FAQ - Stories of You
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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about preserving your family's stories

WHY THIS MATTERS

Because voices can't be recovered once they're gone. Every day, families lose irreplaceable memories because we assume we'll have more time. The stories your parents and grandparents carry - the way they laugh when they tell them, the details only they remember - these don't wait for a perfect moment. Start with one story today. Thirty years from now, you'll be grateful you did.
Thirty years ago, my grandfather recorded 40 minutes of family stories on his VHS camcorder. That recording is now one of my most treasured possessions - I just wish he had done more. Stories of You exists so no one else has to have that same regret. We make it easy to preserve your family's voices before those stories are lost forever.
Your grandchildren will disagree. The "ordinary" stories - what your neighborhood was like, how you met your spouse, your first job - become extraordinary with time. Your voice telling them makes them priceless. Every story you record is a gift to people who don't exist yet but will desperately want to hear your voice someday.

FOR NEW VISITORS

Stories of You preserves family memories in the voices of the people you love. Too often, we lose the stories of parents and grandparents because traditional methods feel overwhelming. We make it simple: record by phone or browser, and we transform your voice into a beautiful video with AI visuals, captions, and a transcript. Your voice, your story - preserved forever.
Click "Record a Story" to experience what your family will get. Enter your name and email, choose a prompt, and either record now using your device's microphone, or get a call - we'll call your phone so you can tell your story naturally. You can record up to 2 stories per day through Try It Free. Your finished video will be emailed in about 10 minutes.
Both create the same beautiful video. Browser recording works great if you're comfortable with technology. Phone recording is perfect for older family members - we call them and they simply talk, like leaving a voicemail. No apps, no logins, no technical skills required.
Within 5-10 minutes, you'll receive an email with your story video (with your voice, AI images, and captions), a link to view and share your story, and a full transcript of what you said. We recommend downloading your video to keep a permanent copy. With a subscription, you can also compile stories into a printable storybook.
Not to record your first story - just enter your email when you record. To view all your stories in one place, click Login, enter your email, and we'll send you a direct link to your story collection. No password needed.
Absolutely - that's exactly who we built it for. With a Family Plan subscription, you can: Set up phone recording - We call them directly with a new prompt. They just answer and talk. Manage their storyboard - You handle everything; they just tell stories. Collect questions from the whole family - Grandkids, siblings, cousins can all submit prompts. Grandma gets a call: "This question is from your grandson Michael: What was your first job?" Create printable storybooks - Compile their stories into a beautiful PDF book. Try It Free to experience the magic yourself, then subscribe to bring the whole family together. Because the stories in their heads are irreplaceable, and time doesn't wait.
Try It Free allows up to 2 stories per day - enough to experience the full process. For unlimited recording, phone scheduling, managed accounts for family members, and the ability to create printable storybooks from your collection, check out our Family Plan.

FOR SUBSCRIBERS

For $96/year ($8/month billed annually), you get: 6 storytellers - You plus up to 5 family members. Unlimited stories - No daily limits. Phone recording - We call your loved ones so they just talk. Scheduled calls - Set up weekly prompts delivered automatically. Story Requests - Family members submit questions for the storyteller. Managed accounts - Set up and manage storyboards for less tech-savvy relatives. Create a Storybook - Compile printable PDF books from your story collection. All video formats - Landscape, vertical, and square for easy sharing.
Managed accounts let you set up storytelling for a family member who may not use email or technology. You provide their name and phone number - that's it. We call them with prompts, they tell stories, and you manage their storyboard. The stories belong to them, but you handle all the tech. Perfect for elderly parents or grandparents who just want to talk, not tap.
Once you set up a managed account with their phone number: You add prompts to their queue (or family members submit Story Requests). We call them at their scheduled time with a warm, natural voice. They hear the prompt and tell their story - up to 5 minutes. Within 10 minutes, the video appears in their storyboard. They never touch a device. They just answer the phone and talk.
Yes! Choose up to 3 days per week and a time that works for them (we respect quiet hours - calls only go out 9 AM to 8 PM in their timezone). Each call delivers the next prompt in their queue. It's like a gentle weekly ritual that builds a library of stories over time - each call another voice preserved before it's forgotten.
Story Requests let the whole family participate. Anyone you invite can submit a question for the storyteller - grandkids asking about childhood, siblings curious about old family tales, cousins with questions they've always wondered about. When the storyteller receives their call, they hear: "This question is from your granddaughter Emma: What was your favorite thing to do with your sisters growing up?" It turns storytelling into a family activity, even when you're miles apart.
With Create a Storybook, you can compile recorded stories into a beautiful printable PDF book. Select the stories you want, arrange the order, add a dedication, and we generate a book complete with transcripts and QR codes that link to each video. Print it at home or send it to a print service for a keepsake gift.
Your subscription includes you plus 5 additional slots. Each slot can be: A managed account - You set up their phone recording and manage their storyboard. An independent user - You invite them by email; they manage their own storyboard. You can mix and match. Maybe 2 slots for elderly parents/grandparents (managed), and 3 for siblings who want their own accounts (independent).
Only if you share. Each person's storyboard is private by default. You can share your storyboard with specific family members, and they can do the same. For managed accounts, you control the sharing.
She can! If she later wants to add her own email and manage her own storyboard, all her stories stay with her. She keeps everything she's recorded. You can remain connected as a viewer, or she can go fully independent.

FOR SHARED STORYBOARD VIEWERS

Click Login on our homepage, enter your email, and we'll send you a direct link to access their storyboard. You'll see all the stories they've chosen to share with you - watch the videos, read the transcripts, and enjoy their memories.
Yes! If the storyboard owner has enabled Story Requests, you can submit prompts you'd love to hear them answer. Your question goes into their queue, and when they record, they'll hear: "This question is from [your name]..." It's a wonderful way to participate in preserving their stories, even from afar.
No - each storyboard belongs to one storyteller. But you can start your own! Try It Free to record a story yourself, or subscribe to set up storytelling for your whole family.
Click "Record a Story" on our homepage to try it free. You can record up to 2 stories a day using your browser or phone. If you want unlimited recording and features like phone scheduling and storybooks, check out our Family Plan.

RECORDING & CONTENT

Two ways to record: Browser - Use your device's microphone. Works on phones, tablets, and computers. Phone - We call you and you tell your story. Great for anyone who prefers talking over tapping. Both create the same beautiful video with your voice, AI-generated images, captions, and a full transcript.
Up to 10 minutes for browser recordings, up to 5 minutes for phone recordings. That's plenty of time to share meaningful details without feeling rushed. Most stories land between 2-5 minutes.
Every story video includes: Your voice - Exactly as you recorded it. AI-generated images - Custom visuals that illustrate your story. Captions - Synced to your words for easy watching. Background music - Professionally mixed, never overpowering. Full transcript - Read along or search your stories later.
For free story recordings, yes - choose from our curated prompts to get started quickly. Subscribers have full flexibility: write your own prompts, receive Story Requests from family members, or tell any story you'd like. You can also add photos to your recordings.
Subscribers can upload photos when recording through the browser - great for stories about specific people, places, or moments you have pictures of. The photo appears alongside the AI-generated images in your video. (Free story recordings use AI-generated images only.)
For browser recording, you can listen to your recording and re-record before submitting. For phone recording, the call captures your story as you tell it - but if you want a do-over, you can delete the story from your storyboard and record it again. That said, we embrace the authenticity of natural speech. Pauses, tangents, and "ums" are part of what makes your voice uniquely yours. Perfect isn't the goal - you are.
Every story is automatically generated in three formats: Landscape (16:9) - Perfect for YouTube, Facebook, and watching on TV. Vertical (9:16) - Ideal for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and phone viewing. Square (1:1) - Great for Instagram feed and general sharing. You can download whichever format works best for how you want to share.
Most stories are ready within 5-10 minutes. Within 10 minutes, you'll have a video of a voice that will matter for generations.
Stories of You works on most modern smartphones, tablets, and computers. We recommend using Chrome, Safari, or Edge for the best experience. Phone recording works with any phone that can receive calls - smartphone or landline.
Currently, phone recording is available for US phone numbers only. International support is on our roadmap. If you're outside the US, browser recording works great from anywhere with internet access.

PRIVACY & ACCOUNT

Only you - unless you choose to share. Each story has a unique private link you can send to anyone. You can also share your entire storyboard with specific family members. For managed accounts, the manager controls sharing. You can revoke access anytime.
Click Login on our homepage, enter your email, and we'll send you a direct link. No password to remember - just click the link in your email and you're in.
Yes. If you've recorded stories using different email addresses, you can link them all to one account. Go to Settings in your storyboard and add additional emails. We'll verify each one, then all your stories appear in one place.
Absolutely - and we encourage it. From your storyboard, download the video file for any story in landscape, vertical, or square format. You'll always have a permanent copy that's yours to keep, share, or archive however you like.
All recordings and videos are stored securely with encryption. We never sell your data. We share limited information with trusted service providers (like transcription and video processing) only as needed to deliver your stories - all under strict data protection agreements. For full details, see our Privacy Policy.
No. Your personal stories are never used to train AI models. We use AI services to transcribe and illustrate your stories, but your content remains private and is never used for any other purpose.
Yes. From your storyboard, you can delete any story. This removes the video, audio, transcript, and any shared links. Deletion is permanent.
Your stories stay accessible. You can still log in, view, download, and share everything you've recorded. You just won't be able to record new stories or use subscriber features like phone scheduling and storybooks until you resubscribe.

PRICING

Family Plan: $96/year ($8/month, billed annually). This includes you plus up to 5 family members, unlimited story recording, phone recording with scheduling, Story Requests from family, managed accounts for elderly relatives, and the ability to create printable storybooks. You can also try it free - record up to 2 stories per day to experience what your family will get.
Yes! Anyone can record up to 2 stories per day for free using our "Record a Story" feature. This is a great way to experience the full process before subscribing. For unlimited recording, phone scheduling, managed accounts, and storybooks, you'll need a Family Plan subscription.
Yes - 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. If the Family Plan isn't right for your family, contact us within 30 days for a full refund.
Your stories stay accessible. You can still log in, view, download, and share everything you've recorded. You just won't be able to record new stories or use subscriber features until you resubscribe.
Currently we only offer annual billing at $96/year ($8/month). This keeps our pricing simple and lets us focus on building features rather than managing billing complexity.
The Family Plan still works great for solo use - you get unlimited recording, phone scheduling for yourself, and storybooks. The 5 additional slots are there if you ever want to invite family members, but there's no pressure to use them.
Email us at support@storiesofyou.ai and we'll respond within one business day. We're a small team that genuinely cares about helping families preserve their stories.