Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we hear the most. If yours isn't here, get in touch.
Do I need an account to use the app?
No. There is no sign-up, no email, no password. Open the app and start adding assets. If you later want your data on another device, you can enable Sync & Encryption from Settings.
Is it really free?
Yes. Monk Portfolio is an independent app with no ads, no trackers, and no subscriptions today.
What happens if I lose my phone or laptop?
If sync is enabled, authenticate with another passkey-bearing device and your portfolio is restored. If you only had the one device, your local copy is gone unless you kept a JSON backup. We cannot recover it for you — that's the cost of a zero-knowledge design.
Can Monk see my portfolio?
Not when encryption is on — we store only opaque ciphertext and a non-secret salt, with no key and no way to derive one. See Security & Encryption.
Why do you ask for biometrics?
Face ID, Touch ID, and their equivalents unlock the encryption key. Biometrics are a strong, phishing-resistant way to prove you're the owner of the device, and they don't require a password you have to remember or rotate.
What if my biometrics don't work or the device refuses?
You can still add the device by registering a new passkey and restoring from a JSON backup, or by using another already-registered device to sync.
Do you use cookies or third-party trackers?
No. No cookies at all, and no third-party trackers — no Google Analytics, no Meta pixel, no ad SDKs. Anonymous usage events go through our own server and do not contain portfolio data.
What data goes to OpenAI when I use AI features?
Your chat messages and follow-ups, asset symbols and types, allocation percentages (and period performance for insights). For screenshot import, the image you upload — symbols, types, and quantities are read from it. No dollar amounts or personal identifiers, and the text features never send share counts — see AI & Data Sharing.
How often does sync update between my devices?
Quickly. Changes you make on one device are picked up by your others shortly after, and every device pulls the latest version when you open the app.
Can I use Monk offline?
Yes. Everything is local-first. If you lose connection, the app keeps working and queues sync updates for when you're back online.
Where does pricing data come from?
Our server proxies requests to a third-party pricing API. Only the tickers your device is looking at are sent — no quantities, no identity. If a price is unavailable, the app shows a small indicator in the header.
Can I export my data?
Always. JSON for a full backup, CSV / TSV for a spreadsheet-friendly view — both from Settings > Export / Backup.
How do I delete everything?
Settings > Erase Data. When sync is on you can erase this device only (your encrypted cloud backup and other devices stay intact) or erase everywhere — which also removes the encrypted blob and your passkey from our server. There is no soft-delete.
Is Monk Portfolio open source?
Not open source today. These docs describe how the app works.
How do I contact you?
Visit our Contact Us page, email info@monkportfolio.com, or use Contact Us inside the app to send a bug report, idea, or note.