PaceBuddy Support

Need help? We're here.
Email: support@pace-buddy.com
We typically respond within 1–2 business days.


Getting started

How do I start my first session?

Open the app and tap the task field at the top of the screen. Enter what you're working on, choose a duration, and tap Start. Your companion will be with you throughout.

How do I choose a companion?

When you first open the app, you'll be asked to choose your companion. You can change your companion anytime in Settings → Companion.

What is Dax?

Dax is your AI focus teammate — a pixel-art character who works alongside you during focus sessions and keeps you company during breaks. At the end of each session, Dax gives you a personalized recap of what you worked on and how the session went.

Does PaceBuddy require an internet connection?

You need an internet connection to create your account and sync sessions. The core timer works offline, but AI recaps, day planning, and some features require a connection.


Companion characters

What's the difference between companions?

Each companion has their own personality, AI voice, planning philosophy, and recap style. Switching companions changes how the app feels and what the AI says. Dax is friendly and balanced. Echo is reflective. Coda loves completions. Lumi is enthusiastic. Aria is gentle and energy-aware. Vex comes with the Founder's Pack.

Is Aria really free?

Yes. Aria is designed for people with POTS, ME/CFS, chronic illness, and low-energy conditions. We believe accessibility tools should never be paywalled. Aria ships free and will always be free.

What is the Founder's Pack?

The Founder's Pack includes the Vex companion (exclusive — not sold separately), the Aquarium break biome, 500 starting gems, a Founder badge, and Founder-tier drops for 12 months from your purchase date. It's for people who want to support what PaceBuddy is becoming.


Day planning + AI

How does day planning work?

Tap the Plan pill on the timer screen. Type what's on your plate today (in plain language — "ship the proposal, fix the build, write recap email"). Your companion splits it into focus blocks, tags each one, and lets you review and edit before locking it in.

What does "BYOK" mean?

"Bring your own key" — you can add your own Anthropic (Claude) or OpenAI API key in Settings. AI features will use your provider account. Your key never leaves your device except as a single-use header on AI calls; we don't log or persist it.

Why did the AI just split my text on commas?

That's the local fallback — the AI didn't actually run. Likely no AI key is configured. Add a key in Settings → AI Companion (BYOK), or get the Founder's Pack for bundled AI credits, or run with the local fallback (which is honest about what it can do).


In-app purchases

How do I restore my purchases?

Go to Settings → Store → tap your active purchase. PaceBuddy automatically restores purchases from your Apple ID on app launch.

I bought the Founder's Pack but it's not showing up.

Try restarting the app. If it still doesn't appear, email us at support@pace-buddy.com with your Apple ID email and we'll look into it.

Can I get a refund?

Refund requests are handled by Apple. Visit reportaproblem.apple.com, find the PaceBuddy purchase, and follow Apple's refund process. We are unable to process refunds directly.

Do purchases carry over if I get a new iPhone?

Yes. Sign in with the same Apple ID on your new device and PaceBuddy will restore your purchases. Everything you've bought will be available.


Accessibility and health features

Is PaceBuddy a medical app?

No. PaceBuddy is a productivity and planning tool. The companion modes for POTS, ME/CFS, ADHD, autism, and other conditions are pacing and planning tools — they are not medical devices, health services, or replacements for medical care. Always follow advice from your healthcare provider.

What does Aria do differently?

Aria is designed around energy-aware planning. She offers shorter default session lengths, a capacity check-in at the start of each day, a flare-day mode for very low capacity days, pacing suggestions based on what you report, and language that never pressures you to do more than you can.

Can I use PaceBuddy if I have ADHD, autism, or chronic pain?

Yes — the app is designed to be useful for neurodivergent and chronically ill users. Aria and future companion modes offer flexible session lengths, low-shame planning, and sensory controls. We recommend exploring the companion modes and accessibility settings to find what works for you.

Will PaceBuddy share my health data?

No. Self-reported data (energy, pain, brain fog, etc.) is stored securely and is never shared with third parties, advertisers, insurers, or employers. See our Privacy Policy for full details.


Account and data

How do I delete my account?

Go to Settings → Account → Delete Account. This will permanently delete your account and all associated data within 30 days.

Can I export my session history?

A data export feature is planned for a future update. In the meantime, your session history is visible in the Sessions tab.

What data does PaceBuddy collect?

See our Privacy Policy for a complete list. The short version: we collect your email, your session history, and optionally your self-reported state data. We do not collect location, contacts, or payment information.


Technical issues

The app crashed or froze.

Force-quit the app and reopen it. If the issue persists, email us at support@pace-buddy.com with your iPhone model and iOS version.

My streak disappeared.

Streaks require at least one completed session per day. If a session was interrupted or the app was closed before the session ended, it may not have counted. Email us if you believe your streak was lost incorrectly.

The recap doesn't seem accurate.

AI recaps are generated based on your session data and task label. If the recap seems off, it may be because the task label was vague or the session was interrupted. Try using more specific task labels for better recaps.


Contact us

Email: support@pace-buddy.com
Response time: 1–2 business days

We're a small team and we read every email. If something isn't working right or something in the app made you feel bad, we want to know.


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PaceBuddy is developed by Ted Gordon.