Help Center & FAQ

What is grovio, exactly?

grovio is a homeschool companion app for iPhone today, with Android coming soon. It helps you track attendance, plan your family's daily rhythm, build a learning portfolio, and access practical articles through The grovio Guide. It's designed for homeschool parents who want a simple, warm tool — not another complicated system to manage.

Is grovio free?

grovio is free to download — no credit card required. When you finish setup, you'll automatically get 14 days of full Premium access so you can try everything. After that, you can subscribe to keep Premium, or continue on the free tier with attendance, the Guide, and up to 15 portfolio moments.

Premium unlocks unlimited portfolio moments, unlimited planner entries, weekly Friday Wrap-Ups, exportable attendance records, shareable portfolio links, and cloud sync across your devices. Paid plans are $9.99/month or $79.99/year.

Do I need to create an account?

You don't. You can use grovio without an account and your data stays on your device. When you start a Premium subscription (including during your 14-day trial), you'll sign in with your Apple ID so your data can sync to the cloud — that's what lets you switch devices, reinstall, or take a phone break without losing anything.

How do I create an account?

Open Settings and tap "Sign in" to use Sign in with Apple. No passwords to remember, no verification codes, no email forms — one tap and you're in. You can also hide your email through Apple's private relay if you prefer. Android with Google Sign-In is coming soon.

I'm having trouble signing in. What should I do?

Sign in should work instantly with a single tap using Sign in with Apple. If you're having trouble, make sure you're connected to the internet and running the latest version of the app. If the issue persists, email us at hello@grovioapp.com and we'll help.

Can I use grovio on my phone and my computer?

grovio is available on iOS today, with Android coming soon. When you're signed in with an active Premium subscription, your data syncs to the cloud so you can pick up where you left off if you reinstall or get a new phone.

What's the free trial and how does it work?

When you finish setting up your homeschool, you automatically get 14 days of full Premium access — no card, no commitment. Around day 12 you'll see a gentle reminder that the trial is wrapping up so you can decide whether to subscribe before it ends. If you'd like to keep Premium features (unlimited portfolio moments, cloud backup, attendance export, weekly Wrap-Ups), you can subscribe any time. If you stay on the free tier, everything you've added is still yours — your local data isn't touched.

What states is grovio best for?

grovio is built for families in states with low to moderate homeschool regulation — places where your main obligations are keeping attendance records, maintaining basic documentation, and having evidence of your child's learning. That covers roughly 35 states.

If you're in a state like Texas, Florida, California, North Carolina, Indiana, or Georgia (to name a few), grovio's attendance tracking, portfolio, and exportable records are designed to give you exactly what you need — without overcomplicating it.

If your state requires detailed curriculum approval, quarterly progress reports to a school district, or formal portfolio evaluations in a specific format — states like New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island — grovio can still be a helpful part of your toolkit, but it won't cover everything your state asks you to submit. We'd rather be upfront about that than leave you guessing.

Does grovio handle my state's specific requirements?

grovio isn't a compliance engine, and it doesn't track state-by-state rules for you. What it does is give you clean, exportable attendance records, an organized photo portfolio tagged by subject and learner, and a daily activity log — which is exactly what the majority of states are looking for when they say "keep records."

For the specifics of what your state requires, The grovio Guide has articles on compliance and record-keeping to point you in the right direction. Your state's Department of Education website and your local homeschool association will always be the most reliable sources for the details.

Is grovio designed for high school?

Right now, grovio is at its best for K–8 families. It doesn't generate transcripts, track credits, or assign grades — those are features we're thinking about for the future.

If you're homeschooling a high schooler and need transcript-ready documentation for college applications, grovio's portfolio and attendance records can absolutely be part of your record-keeping system. But you'll likely need additional tools alongside it. We'll get there. But we'd rather build it well than rush something that matters this much.

What if I'm brand new to homeschooling?

Then you're exactly who we built this for. You don't need to have your whole year figured out before you open the app. You don't need a curriculum picked, a schedule planned, or a filing system ready.

Start by logging today. Add a photo of something your kid did this morning. Read an article in the Guide if you're feeling uncertain. The structure builds itself over time — one day at a time, one moment at a time. That's the whole idea.

How do I add my kids to grovio?

During onboarding, grovio will walk you through adding your learners. You'll enter each child's name, pick a color for them, and optionally set their grade level. You can always add, edit, or remove learners later from Settings. All learner information is entered by you — your kids never need their own accounts.

I homeschool multiple children. Can I manage them all in one account?

Absolutely. grovio is built with multi-learner families in mind. You add each child as a separate learner under your single parent account, and their attendance, rhythm, and portfolio data are all tracked individually. You don't need a separate account for each child.

Can two parents share the same account?

Right now, each grovio account is tied to a single Apple ID. If both parents want access to the same data, you'd both sign in with the same Apple ID on each device. (Android with Google account sign-in is coming soon.) Shared family accounts with separate logins are something we're considering for the future, but it's not available yet.

How does attendance tracking work?

grovio's attendance tracker uses a simple two-state model: each day is either Present or No School. Tap any day to log it as attended, or open the day to toggle each learner individually. If you add a portfolio entry on a given day, grovio automatically marks that day as attended — one less thing to remember.

If you started homeschooling before you found grovio, you can import past school days so your record is complete from the beginning of your year.

How do I export my attendance records?

Open the Records tab, tap the Records button in the top right corner, and pick a learner. grovio generates a polished, branded PDF — a full-year attendance calendar with every day plotted, totals at the top, an administrator certification block with signature lines at the bottom, and the grovio wordmark and tagline on every page. It's ready to print, save, or hand to an evaluator. Attendance export is a Premium feature, and it's unlocked during your 14-day trial so you can see what your records look like before subscribing.

Can I edit or undo an attendance entry?

Yes. If you accidentally marked the wrong day or need to make a correction, you can tap on any day in your calendar to update or remove the entry. Mistakes happen — that's totally normal.

How many school days does my state require?

This varies by state and sometimes by district. grovio does not provide legal advice, but The grovio Guide includes articles on compliance and record-keeping that can point you in the right direction. For your specific situation, your state's Department of Education website or a local homeschool association are the best resources.

For a broader look at how grovio fits different state requirements, see "Is grovio Right for My Family?" above.

What is the Year Target?

Year Target lets you set an attendance goal for each learner — whether that's a number of days, hours, or both. grovio tracks your progress throughout the year and shows you whether you're on pace or need to pick things up. It's especially helpful if your state has a minimum number of school days. Year Target is a Premium feature (and included free during your 14-day trial).

What is a "daily rhythm" and how is it different from a schedule?

A schedule is rigid — math at 9:00, reading at 10:00. A rhythm is the natural flow of your day: morning time, then focused work, then outside time, then lunch. grovio's planner is built around rhythms because that's how most homeschool days actually work. You set the shape of your day, not a minute-by-minute agenda.

How do I set up my planner?

Head to the Planner tab and start adding activities. You can create recurring activities that repeat on specific days of the week, assign them to specific learners, and set optional times. Your rhythm will evolve, and grovio is built to evolve with it — you can edit, skip, or rearrange activities anytime.

Can I plan different schedules for different kids?

Each learner has their own rhythm and subject data, so you can customize the daily flow for each child individually. If your kids share some activities (like morning read-aloud) but diverge for others (like math levels), grovio can handle that.

Can I see a weekly or monthly view of my plan?

Yes. The planner includes a scrollable week strip so you can see your rhythm across the week at a glance, and a month view toggle for a bigger-picture look. The day view remains the primary planning surface — tap any day to see and manage that day's activities.

What is the Ideas queue?

The Ideas queue is a holding pen for activities you're thinking about but aren't ready to schedule yet. Maybe it's a field trip idea, a new subject you want to try, or a project for next month. Drop it in the queue so you don't forget it, and promote it to your rhythm when you're ready. The free tier includes up to 10 ideas.

What is the portfolio for?

The portfolio is a place to capture and save evidence of your child's learning — photos of projects, notes about breakthroughs, descriptions of activities, field trip memories. Think of it as a keepsake, not an audit. Some families also use it to satisfy state evaluation or documentation requirements, but at its heart, it's a record of the beautiful, messy, real work your kids are doing.

How do I add a portfolio entry?

Tap the Capture button (the round button at the center of the bottom navigation bar) from anywhere in the app. You can take a photo or choose one from your library, or skip the photo entirely and use an emoji instead. Add a title, pick a subject and date, tag the learners involved, and save. When you add an entry, grovio automatically marks that day as attended — so your attendance record stays in sync without extra effort.

What can I add to a portfolio entry?

Each entry can include a photo or an emoji (for moments that don't need a picture), a title, a written description, a subject tag, and a date. You can tag one or more learners per entry. Keep it simple — a quick snapshot of a drawing, a sentence about what clicked during a math lesson, a photo from a nature walk. It doesn't need to be polished.

Where are my photos stored?

When you're signed in, portfolio photos are stored in a private storage bucket in Supabase (a cloud platform based in the United States). Photos are not publicly accessible — they're served through secure signed URLs that expire and refresh automatically. Photos are also compressed on your device before uploading to save storage space and bandwidth. If you're using grovio without an account, photos stay on your device only.

Can I share my child's portfolio with someone else?

Yes. grovio lets you create a shareable link for any individual learner's portfolio — a beautiful, read-only page that anyone can view without an account. You can share it with a family member, an evaluator, or your umbrella school. Sharing is always opt-in, always per-learner, and you can deactivate any link at any time. Share links are a Premium feature (included during your 14-day trial).

Can I delete a portfolio entry?

Yes. You can delete any portfolio entry at any time. Once deleted, the entry and its associated photo are permanently removed.

How many portfolio entries can I add for free?

The free tier includes up to 15 portfolio moments. That's enough to get a real feel for how the portfolio works and start building a record of your family's learning. Premium removes the cap entirely.

Will my photos get cropped?

Your photos are stored exactly as you took them — grovio doesn't crop, edit, or alter the original. The full image is always preserved with the moment.

What is The grovio Guide?

The grovio Guide is a library of 25 practical articles written for homeschool parents — especially those who are newer to homeschooling or looking for reassurance that they're on the right track. Articles cover getting started, compliance and record-keeping, building a daily rhythm, learning approaches, and navigating resistance. They're written by Claire, grovio's guide voice, in a warm and grounded tone.

Is the Guide included for free?

Yes — always. The grovio Guide is free for everyone, whether or not you have an account. You can also read all Guide articles on the web at grovioapp.com/guide without downloading the app. We believe Claire's knowledge should be shared freely, and we have no plans to put the Guide behind a paywall.

Does The grovio Guide give legal advice about my state?

No. The Guide offers general information and practical tips about compliance and record-keeping, but it does not replace legal advice specific to your state or situation. Articles covering compliance topics include a disclaimer to that effect. For legal questions, please consult your state's Department of Education or a qualified professional.

What is the Friday Wrap-Up?

On Fridays, if you've been logging attendance and capturing portfolio moments, grovio's Friday Wrap-Up generates a short AI-written summary of your family's week — a little narrative of what you accomplished — along with a beautifully designed share card featuring a seasonal emblem. You can save it, edit it, share it to Instagram or save it to your photos, and the Wrap-Up is added to your portfolio as a weekly keepsake. The portfolio entry shows the matching seasonal emblem so you can spot the week's story at a glance.

The free tier includes one Friday Wrap-Up so you can see how it works. Premium unlocks a new Wrap-Up every week, all year long.

How do I manage or cancel my subscription?

Open Settings and tap "Manage subscription" to open your Apple ID Account Settings, where you can change your plan or cancel at any time. (Android with Google Play subscription management is coming soon.) If you cancel, your Premium access stays active through the end of the current billing period.

I subscribed but I'm on a new device or reinstalled. How do I get my Premium back?

Open Settings and tap "Restore purchases" — your Apple ID will reconnect your subscription instantly. If you're brand new to grovio on this device, tap "Already have an account? Sign in" on the welcome screen and we'll restore everything automatically.

Does grovio have dark mode?

Yes. You can toggle dark mode on or off in Settings under App Preferences. Your choice is saved to your device.

Can I change the time format?

Yes. grovio supports both 12-hour and 24-hour time formats. You can switch between them in Settings under App Preferences. The default is 12-hour.

What data does grovio collect?

When you create an account via Sign in with Apple, grovio receives your email address (or a private relay address if you choose to hide it through Apple). Beyond that, grovio stores the data you choose to enter: learner names and details, attendance records, planner data, and portfolio entries (including photos). grovio does not sell your data, does not run ads, and does not share your information with advertising partners. For full details, see our Privacy Policy. (Android with Sign in with Google is coming soon.)

Is my data safe?

grovio takes your privacy seriously. All data is encrypted in transit (HTTPS) and at rest in our database. Authentication is handled entirely through Sign in with Apple — no passwords are stored, no codes are sent. Portfolio photos are stored in a private bucket with secure, expiring access URLs. Your data is hosted in the United States through Supabase and Vercel, both of which maintain robust security practices. (Android with Sign in with Google is coming soon.)

Can I delete my account and all my data?

Yes — directly from inside the app. Open Settings, scroll to the bottom, tap Delete Account, and confirm in the sheet that appears. Your account, learner information, attendance records, planner data, and portfolio entries (including photos) are permanently removed from our servers immediately. If you can't access the app for any reason, email hello@grovioapp.com and we'll manually process the deletion within 30 days.

Do my kids need their own accounts?

No. grovio is designed for parents. You manage everything from your single account. Your children never need to sign in, create an account, or interact with the app directly. All learner data is entered and controlled by you.

What happens to my data if I let my subscription lapse?

Your existing portfolio, attendance, and planner data stay safely in the cloud — nothing gets deleted. New entries you create afterward are saved on your device only until you resubscribe, at which point sync resumes automatically.

What happens if I delete the app?

If you have an active Premium subscription, your data is safe in the cloud — just reinstall grovio and sign in with the same Apple ID to restore everything. If you've been using grovio on the free tier (without subscribing), your data lives on the device only, so deleting the app removes it.

Can two parents share the same account or subscription?

Subscriptions are tied to whichever Apple ID or Google account purchased them — that's how Apple and Google handle billing across all apps, not a grovio choice. A subscription bought on iOS stays with your Apple ID on iOS; one bought on Android stays with your Google account on Android. They don't transfer between platforms.

For coparenting or two-device households: each Apple ID and each Google account is treated as a separate customer in Apple's and Google's systems, so each parent needs their own subscription on their own device. If one parent is on iPhone and the other on Android, that's two separate subscriptions — one on each platform. This isn't something apps can re-route; it's how Apple and Google have set things up.

The simplest approach is for each parent to have their own subscription on their own device, capturing what they observe day to day. Each parent's data lives under their own account.

The app looks different on my phone than on the web. Is that normal?

grovio is designed to work across devices, but the layout may adapt to your screen size. If something looks off or broken, try closing and reopening the app on iPhone. If the issue persists, email us at hello@grovioapp.com with a screenshot and we'll look into it.

My data isn't syncing between my phone and computer.

Cloud sync requires an active Premium subscription. If you're a Premium subscriber and signed in on both devices with the same Apple ID, your data should sync automatically — you may need to give it a moment after first sign-in. If you've been using grovio without a Premium subscription, your data lives on the device you entered it on. If you're Premium and still not seeing sync, try signing out and back in — your data will re-hydrate from the cloud. (Free-tier users: don't sign out before subscribing, since unsubscribed local data isn't backed up.) Reach out at hello@grovioapp.com if you're still stuck.

The app is running slowly or freezing.

Try closing and reopening the app. Make sure you're running the latest version of grovio from the App Store. Large portfolios with many photos can occasionally cause slowness on older devices. If performance issues continue, let us know at hello@grovioapp.com and include your device type so we can investigate.

I accidentally deleted something. Can I get it back?

Unfortunately, once an entry is deleted, it's permanently removed. We're exploring the idea of a brief undo window for deletions in a future update, but for now, deletions are final.