# People Partner — FAQ

> Common questions about setup, pricing, data privacy, AI providers, Mac requirements, and how People Partner fits alongside existing HRIS tools.

*Canonical URL: https://peoplepartner.io/faq.md*
*Last updated: 2026-05-02*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How much does it cost?

$99 one-time. That’s it. Bring your own AI API key — we support OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google (typically $2-8/month usage). No subscriptions, no per-seat fees, no enterprise upsells.

### Do I need my own API key?

Yes. Bring your own API key from OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google — whichever you prefer. Setup takes about two minutes and typical usage costs $2-8/month. A step-by-step guide is included.

### What data can I import?

Employee rosters, performance review exports, eNPS survey results, and HR documents like handbooks and policies. Supports CSV, Excel, PDF, Word, and plain text.

### What happens if I accidentally include an SSN?

It’s automatically redacted. The app scans every message for SSNs, credit card numbers, and bank account info. If found, it replaces them with placeholders like [SSN_REDACTED] and shows a brief notification.

### Can I use this alongside my existing HR tools?

That’s exactly how it’s designed to work. Export data from your review tool, survey platform, or HRIS and import it into People Partner. It’s the layer where all your HR data meets AI.

### Does People Partner work offline?

Yes. You can browse and manage your employee data, performance reviews, and documents without an internet connection. AI features require a connection to your chosen provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google), but everything else works offline.

### Is my employee data sent to the cloud?

Your database lives entirely on your Mac. When you ask the AI a question, the relevant context is sent to your chosen AI provider — but sensitive data like SSNs and financial details are automatically redacted before anything leaves your machine.

### How does the AI work with my HR data?

When you ask a question, People Partner finds the relevant employee records, review data, or policy documents and includes them as context for the AI. The AI reads your actual data to give specific, informed guidance — not generic HR advice.

### What Mac versions are supported?

People Partner requires macOS 12 (Monterey) or later. It runs natively on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.

### What file formats can I import?

CSV, Excel (.xlsx), PDF, Word (.docx), and plain text files. The smart import pipeline includes HRIS presets, intelligent column mapping, and duplicate detection to make setup fast.

### How is People Partner different from BambooHR or Gusto?

BambooHR and Gusto are cloud HRIS platforms for payroll, benefits, and onboarding. People Partner is a local AI knowledge layer — it pulls data from those tools (and spreadsheets, documents, surveys) into one place and pairs it with an AI that understands your team. Most users run People Partner alongside their existing HRIS, not instead of it.

### Can I use People Partner alongside my existing HRIS?

That’s exactly how it’s designed. Export data from your HRIS, review tool, or survey platform and import it into People Partner. It becomes the layer where all your HR context meets AI — complementing, not replacing, your existing tools.

### Is there a subscription or recurring fee?

No. People Partner is a one-time $99 purchase. You own it forever. The only ongoing cost is your AI API usage (typically $2-8/month), which you pay directly to your chosen provider.