Help & FAQ

What is Circles?

Circles is a group planning tool that makes coordinating events feel effortless. Instead of endless back-and-forth messages, use action cards to poll for dates, collect RSVPs, coordinate carpools, split costs, and more—all in one organized space.

Do I need an account?

No! You can use Circles completely anonymously. When you create or join an event, just enter your name and start planning. Your session is saved in a cookie so you can return to your events.

Creating an account (optional) lets you access your events from any device, get email notifications, and save friend groups. But it's not required to use the core features.

How do I create my first event?

1. Click "Create Event" on the homepage or dashboard
2. Give your event a name (e.g., "Game Night" or "Sarah's Birthday")
3. Add a rough date/time (can be TBD)
4. Click "Create" and get a shareable link
5. Share the link with your friends—they don't need accounts to join!

How do I join someone else's event?

Just click the link they shared. You'll see the event details and can RSVP, vote on options, and participate in cards—no signup required.

What are action cards?

Action cards are interactive building blocks for coordinating events. Instead of hunting through message threads for who's bringing what or which date works best, cards organize everything in one place.

Each card handles a specific coordination task—polls, RSVPs, sign-up lists, carpool coordination, photo sharing, expense splitting, and more.

How do I add a card?

1. Go to your event page
2. Click the "+" button or "Add Card"
3. Choose the type of card you need (poll, sign-up list, discussion, etc.)
4. Fill in the details (e.g., poll options, list items)
5. Save—the card appears in your event instantly

What card types are available?

• 📊 Poll: Vote on options (dates, locations, activities)
• 📋 Sign-Up List: Who's bringing what (potluck, supplies)
• 🚗 Carpool: Coordinate rides (offer/request seats)
• 💬 Discussion: Thread comments on specific topics
• 📸 Photos: Share event photos in one place
• 💰 Expense Split: Track and split costs fairly
• 📍 Location Pins: Suggest and vote on venues
• 🎨 Collection Board: Share ideas, links, and inspiration

Want the full catalog? See all action cards.

Can I edit or delete a card?

Edit: Click the ⋮ menu on any card you created and select "Edit". You can update the title, options, or settings.

Delete: Same menu, select "Delete". This action can't be undone, so make sure you want to remove it!

How do RSVPs work?

When viewing an event, you'll see three RSVP options: Going, Maybe, and Can't Make It. Click your status and you're done.

Your RSVP is visible to other participants, and the event shows a headcount of who's going. You can change your RSVP anytime.

What's the "Add guests" feature?

If you're bringing additional people (partner, kids, roommate), click "Add guests" after RSVPing. This:

• Accurately reflects headcount for the organizer
• Helps with capacity planning
• Lets organizers collect guest names if needed

Can events have a capacity limit?

Yes! Organizers can set a capacity when creating or editing an event. Once the limit is reached, additional people are added to a waitlist. If spots open up, waitlisted folks move up automatically.

How do I edit my event?

If you're the organizer, click the ⋮ menu at the top of the event page and select "Edit Event". You can update the name, date/time, location, description, capacity, and settings.

Can I delete an event?

Yes, but only if you're the organizer. Go to the event menu (⋮) and select "Delete Event". This is permanent—all cards, RSVPs, and messages will be deleted and cannot be recovered.

Can I transfer organizer status to someone else?

Yes! Go to the participant list, find the person, and click "Make Organizer". They'll have full control over the event. You can have multiple organizers if needed.

What's the difference between anonymous and authenticated?

Is my data private?

Yes. We take privacy seriously:

• We don't sell your data
• Events are only visible to participants (not public)
• Anonymous users aren't tracked across events
• See our Privacy Policy for full details

How do I delete my data?

Anonymous users: Clear your browser cookies to remove your session. Events you created will remain but won't be linked to you.

Account holders: Go to Settings → Account → Delete Account. This permanently deletes your account, profile, and associated data. Events you created will be transferred to co-organizers or deleted if you're the sole organizer.

What is Pro and how much does it cost?

Free includes up to 3 active events and 10 guests per event. Pro is $3/month ($36/year) for unlimited plans, full history, and smart reminders.

How do I upgrade, downgrade, or cancel?

Go to Settings → Billing to upgrade, manage, or cancel. If you cancel, you keep Pro features until the end of the billing period.

Do you offer refunds?

Monthly subscriptions are non-refundable. Annual subscriptions can be refunded within 7 days of purchase. If you believe you were charged in error, contact support.

How do notifications work?

If you have an account, you can opt in to email notifications for:

• Event reminders before the date
• When someone RSVPs to your events
• New messages or card updates
• Poll results or decisions

Configure your notification preferences in Settings → Preferences.

Can I mute notifications for a specific event?

Yes! Go to the event page, click the ⋮ menu, and toggle "Mute Notifications". You'll stay in the event but won't get emails about updates.

Can I change my display name?

Authenticated users: Go to Settings → Account and update your name. It will reflect across all events.

Anonymous users: Your name is set per event. When creating or joining a new event, enter the name you want to use.

I can't see my events anymore

Anonymous users: If you cleared browser cookies or switched browsers, your session is lost. If you have the event link, you can rejoin but will appear as a new participant.

Authenticated users: Make sure you're logged in to the same account. Check your email for event links if needed.

I forgot my password

Click "Sign In" → "Forgot Password" and enter your email. We'll send you a password reset link.

The event link doesn't work

Double-check the link hasn't been cut off in a message. Event links look like: circles.jroth.space/events/...

If the link is correct and still doesn't work, the event may have been deleted by the organizer.

Something's broken or not working right

We're sorry! Please report bugs or issues to: support@circles.jroth.space

Include:

• What you were trying to do
• What happened instead
• Your browser (Chrome, Safari, etc.)
• Screenshots if possible