser, they type. Nothing to install, nothing to sign up for.
Do they need to give their name?: No. Names are optional. You can also set a session to fully anonymous if you want.
How many people can join?: We've run rooms with hundreds of people at once. If you're expecting thousands, tell us in advance so we can keep an eye on it.

How do you pay for the servers if it's free?: Small side project, small bill. If usage grows enough to matter we'll add a paid tier for very large events — everything you use today will stay free.

Where's my data stored?: On Supabase (Postgres). Questions and session titles live there for the duration of the session and a short window after. We don't sell any of it. If you want your session and its questions deleted early, email us.
What happens if the internet drops in the middle of a session?: Both the host dashboard and the audience page reconnect automatically when the connection comes back. Questions submitted during a brief outage will re-sync the moment things are up.

Email a real person. Usually replies same day.