Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about Comma — on both the phone app (Android/iOS) and the web app (the browser-based PWA). Where an answer differs between the two, it’s called out explicitly.

If your question isn’t here, check Troubleshooting or reach out via Settings → About → Help & Docs.

General

What is Comma?

Comma is a privacy-first earnings tracker for gig workers. It tracks your shifts, mileage, expenses, and taxes across DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, Amazon Flex, and a dozen other platforms. Everything is stored locally on your device — no account, no server, no subscription required for the core features. See the Introduction for the full picture.

Do I need an account to use Comma?

No. There is no sign-up, no email, no password. You open the app and start tracking. The only time Google sign-in appears is if you choose to connect your own Google Drive for backup — and even then, Comma only touches a private app folder in your own Drive.

Is Comma free?

Yes. Every core feature — shift tracking, GPS mileage, expenses, tax estimates, goals, analytics, and manual Google Drive backup — is free. There is no paywall on your own data.

Is Comma open source?

Yes. Comma is MIT-licensed and open source. See the project on GitHub.

Web app vs. phone app

What’s the difference between the web app and the phone app?

The two share the same data model, so a backup made on one can be restored on the other.

Should I use the web app or the phone app?

Use the phone app if you want automatic GPS mileage tracking while you drive — that’s what the background location engine is built for. Use the web app if you prefer to log shifts from a laptop, want to review your analytics on a bigger screen, or can’t install the native app. Many drivers use the phone app to track and the web app to review.

Can I use both at the same time?

Yes, but they’re separate local vaults. Data does not automatically flow between them yet — you’d move data with a Google Drive backup/restore or an export/import. Continuous Cloud Sync that keeps devices in step is in development.

How do I install the web app?

Open the Comma web app at comma-psi.vercel.app in your browser, then:

• Chrome / Edge (desktop or Android): look for the install icon in the address bar, or open the menu → Install Comma / Add to Home screen.
• Safari (iOS): tap the Share button → Add to Home Screen.

Once installed it runs in its own window, works offline, and behaves like a native app. In the web app you can also trigger this from Settings → About → Install COMMA.

Shifts & mileage

How does GPS mileage tracking work?

On the phone app, when you start a live shift Comma runs a native background location service that records your route. It separates active miles (driving with an order) from dead miles (commuting, waiting) and totals your deductible mileage automatically. See Mileage Tracking and the GPS Engine for details.

Does GPS tracking work in the web app?

Not reliably. Browsers throttle or suspend location access when the tab is in the background, so Comma’s web app can’t run the same continuous tracker. On the web, log your mileage manually (odometer start/end or a known trip distance) when you save the shift.

Why does the phone app ask for “always allow” location?

Background mileage tracking needs location access even when the screen is off or the app is backgrounded — that’s the whole point of automatic tracking. If you only grant “while using the app,” tracking will stop the moment you switch apps or lock your phone. You can change this in your device’s system settings anytime.

Will GPS tracking drain my battery?

The tracker is tuned to sample only as often as needed to reconstruct your route, and it stops the moment you end a shift. Keep your phone on its car charger during shifts — most drivers do — and battery impact is negligible over a normal shift.

I forgot to start a shift. Can I add it afterward?

Yes. Tap Log Past Shift, enter the start/end times, earnings, tips, and mileage (leave mileage blank if you don’t know it). You can edit any field later from the Shifts list. See Shift Tracking.

What are “active” vs “dead” miles?

Active miles are driven while you have an accepted order — these are the miles you’re being paid to drive. Dead miles are everything else: driving to a hotspot, waiting, or heading home. Both are typically deductible as business miles, but Comma tracks them separately so you can see your true efficiency. Core Concepts explains this fully.

Expenses & taxes

Which countries does Comma support for taxes?

The US 🇺🇸, Canada 🇨🇦, the UK 🇬🇧, and Nepal 🇳🇵. Comma loads the correct mileage rates, self-employment tax brackets, and currency for your country. You pick your country during onboarding and can change it in Settings.

How accurate are the tax estimates?

Comma uses the official standard mileage rate (IRS, CRA, etc.) and self-employment tax brackets to give you a running estimate. It’s built to give you real numbers to bring to your accountant — it is not tax advice or a filing service. Always verify with a professional before filing. See Tax Center.

Standard mileage rate or actual expenses — which should I use?

That’s your choice (and often your accountant’s advice). Comma pre-fills the standard mileage rate but lets you switch to actual expenses per vehicle in Tax Center → Vehicle Tax Profile. See Tax Center.

Which expenses are deductible?

Comma lets you categorize each expense (fuel, phone, maintenance, gear, etc.) and marks its typical deductibility. The Expenses guide walks through categories and how they flow into your tax estimate.

Backup, sync & data

Where is my data stored?

Locally. On the phone app it’s a SQLite database inside the app’s private sandbox; on the web app it lives in your browser’s storage. Comma has no server and cannot see your data. See Backup & Sync Overview.

What happens if I lose my phone?

If you don’t have a backup, you lose your data — that’s the one real tradeoff of local-first. This is exactly why Comma offers encrypted Google Drive backup. If you back up regularly, you can restore onto a new device in minutes. See Google Drive Backup.

Is my Google Drive backup private?

Yes. Your data is encrypted on your device before it’s uploaded (AES-256, key derived from your passphrase). It goes into a hidden app-only folder in your Drive that even you can’t browse directly, and that no one else — not Google, not Comma’s developers — can read. See Encryption.

What if I forget my backup passphrase?

Your cloud data becomes permanently unrecoverable. The passphrase is the sole input to the encryption key by design — there is no reset and no recovery. Write it down somewhere safe. See Encryption.

Can I move my data between the web app and the phone app?

Yes — make a Google Drive backup (or export a vault file) on one, then restore/import it on the other. They share the same data format. Note that a restore replaces the target device’s data, so restore onto a fresh install or one you’re happy to overwrite.

Does cloud sync between two devices work yet?

Continuous multi-device Cloud Sync is in development. For now, backup-and-restore is the supported way to move data between devices.

How do I delete all my data?

In the app you can reset the vault (Settings → Data), which wipes local data. To also delete anything stored in your Google Drive, disconnect Comma’s Drive access. For the formal, Play Store–compliant process, see the Data Deletion Request page.

Privacy

Does Comma track me or sell my data?

No. Comma collects no analytics, no telemetry, and no usage data of any kind. It has no server to send anything to. Your earnings, location, and expenses never leave your device unless you enable Google Drive backup — and even then they’re encrypted so only you can read them. See the Privacy Policy.

Can Comma’s developers see my earnings?

No. There is no backend that receives your data, and cloud backups are encrypted with a key only you hold.

Next steps

• Quick Start — Install and log your first shift
• Troubleshooting — Fix common issues on web and phone
• Core Concepts — The terminology behind the numbers