Questions & Answers

What exactly is VaultStash?

VaultStash is a desktop application with two powerful features: a Secure Vault for your documents and files, and a Personal Finance Tracker to monitor your bank accounts and spending. Everything is encrypted locally with your PIN. No cloud, no accounts required.

Who is this for?

Anyone who wants to keep sensitive information private. Professionals securing contracts and tracking business finances. Individuals storing personal documents, medical records, and managing their money — all without trusting cloud services. If you value privacy, VaultStash is for you.

What can I store in my vault?

Text notes (passwords, private thoughts, sensitive information) and file attachments (PDFs, images, documents — any file type). You can preview images and PDFs directly in the app without exporting them.

How do I organize my files?

VaultStash includes tags and search to keep your vault organized. Add tags to group related documents, then filter by tag or use instant search to find anything quickly — even in large vaults.

How do I get started?

Download VaultStash for free, launch the app, and create your 5-digit PIN. That's it — you're ready to add notes and files to your secure vault. No account, no email, no setup wizard.

Where is my data stored?

On your computer. Only your computer. Your vault is a single encrypted file stored locally. It never touches the internet, never goes to a server, never leaves your machine.

Can I use it on multiple computers?

Yes! Depending on your plan, you can activate VaultStash on 1-10 devices. Each device has its own separate vault. If you need to move your vault between computers, you can copy the vault file.

What platforms are supported?

Currently macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel). Windows version is coming soon — join the waitlist to be notified.

What is the Finance Tracker?

A built-in tool to track all your bank accounts and transactions in one place. Connect your accounts, see balances, review transactions, categorize spending, and understand where your money goes — all stored locally and encrypted with your PIN.

How do I connect my bank accounts?

VaultStash uses SimpleFIN, a privacy-focused bank aggregation service. You create a SimpleFIN account, link your banks through their secure portal, then connect SimpleFIN to VaultStash. Your bank credentials are never stored in VaultStash — only your transaction data.

What is SimpleFIN?

SimpleFIN is a bank data aggregation service designed for privacy. Unlike services like Plaid that sell your data, SimpleFIN charges a small fee ($1.50/month billed annually) and doesn't monetize your information. They connect to your banks and provide read-only access to your transactions.

Is there an extra cost for SimpleFIN?

Yes, SimpleFIN charges $1.50/month (billed as $18/year) for their service. This is separate from VaultStash and goes directly to SimpleFIN.

Can I use VaultStash without the Finance Tracker?

Absolutely. The Finance Tracker is optional. You can use VaultStash purely as a secure document vault without ever connecting bank accounts.

Is VaultStash really free?

Yes! The Free tier is free forever. It includes 10 documents, 1 bank connection, 60-day transaction history, and works on 1 device. Perfect for trying it out or light personal use.

What's included in each tier?

Free ($0): 10 documents, 1 bank connection, 60-day transaction history, 1 device.
Standard ($29/year): Unlimited documents & connections, full transaction history, 3 devices.
Lifetime ($69): Unlimited everything, 5 devices, lifetime license with all updates.

Are there any subscriptions?

Standard is an annual license ($29/year). Lifetime is a one-time payment ($69) — pay once and use VaultStash forever. The only potential recurring cost is SimpleFIN ($1.50/month) if you use the Finance Tracker.

What happens when I hit the free tier limits?

You'll see a prompt to upgrade. Your existing documents and transactions remain accessible — you just can't add more until you upgrade or delete some.

How do I activate my license?

After purchase, you'll receive a license key via email. Enter it in VaultStash Settings → License to unlock your tier. The app validates your key online once, then works offline.

Can I use my license on multiple devices?

Yes, up to your tier's device limit (1-10 devices). You can manage your active devices in the app settings.

How secure is the encryption?

VaultStash uses AES-256-GCM — the same encryption standard used by governments and financial institutions. Your data is protected with military-grade encryption that would take billions of years to crack with current technology.

Is a 5-digit PIN really secure?

Yes, because of how we process it. Your PIN goes through Argon2, a memory-hard key derivation algorithm that won the Password Hashing Competition. It makes each guess computationally expensive, making brute-force attacks impractical even with powerful hardware.

Can you (the company) see my data?

No. We have zero access to your data. We don't run servers that store your information. We don't have backdoors. The app works entirely offline (except for optional license validation). This isn't a privacy policy promise — it's a technical reality.

How do I backup my vault?

Copy your vault file from your application data folder to another secure location — another drive, an encrypted external hard drive, wherever you keep important backups. It's a single file that contains everything.

How do I get support?

Email us at [email protected]. True Lifetime customers get priority support with faster response times.

Is there a user guide?

Yes! Check out our User Guide for detailed instructions on all features.