Frequently asked questions

Last updated: June 26, 2026

What is ZBee?

ZBee™ is a Mac app that answers one question: how much can I safely spend in retirement? It models your accounts, taxes, Social Security, and longevity to estimate a sustainable spending level. It is a measurement and planning tool, not financial advice — see the Disclaimer.

Is ZBee free?

You can use the whole app for free on built-in sample data, so you can try every feature before paying. ZBee Pro unlocks the app on your own data — your real accounts and holdings.

How much does Pro cost?

$99/year. It renews annually and you can cancel any time; your Pro access runs until the end of the period you've paid for.

What do I need to run ZBee?

A Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later), running a recent version of macOS. ZBee runs entirely on your Mac.

How do I install it?

Download the disk image from the download page, open it, and drag ZBee to your Applications folder. ZBee is signed and notarized by Apple, so it opens normally — no security workarounds needed.

How do I activate Pro after I pay?

When you subscribe, checkout opens in your browser. After payment, return to ZBee — it usually activates within a few seconds and switches from sample data to your own. If it doesn't, leave it open a moment while it finishes.

I paid, but ZBee is still in demo mode.

It usually activates on its own within a minute. Leave ZBee open (it keeps checking) or quit and reopen it — once your payment clears it switches to your own data automatically. If it still hasn't activated after a few minutes, email support@zbee.app from the address you paid with and we'll sort it out.

Where is my activation code, and what is it for?

ZBee picks up your activation code automatically right after you purchase — there's nothing to copy at checkout. To see it, open ZBee and choose File → Subscription…, where you can view and copy it anytime. It's what links ZBee to your subscription — keep a private copy, like a password. You'll need it (with your billing email) to restore your purchase or move to a new Mac.

How do I move ZBee to a new Mac?

Install ZBee on the new Mac, choose Restore purchase, enter your activation code, and confirm your billing email. That moves your license over. A subscription is active on one Mac at a time.

Why does it say my license is on another Mac?

For your security, ZBee ties your subscription to one Mac, so a copy of your files can't reach your accounts from another machine. If you've switched or reinstalled, just use Restore purchase (or the “Move license to this Mac” prompt) and confirm your billing email to move it.

How do I cancel?

In ZBee, open File → Subscription… to reach the billing portal and cancel. Your Pro access continues until the end of the period you've already paid for.

Can I get a refund?

Yes — ZBee Pro comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If it's not right for you, email support@zbee.app within 30 days of a charge and we'll refund it in full and cancel your subscription. After 30 days, you can still cancel any time to stop future charges (you keep Pro through the end of the period you've paid for). The free demo also lets you try ZBee before subscribing.

What information leaves my Mac?

Your financial data stays on your Mac. When you connect a brokerage, your holdings flow directly between your Mac and your brokerage — they never pass through or get stored on ZBee's servers. The built-in Privacy & Data screen shows exactly what's stored and what leaves; the Privacy Policy has the full detail.

Does ZBee see my brokerage password or my holdings?

No. Connecting a brokerage goes through our partner SnapTrade, so ZBee never receives your login, and the connection is read-only. Your holdings are never stored on ZBee's servers.

How do I delete my data?

Open Privacy & Data → Delete account & data. That erases ZBee's data on your Mac and, for Pro users, disconnects your brokerage, cancels your subscription, and deletes your records from our server.

Is ZBee financial advice?

No. ZBee shows estimates based on the information you provide and general assumptions; it is not investment, tax, or financial advice. Verify anything important with a licensed professional — see the Disclaimer.

Does ZBee do Roth conversions, tax-loss harvesting, or other tax strategies?

No — and that's deliberate. ZBee measures what your current situation supports; it doesn't recommend restructuring it. Roth conversions, asset-location moves, and tax-loss harvesting are tax-repositioning strategies that depend on facts ZBee doesn't hold (your estate goals, future tax law, risk tolerance) and are the kind of advice a CPA or CFP is licensed to give. Where ZBee does help is weighing decisions you control — when to retire, when to claim Social Security, how much to leave behind — on the Trade-offs screen, which shows how each choice moves your safe spend without telling you which to pick.

How do I get help?

ZBee has a built-in help assistant — the ZBee Bot. Click the bee in the bottom-right corner and ask how anything in the app works in plain language; it answers from ZBee's help and points you to the right topic. It's free for everyone, only the question you type is sent (never your holdings, balances, or numbers), and it helps you use the app — it doesn't give financial advice. For anything it can't answer, email support@zbee.app.