Frequently asked questions

Is my financial data secure?

Yes. Couple Capital is built on bank-grade security infrastructure, your data is encrypted, and access is controlled so that only you, your partner, and anyone you explicitly grant trusted-contact access to can see your information. You sign in with Google or with an email and password.

What can my partner see?

Once you are linked, Couple Capital is shared by default — you both see the same transactions, goals, net worth, vault and dashboard. That is the whole point: one honest picture. The one exception is anything you mark as a private item in the Essentials Vault. Your partner sees that a number of private items exist, but never their contents.

Do we have to combine our bank accounts?

No. Couple Capital does not change how you bank. It sits on top as a shared view, and you decide how much you bring together — whether you fully combine, keep things separate, or land somewhere in between. You add or import transactions rather than linking live bank feeds.

How do we leave a couple, or unlink?

Go to Settings → Partner and choose Unlink Partner & Stop Sharing. Unlinking revokes your partner's access to your shared finances. You can generate a new link later if you want to reconnect or link with someone else.

Can I export my data?

Yes. Go to Settings → Account → Your data and choose Download. You get a JSON copy of everything your account can read — your profile, your private vault, and your couple's shared data. A partner's private items are never included in your export.

Is Couple Capital free? Do I need a card?

You can start for free, and no card is required to sign up.

What about the AI Coach and privacy?

By default, Capital (the AI Coach) uses Couple Capital's built-in model. If you prefer, you can add your own OpenRouter API key under Settings → AI — that key stays on your device and is never stored on our servers. When you use your own key, your question and household context go to OpenRouter under your key. For sensitive vault documents, the app always tells you where the information goes before analysing anything.

Does Couple Capital give financial or investment advice?

No. Couple Capital helps you organise, track and understand your money, and the AI Coach is an educational coach — not a licensed financial adviser. It will not tell you what to buy, sell or switch. For decisions like investment choices, tax structuring or estate planning, speak to a licensed professional. Couple Capital helps you arrive well prepared.

How does the fair split work if we earn different amounts?

The Contributions page calculates a proportional split of your joint budget based on what each of you earns, so the person who earns more contributes more — a fair share rather than a flat 50/50. It is designed to take the blame out of money and leave just the maths.

How often should we do a Money Date?

Monthly works best for most couples, and it only takes about 15 minutes. When you finish a money date, Couple Capital automatically books the next one to help you keep the streak going.

Is Couple Capital built for South Africa?

Yes — it is made for South African couples. It works in Rands, uses local spending categories (from bond and rent to school fees, medical aid and stokvel contributions), and understands local investment types like TFSAs, RAs, unit trusts and JSE shares. The Essentials Vault is organised around South African essentials, including medical aid, wills and marital regime.

What platforms can I use it on?

• Web — Couple Capital works in any browser, on your computer or your phone.
• Mac — there is a native Mac app you can download from the Couple Capital website. It runs on macOS 12 and later on Apple Silicon, is signed and notarised, and updates itself automatically.
• iPhone and Android — native mobile apps are currently in internal testing on TestFlight and Google Play, so they are not publicly downloadable just yet. In the meantime the web app runs beautifully on your phone, and your data comes with you when the mobile apps launch.

Something is not working, or I have feedback — how do I get help?

The quickest path is to talk to the AI Coach for how-to questions. For anything else, reach out to the Couple Capital team through the app or the website, and check back here as this guide grows.