Your data
Where is my data stored?
On your phone. HitchWell has no account, no sign-in, and no server. Your days, expenses, mileage, certs, and receipts never leave the device unless you export them yourself.
Amounts are hidden on launch and unlock with Face ID.
Does the app work offline?
Yes, completely. It was built on a pipelay vessel with no signal. Logging, reports, invoices, and backups all work in airplane mode. The share sheet lets you save PDFs to Files and send them whenever you get bars.
How do I back up or move to a new phone?
Settings > Backup & Data > Export Backup creates a single file with everything in it. Save it to iCloud Drive or email it to yourself. On the new phone, use Import Backup and pick that file.
Receipt photos are not part of the backup file. Exported report and invoice PDFs already carry the receipt images, so keep those PDFs and your paper trail survives.
Your phone’s normal iCloud backup also covers the app’s data automatically.
Purchases
What is free and what is paid?
Logging is free forever: days, calendar, expenses, mileage, certs, hitch schedule, and the money screen. A one-time purchase of HitchWell Pro unlocks PDF exports, the monthly report and invoices. There is no subscription.
I bought Pro on my old phone. How do I get it back?
Settings > HitchWell Pro > Restore Purchase. Sign in with the same Apple ID you bought with. Purchases follow your Apple ID, not the phone.
Per diem and money
Where do the per diem rates come from?
The GSA’s published M&IE rates, built into the app for hundreds of localities, with the standard CONUS rate as the fallback. The 75 percent first-and-last-day rule is a one-tap option on travel days. Lodging defaults to the standard CONUS rate and can be set per night; area and seasonal lodging rates vary, so check gsa.gov/perdiem for a specific locality.
Rates change every October. App updates carry the new tables.
Is the tax set-aside real tax advice?
No. It is a flat planning percentage you choose, so a share of every check is parked before you spend it. Your real liability depends on your situation. Confirm numbers with your CPA.
Why does the app say “out of pocket” instead of “deduction”?
You have the app set to W-2 mode. W-2 employees cannot deduct unreimbursed job expenses on federal returns, so the app labels those costs honestly instead of implying a write-off. Switch modes in Settings > Profile if your employment changes.
My billing period ends on the last Sunday, not the last day of the month.
Settings > Billing > Billing Period Ends > Last Sunday of Month. Reports and invoices then run from the day after the previous cutoff through the last Sunday. Every invoice can also override its start and end dates individually.
Something broke
Report a bug or ask for a feature
Email me with what you did, what you expected, and what happened instead. A screenshot helps. I work a rotation myself, so replies can take a day or two when I’m offshore, but everything gets answered.
Still stuck?
Email support and I’ll get you sorted. Include your app version from Settings if it’s a bug.