Today's question, and a big button to answer it
Most storytellers use WhatsApp, and it works beautifully. But some would rather have something of their own — one question on the screen, no chat threads, nothing else to get lost in. That's this.
Using Android? Get one email when it's ready
One email when it launches. Nothing else.
This is their app, not yours. Yours holds the whole archive — that one's over here.
Good morning, Margaret.
A question from your family
Tell me about the house you grew up in.
Take your time — there's no rush.
Because they're two very different people.
Your app is a whole archive. Stories to read, recordings to play, questions to line up for next week, family to invite in, a subscription to look after. That's exactly right for you.
It would be entirely wrong for your mum. Every one of those things is a tab she doesn't want, a setting she could get wrong, a reason to put the phone down.
So we built her a different app. It has one screen, one question, and one thing to do about it. Keeping them apart is the only way either can be exactly right — and it means we can make hers simpler over time without ever making yours smaller.
Your app
The archive
Every story and recording, the questions coming up, the rest of the family, sharing, billing.
See the Tell Me app →Their app
Today's question
The question, a button to answer it, and a chance to listen back. Nothing else at all.
Built for someone who'd rather just talk.
Big text, big buttons, and no way to get it wrong.
Here's your recording
Listen back if you like, then send it to your family.
Don't send this
One question, one big button
Today's question fills the screen, with a large button underneath. Speak it, film it, send a photo, or type — whichever they feel like that day.
A listen back before it goes
Nothing is sent the moment they stop talking. They hear the recording first, then choose to send it, record it again, or throw it away.
Ten minutes to say it properly
A single recording can run for ten minutes, so a long story never gets cut off halfway through. Most run to two or three.
No email address, no password
They sign in once with a short code you give them, and never sign in again. There is no account to create and nothing to remember.
Works where the signal doesn't
A story recorded with no bars is saved safely on the phone and sent the moment they're back online. They don't have to do anything, and nothing is lost.
A gentle nudge, and nothing else
A quiet notification when a new question is ready. No badges, no streaks, no reminders about anything they haven't done.
The storyteller app isn't the right answer for everyone.
Each storyteller gets their questions on one channel. Here's the honest version of all three, so you can pick the one they'll actually use.
Best when they already message you on it.
- Nothing to install, nothing to learn
- Voice notes they already know how to send
- Works on any phone, any age
The trade
- Questions sit in a busy chat list, among everything else
- Easy to start replying and end up chatting instead
Best when they're happier at a computer, or don't use WhatsApp.
- Nothing to install
- Plenty of room to write at length
- Photos can be attached alongside their words
The trade
- Replies are typed — no voice, so you lose the sound of them
- Easy to miss, or to land in a junk folder
The storyteller app
Best when they're comfortable installing an app, and you can set it up with them.
- One question on the screen and nothing else
- Speak, film, photograph or type — all one tap
- They hear the recording back before it's sent
- Ten-minute recordings, and it works offline
The trade
- Something new to download and learn
- iPhone only for now
- A code to type in once, so it's best done together
- It shows today's question, not a library of past stories
Changed your mind? Switching channel takes one tap in their settings, and nothing already recorded is affected.
Setting them up takes two minutes.
Do it together if you can — sitting beside them, or on the phone.
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1
Choose the storyteller app as their channel
When you add them, or any time afterwards in Settings → Channels.
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2
We give you a seven-character code
Read it out, or let us email it to them along with the download link.
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3
They download it and type the code in
That's the only time they ever sign in. Their first question is waiting when they do.
‹ Back
Enter your code
The seven characters from your family member
Questions you might have.
You don't have to decide today.
Start today on WhatsApp or email — the two channels that need nothing installed at all. If the storyteller app turns out to suit them better, you can switch them over in a tap.
Wondering how their stories are kept safe? Read how we look after them.