Questions, answered.
The short version of how Distari, plan usage and the apps work. For setup guides and every feature in depth, read the documentation.
Is Free really free forever?
Yes. Free is a permanent plan that needs no card and never turns into a paid plan. You start with welcome usage (1,000 credits) to use within 30 days of your first verified sign-in. After it expires, Free keeps your library, reading, notes, search, citations, imports and Plain writing; AI actions and Discover scans need plan usage or extra credits on either plan.
What uses my plan’s usage?
AI work does: processing papers, asking questions, drafting and Discover scans. Your plan shows how much of its usage you have used as a percentage, and on Pro it resets each month. Credits are the unit underneath: Plan & credits has a Details view with your balances, where they went and what each kind of work uses. When your plan’s usage runs out you can buy extra credits (1,000 for $10, Pro only); they never expire and are used after your plan’s usage. Reading, organising, tagging, searching your own notes, citing, compiling and exporting never use any. Failed tasks are refunded automatically.
How is this different from a general chatbot?
Answers come only from the papers you’ve added, with citations that open the source passage. Summary findings link to their passage too, and anything without a source is marked “Unverified claim”, so you know what still needs checking.
Where can I import papers from?
Add PDFs, a DOI, publisher links or BibTeX, or save from arXiv, bioRxiv, PubMed, Crossref and OpenAlex. The browser extension saves straight from the page you are reading.
Which apps can I use, and do they sync?
The web app works in any modern browser today. The browser extension is on the Chrome Web Store and Firefox Add-ons, and the desktop app is available for macOS 13 or later and, as betas, for Windows 10 and 11 and for Arch and Manjaro Linux. The phone and tablet app is on the App Store for iPhone and iPad, and Android is coming soon. Your library, notes and drafts sync between all of them.
What’s the difference between Pro monthly and Pro for three months?
Pro monthly is $20 a month for monthly usage (3,000 credits) and renews until you cancel. Pro for three months is $49 paid once for three months of usage (8,000 credits), and never renews. Both add LaTeX and Typst editing, 10 GB of storage and unlimited collaborators. Choose Pro in Plan & credits; signup starts on Free and does not purchase a paid plan.
How do I delete my account?
Open your Profile in the web app and choose Delete account in the Danger zone. Deletion is permanent, and uninstalling an app does not delete your account. You can save a copy of your data first from Settings → Privacy.