> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.outband.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Frequently Asked Questions

> Answers to common questions about Outband.

## Getting Started

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Is Outband free to use?">
    Yes. The Starter plan is completely free and includes the Daily Briefing, AI categorization, and Observer mode. Paid plans (starting at \$60/month) unlock draft generation, Perception Preview, and higher trust levels.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do I need to change my email provider?">
    No. Outband works alongside your existing email provider. You keep using Gmail, Outlook, or any IMAP-compatible email service exactly as you do today. Outband adds an intelligence layer on top.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How long does setup take?">
    About 10 minutes. Your first Daily Briefing appears within 30 seconds of connecting your email. Full Contact Intelligence for your top 50 contacts builds within the first hour.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I connect multiple email accounts?">
    Yes. You can connect multiple Gmail, Outlook, and IMAP accounts. All accounts feed into a unified Daily Briefing and shared Contact Models.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is Outband available in Japanese?">
    Yes. Outband supports English and Japanese. You can switch languages at any time from Settings > Appearance. The AI also understands Japanese communication conventions including Keigo (honorific language levels).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Privacy & Security

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Does Outband store my email password?">
    No. Outband uses OAuth tokens issued by Google or Microsoft. Your password is never stored by Outband. You can revoke access at any time from your Google or Microsoft account settings.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can Outband read all my emails?">
    Outband reads emails to analyze them and build your Daily Briefing and Contact Models. You can exclude specific contacts, domains, topics, or folders from AI processing using Exclusion Controls.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Will Outband send emails without my permission?">
    Only if you explicitly enable it. In Observer and Drafter modes, Outband never sends messages. In Auto+Review and Full Delegation modes, Outband can send routine messages, but VIP contacts and sensitive topics always require your approval.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I export my data?">
    Yes, at any time. Go to Settings > Data Export and choose your format (Markdown, CSV, or JSON). There are no fees, no restrictions, and no degraded formats.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens if I delete my account?">
    All your data enters a 30-day grace period. During this time you can reactivate your account and recover everything. After 30 days, all data is permanently deleted.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is my data used to train AI models for other users?">
    No. Your data is never used to train models for other users. Your Contact Models and Personal DNA are yours alone.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Features

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What is the difference between Observer and Drafter mode?">
    In Observer mode, Outband only reads and summarizes your messages -- it never takes any action. In Drafter mode, Outband prepares draft responses for you to review, edit, and approve before sending.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What is Perception Prediction?">
    Perception Prediction shows you how a specific recipient is likely to interpret your message before you send it. It uses the recipient's Contact Model to simulate their perspective, helping you adjust tone, clarity, and cultural sensitivity.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What is a Communication Canvas?">
    A Canvas is an auto-generated structured view of a complex conversation thread. It extracts agreements, open items, action items, and conflicts, so you can understand a long thread at a glance without re-reading everything.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What are VIP contacts?">
    VIP contacts are people you have marked as most important. Their messages always appear in your Daily Briefing for personal review, regardless of your trust level. They are never auto-handled.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I use Outband with Slack?">
    Yes. Connect your Slack workspace from Settings > Connected Accounts. Slack messages will be integrated into your Daily Briefing and will enrich your Contact Models with cross-channel data.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does Outband work on mobile?">
    Outband is a responsive web application that works on desktop, tablet, and mobile browsers. There is no native app currently, but the web experience is optimized for all screen sizes.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Billing

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can I change plans at any time?">
    Yes. Upgrades take effect immediately. Downgrades take effect at the end of your current billing period.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What payment methods are accepted?">
    Outband accepts all major credit cards through Stripe.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is there a team discount?">
    The Team plan (\$100/month per user) includes team-specific features like shared policies and Team Repo. Enterprise customers with 50+ users should contact us for custom pricing.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>