Question 1

Is my data secure? Where is it stored?

Accepted Answer

Your documents are stored in Germany (ISO-27001 certified data centers in Frankfurt and Falkenstein) and encrypted in transit (TLS) and at rest (AES-256). Text recognition and AI run in the EU. Every provider that processes your data is named in the privacy policy, and you can export your data or delete your account anytime.

Question 2

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

€12.42/month billed annually (€149/year), or €15 billed monthly - annual saves 17%. Everything included - no tiers, no locked features. Start with a 30-day free trial, full access, no credit card required. After the trial, you can subscribe or stay on the free tier with 100 documents.

Question 3

What happens after 30 days?

Accepted Answer

You'll be reminded before your trial ends. Then you can subscribe or keep going for free: Paperarchive stays free up to 100 documents, forever. Nothing is deleted. With up to 100 documents, all of them stay readable and you can keep uploading up to 100. With more than 100 documents, all of them stay readable for another 30 days, while new uploads are paused. Within those 30 days you can subscribe or switch to the free plan: your 100 newest documents stay accessible, older ones are locked until you subscribe. If you choose neither, your account is locked after the 30 days until you subscribe. Even then nothing is deleted. You are only charged if you add a payment method yourself.

Question 4

What are Spaces?

Accepted Answer

Spaces let you separate different areas of your life - Business, Family, Property, etc. - while keeping everything in one app. Your freelance invoices stay separate from your kids' school forms, but you can search across all of them. You can also invite others to collaborate in a shared space. All spaces are included in the paid plan.

Question 5

Can I share my documents with others?

Accepted Answer

Yes! With Shared Spaces you can invite family members, colleagues, or your tax consultant to collaborate on documents. Each member gets a role (Owner, Editor, or Viewer) so you control who can upload, edit, or just view. Invitations are sent via email and all data is stored encrypted in Germany.

Question 6

Does Paperarchive support the GoBD?

Accepted Answer

Paperarchive supports GoBD-compliant archiving with a GoBD mode per space. Documents are archived after processing (if Paperarchive still needs your input on a document, only once you have reviewed it, at the latest 10 days after the upload); until then you can still delete, split and merge them; from then on the file, the key details and the amount, due date and type of their event are locked, and they cannot be deleted before their retention period (6, 8 or 10 years depending on the type) ends. Every change is recorded in a change log whose entries are linked in a hash chain (tamper-evident), and Paperarchive checks archived files against their SHA-256 hash every month. For a tax audit you can give an auditor time-limited read access and create a GDPdU export. XRechnung invoices are kept as the original XML, ZUGFeRD invoices as the PDF with its embedded XML. You still need your own process documentation (Verfahrensdokumentation); a template is at paperarchive.io/verfahrensdokumentation-vorlage.

Question 7

I already use Dropbox/Google Drive. Can I switch to Paperarchive?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Paperarchive works alongside or replaces your existing cloud storage. Bulk-upload your documents and Paperarchive categorizes them automatically. Unlike basic storage, Paperarchive gives you intelligent document management. Most people migrate in under an hour. Need help? Email me and I'll assist personally.

Question 8

How does Paperarchive help me go paperless?

Accepted Answer

Paperarchive makes going paperless effortless. Scan or photograph any paper document with your phone, upload it to Paperarchive, and toss the paper. The OCR technology makes everything searchable, automatic categorization keeps it organized, and you'll find anything in seconds. Perfect for freelancers, families, and anyone managing both business and personal documents.

Question 9

What if I want to leave? Can I export my data?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Export all your documents and metadata anytime with one click. No lock-in, no tricks. Your data is yours - Paperarchive just helps you organize it.

Question 10

How does the automatic organization work?

Accepted Answer

Upload a document. Paperarchive reads the content (OCR for scans), identifies what it is, extracts key data (dates, amounts, senders), and files it automatically. You can adjust or override anytime. The system learns from your corrections - most users see 90%+ accuracy within a week.

Question 11

What file types are supported?

Accepted Answer

PDFs, images (JPG, PNG), and Office documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). This covers virtually all typical documents: invoices, contracts, receipts, scans, spreadsheets, and presentations. More formats are being added based on feedback - let me know what you need.

Question 12

What if I need help?

Accepted Answer

Check out the Help Center at paperarchive.io/docs - you'll find guides for every feature, step-by-step tutorials, and answers to common questions. Can't find what you need? Email support@paperarchive.io - as the solo founder, I personally read and respond to every message within 24 hours (usually faster).

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