Help & FAQ.
The honest answers to the questions people actually ask about CostMe - what it is, how it works, what it costs, and what happens to your data. Looking for contact or account help? Visit Support.
Most asked
Why is CostMe web-first?
Because the work that determines whether CostMe actually changes how you spend happens in the details - how Amy responds, how the math feels, how the moments of decision are designed. The web experience is where we refine those details. Native iOS and Android come when they meet the same bar.
Today, CostMe installs to your home screen from any browser on iOS and Android - full-screen, one tap to open. Your account, plan, and data are already there, waiting for the native apps the moment they arrive.
The basics
What is CostMe?
CostMe is a web app that helps you resist impulse purchases by reframing the price. Instead of just seeing what something costs today, you see what that same money could be worth if you invested it instead. You enter a price, see the long-term invested value, then choose to vault it (resist), put it on a 48-hour cooldown, or log it as already purchased. Over time it tracks your lifetime savings, streaks, and milestones.
How does the opportunity-cost calculator work?
You type in a price. CostMe projects what that amount could grow to if it were invested for the long term at a historical market growth rate, and shows you that number next to the price. It's a what-if illustration of opportunity cost - the return you give up by spending instead of investing - not a prediction or a guarantee. The point is to make the trade-off visible in the moment, before you tap pay.
What is the 48-hour vault?
When you're tempted but not sure, you can put a purchase in the vault for 48 hours instead of buying it. It's a built-in cooldown: most impulse urges fade within a day or two, so the wait does the work. After the cooldown you decide with a clearer head - resist for good, or go ahead and log it.
Who is Amy?
Amy is the AI money coach built into CostMe. She's grounded in behavioral-economics research and helps you think through spending decisions in plain language. How much you can chat with her each day, and how deep and detailed her analysis goes, depends on your tier.
Plans & pricing
Is CostMe free?
Yes. The Jade tier is free forever and includes the full opportunity-cost calculator, 48-hour vault cooldowns, active-day tracking, lifetime-savings tracking, and 5 Amy chat turns a day. No credit card to start.
What are the tiers and what do they cost?
There are four tiers: Jade, Opal, Flint, and the web-only Flint Max. Jade is free forever, with 5 Amy chats a day. Opal ($7.99/mo or $59.99/yr) adds unlimited Amy chat with deeper, longer analysis. Flint ($19.99/mo or $159.99/yr) adds Amy at her sharpest with behavioral research citations. Flint Max ($200/mo, web only) adds the behavioral fingerprint, no daily caps, and Amy's longest answers. See the pricing page for the full breakdown.
What's actually different between the tiers?
It's the same Amy and the same warmth at every tier - you're paying for capability and time, not a different AI. Higher tiers give you more chat each day and deeper, longer analysis when your decision calls for it. The free calculator, vault, and savings tracking are the same everywhere.
Can I switch tiers or cancel any time?
Yes. You can change or cancel from Settings whenever you want. Plans are managed from your account at app.costme.io. Your saved history stays with you across tiers, so nothing you've built up is lost - if you downgrade, Amy's daily chat just drops back until you upgrade again.
Do subscriptions auto-renew?
Yes - subscriptions auto-renew until you cancel, and all prices are in USD. You can turn off auto-renew any time before the renewal date and keep access through the end of the current period.
Can I get a refund?
Web and PWA subscriptions are non-refundable - costs are incurred as soon as your subscription begins. You can cancel future renewals anytime to stop the next billing cycle and keep access through the end of the current period. The full clause is in the Terms of Service.
Privacy & data
What does CostMe do with my data?
Our product analytics are no-PII by design - amounts and category labels only, never item names, merchant strings, emails, or Apple IDs. Your decision history and savings data power your own tracking and Amy's coaching. The full detail, including your rights under GDPR, CCPA, UK DPA, APP, and PIPEDA, is in the Privacy Policy.
Can I delete my account and data?
Yes. You can request account and data deletion from within the app or from your account settings. See the Privacy Policy and Support page for the exact steps and what gets removed.
Good to know
Is CostMe financial advice?
No. CostMe is an educational and behavioral tool, not financial, investment, or tax advice. The invested-value numbers are illustrations based on historical growth assumptions, not predictions, and your real results will differ. For decisions about your money, talk to a qualified professional.
What platforms is CostMe on?
CostMe runs in your browser at app.costme.io - it works on any device, no install required.
I have a question that isn't here.
Head to the Support page for contact info and more detailed help on subscriptions and account issues.
Still curious? Just try it.
Jade is free forever, and the calculator works the moment you open it. No card to start.