Question 1

Is Shelf really free?

Accepted Answer

Yes — completely. Shelf is free forever with unlimited items and categories, no subscription, no ads, and no data collection. All your tracked subscriptions, warranties, licenses, and memberships stay on your device. An optional Shelf Pro supporter tier ($3/mo or $30/yr) funds independent development, but the free version never expires.

Question 2

Do I need to create an account to use Shelf?

Accepted Answer

No. Shelf is a private, local-first PWA with no accounts and no cloud — all data is stored in your browser on your device. It works offline and is installable without an app store.

Question 3

What can I track with Shelf?

Accepted Answer

Shelf tracks subscriptions, warranties, licenses, and memberships. For each item you can record the type, category, cost and billing cycle, start date, and renewal or expiry date — with search, filters, category budgets, and visual indicators.

Question 4

How do Shelf's expiry and renewal reminders work?

Accepted Answer

Shelf shows an Expiring Soon dashboard card for anything due within 30 days and sends browser notifications 7, 3, and 1 days before — and on — a subscription renewal or warranty/license/membership expiry. Notifications require permission and are checked hourly while Shelf is open.

Question 5

Can I back up or transfer my Shelf data?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Use the export button to download a complete JSON backup of your inventory, then import that file on another device to restore or transfer your data. Everything remains under your control.

Question 6

Is my Shelf data private?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Shelf stores all data locally on your device — no servers, no accounts, no tracking. Shelf Pro is an optional supporter tier processed through Stripe that adds a supporter badge, priority support, early access to new features, and roadmap votes; it never unlocks your data because your data never leaves your device.

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