Questions people actually ask.
If something is missing, write to us and we will add it here.
Where is my data stored?
On your phone, in the app's own private storage, protected by your device's encryption. There is no Penwise server for health data, so nothing is uploaded anywhere. The only copy that ever leaves your device is a backup you export yourself, encrypted before it is written with a passphrase only you hold.
Do I need an account?
No. There is no sign-up, no email address and no password. Install the app and start logging.
What happens if I lose my backup passphrase?
The backup cannot be recovered. We do not hold keys, which is exactly what makes the privacy promise real, and it is also why nobody, including us, can open your file for you. Keep the passphrase somewhere safe.
Is the estimated medication level a real measurement?
No, and Penwise never presents it as one. It is a model, built from published absorption and elimination half-lives for each medication, applied to the doses you logged. It tells you where you are in your cycle. It is not a blood test and must not be used to make dosing decisions.
Which medications does it support?
Semaglutide, tirzepatide, retatrutide and liraglutide, whether prescribed under a brand or compounded, plus anything else you want to enter by hand. Penwise knows seventeen real pens and five compounded vial presets, including their click counts and discard windows.
What is free, and what do I pay for?
Logging shots, weight, sites, cravings and notes, site rotation, history, the calendar, reminders, the watch apps, widgets, and full CSV and JSON export are free forever. Penwise+ adds estimated medication levels, the Insights tab, nutrition tracking, Apple Health and Health Connect sync, doctor reports, Shotsy import, the share studio and appearance settings.
Can I get my data out?
Yes, at any time, for free. CSV and JSON export of everything is part of the free tier, deliberately. Your history is yours, and there is no paywall between you and it.
I use Shotsy. Can I switch?
Yes. Export from Shotsy, either the CSV or the backup, and import it in a couple of taps. Shots, weights, sites and side effects come across. Importing the same file twice never creates duplicates, and the whole import can be rolled back if you change your mind.
Is there really a watch app on both platforms?
Yes, Apple Watch and Wear OS, both included at no extra cost. You can log a shot from your wrist, see your next dose and your streak, capture your resting heart rate after a shot, and put a complication on your watch face.
Does Penwise sync between my phone and another device?
No, and that is a direct consequence of having no server. Your watch talks to your phone, but your data does not travel between devices through us. Moving to a new phone is done with an encrypted backup file that you export and restore yourself.
Do you sell or share my data?
No. There is nothing to sell: we never receive it. There are no ad-network SDKs, no attribution tracking and no third-party analytics on your health data. Crash reporting is opt-in, off by default, and strips file paths, email addresses and web addresses before anything is stored.
Which languages does the app speak?
English, Slovak, Czech and Polish, all complete from day one with proper diacritics. This website is additionally available in German.
Is Penwise a medical device?
No. It is a tracking and education tool. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and it cannot tell you what dose to take. Always follow your clinician's guidance.
How do I cancel Penwise+?
Through your App Store or Google Play account settings, the same as any other subscription. Cancelling leaves the free tracker fully working, and your data untouched.
Occasional updates, nothing else.
New features, what we are working on, and the odd thing we learn about GLP-1 tracking. A few times a year at most.
We only use your address for this newsletter. Unsubscribe from any email. Your health data is never involved: it stays on your phone.