Six answers before you sign up

Handing your phone to someone new is a big deal, and most of the questions that matter get answered after you sign up, when it is too late to change your mind cheaply.

These are the six answers, before you start. They are the same words the pricing page and the signup screen show, kept in one place on purpose so no screen can tell you something different.

Common questions

What do I pay to try Cara?

Nothing to start. Your free trial runs on your real calls with no card needed, and your Billing page always shows the exact date it ends. If someone sent you an invite code, it can carry extra free days, and that same Billing page has your date.

What happens when my free days run out?

Nothing is charged without a card on file. No card when your free days end? Cara keeps answering and taking messages for 14 more days, but stops booking. Add a card any time to switch booking back on. After those 14 days, she tells callers the line isn't active right now.

There is more on the trial itself in Your free trial.

How do you count call time?

Only the time Cara actually spends talking with a caller counts, and it is tracked to the second. Those seconds are added up across your billing period and billed once, so no call is rounded up to a whole minute. Calls that never reach her never count, and the first test call you make while setting up is free.

What do the plans cost, and what if I go over?

Basic is $49 a month and includes about 250 minutes, Starter is $149 with 1,000, and Pro is $299 with 2,000. Past your included minutes, the extra time bills at your plan's published rate: 35¢ a minute on Basic, 28¢ on Starter, 22¢ on Pro. Cara never stops answering because you crossed a number, and your plan only changes if you change it.

The full mechanics are in How overage works.

How fast do I hear about a call?

Cara's notes reach your phone a minute or two after the call ends, with who called, their number, and what they need. The recording and the full transcript fill in shortly after that. Urgent calls come to you the same way, flagged urgent so you know to call back first. Texts to your own cell are yours to switch on: you agree to them when you enter your mobile number during setup, and you can turn them off any time in Settings.

How do I stop?

Cancel from Billing in two taps. There's no contract, and you keep everything through the end of the period you already paid for. Turning off call forwarding is a separate thing: it's a setting at your phone company, so switch it off there and your calls ring your own line again, whether or not you cancel.

Both halves have their own walkthrough: Cancel, and resume and Turn off forwarding.