Getting StartedIntroduction

Introduction

What is Comma?

Comma is a mobile earnings tracker designed for independent gig workers. If you drive for DoorDash, deliver for Uber Eats, shop for Instacart, or fulfill orders for Amazon Flex — Comma is built for you.

It answers the questions that matter at tax time:

  • How much did I actually earn last month, after expenses?
  • How many miles did I drive, and how many are deductible?
  • What do I owe in self-employment taxes?
  • Was Tuesday or Friday more profitable per hour?

Who is it for?

Comma is designed for gig workers who:

  • Work one or multiple delivery/rideshare platforms simultaneously or across different days
  • Want to track mileage automatically without carrying a separate GPS device
  • Need to log expenses and understand which ones reduce their tax bill
  • Prefer their financial data to stay on their own device rather than on a company’s server
  • Want a clean, fast app that doesn’t require creating an account

Core philosophy

Local-first. All data is stored in a SQLite database on your phone. Comma works completely offline. There is no backend server, no user account, no subscription required to use the core features.

Privacy by design. Comma cannot see your data. It doesn’t send earnings, mileage, or location data anywhere. If you enable Google Drive backup, your data is encrypted on your device before it leaves — only you can decrypt it with your passphrase.

Tax-accurate, not tax-advice. Comma gives you numbers to bring to your accountant, not a filing service. It knows the IRS standard mileage rate, the CRA rate, and self-employment tax brackets — but always verify with a professional.


What Comma tracks

CategoryDetails
ShiftsStart/end time, platform, earnings, tips, duration, GPS route
MileageActive delivery miles, dead (commute) miles, deductible total
ExpensesFuel, phone, maintenance, gear — categorized with deductibility
VehiclesMultiple vehicles, odometer readings, maintenance history
Tax estimatesSelf-employment tax, mileage deduction, quarterly projections
GoalsWeekly/monthly earnings, hours, or mileage targets
AnalyticsEarnings trends, best days/hours, per-platform breakdown

Supported platforms

Comma ships with definitions for major gig platforms in North America and the UK. You can also add any custom platform not in the list.

Delivery & grocery: DoorDash, Uber Eats, SkipTheDishes, Instacart, Amazon Flex, Gopuff, Shipt, Walmart Spark, Cornershop

Rideshare: Uber, Lyft, Via, InDriver

Courier / tasks: TaskRabbit, Postmates, HopSkipDrive, Roadie

Other: Custom platforms (any label, color, and rate you choose)


Next steps

  • Quick Start — Install and log your first shift in 5 minutes
  • Core Concepts — Understand the terminology before diving in