Is FormzoAI safe for sources who could be at risk?

FormzoAI is built for readers sharing their own experience. For whistleblowers, or anyone who could be harmed if identified, use SecureDrop or Signal. FormzoAI keeps the answers and any contact details you ask for, saved as the reader goes, and the IP address only as a keyed one-way hash. Our AI provider, whose models run in the US, keeps nothing afterwards. We may have to disclose data when the law requires it.

Where are readers' replies stored, and can we delete them?

In the EU (Frankfurt) or the US (Ohio), one region per workspace. You set how long replies are kept, and you can delete one reader's answers, conversation and files at any time, for example when a source asks to be taken out. Unfinished replies are deleted after 30 days. Uploaded files are private to your workspace, and FormzoAI's support tools show account details only, never answers.

Will the follow-up question lead readers?

FormzoAI asks one neutral question about the reader's own answer, and only when a reply is too vague to use, like “yes, a lot”. You set follow-ups per question from 0 to 3, so permission and yes-or-no questions stay exactly as written. Every follow-up is saved with the reply, so you can quote a reader alongside the question they were answering.

Can we trust the counts enough to print them?

Every theme shows roughly how many readers said it and opens to example replies, each next to the reader's own words, so treat the count as a guide and check the replies before a number goes in the copy. Exact counts, renaming themes, moving replies and coding into your own categories are coming at launch. Reporters still read the replies, make the calls and decide who is in the story.

Do readers need an account or an app?

No. Readers open the link, the embed under your article or a QR code in print, and answer in the browser on any phone or computer, as a short chat or a one-page form. They can type or speak, in their own language. Names, emails and phone numbers are asked only if you include those questions.

How much does running a callout cost?

Joining the waitlist is free. Starter is $19 a month for 500 replies with themes, quotes and CSV export. Pro is $49 a month for 3,000 replies and adds Ask your responses and Google Sheets sync. A one-off investigation fits the Event Pass: $79 once for 60 days and 3,000 replies with Pro features. Every plan starts with a 7-day trial and is paid by card.

For newsrooms and campaign teams

914 callout replies, sorted before you pick up the phone.

When a reader writes “it went up a lot”, FormzoAI asks when and by how much. Every reply lands in a counted theme with quotes, next to whether that reader agreed to be contacted and named.

Rent increase callout

Leeds rent callout · made from “Reader callout for renters in Leeds whose rent went up this year, ask before we contact or quote anyone, closing Friday”

Their chat

Has your rent gone up this year? Tell us what happened.

Yes, a lot.

Follow-upWhen did it go up, and from how much to how much?

In March, from £950 to £1,240 a month. The agent gave us four weeks' notice and said the landlord is selling.

What you get

Theme

Rises over £200 at renewal

312 of 914 people said something like this

“In March, from £950 to £1,240 a month. The agent gave us four weeks' notice and said the landlord is selling.”

Example answers, written for this page.

Two days until the story runs.

914 replies, one reporter
The callout went out in Monday's newsletter and the replies are a spreadsheet you scroll at lunch. The editor wants three named renters and a number by Thursday.
“Yes, a lot.”
Half the replies say how angry people are and leave out the when, the how much and the who. Each one means another email, and most of those go unanswered.
“Can we use your name?”
The form never asked. So you message the best twenty to ask if you can call, then if you can quote them, then whether it's first name only, and half reply after the story has run.

From callout to call list.

01
Describe the callout in one sentence
“Reader callout for renters in Leeds whose rent went up this year, closing Friday.” You get the questions, with permission to contact and to quote asked last, and you can reword any line before it goes out.
02
Put it under the story
Embed it in the article, link it from the newsletter, post it on Bluesky. Readers answer on their phone without an account, in their own language, typed or spoken, and can attach a photo of the letter from the agent.
03
Read the themes, then make the calls
Replies grouped into themes, each with how many readers said it and the quotes behind it. Ask “who in Harehills has the letter and agreed to be named?” and you get those readers, with the phone numbers they chose to give.

What 914 renters told the newsroom, counted.

Replies are grouped into themes, each with roughly how many readers said it and the quote that says it best. Open a theme to see example replies and whether each reader agreed to be contacted or quoted, then check the replies before a number goes in the copy.

Leeds rent callout · replies

0 in

Made for callouts with a deadline.

A follow-up for the facts: When a reply says “a lot”, the chat asks for the date, the amount or the name of the agent. You choose per question whether it follows up at all, and up to three times.
Contact and quote, asked separately: Readers tap “you may contact me”, “you may quote my name” or “quote me without my name”. Each one is its own column in the export.
Ask the whole pile: Type “who in Harehills has the letter from the agent?” and read those readers' replies in their own words.
Any language, typed or spoken: Readers answer in Urdu, Polish or English, or tap the microphone and talk. You read every reply in English with the original kept beside it.
The letter with the story: Ask for a photo of the rent letter or the notice. Uploaded files stay private to your workspace, with no public link.
Counts for the copy: Each theme shows roughly how many readers said it, like rises over £200 at renewal, with example replies a click away. Exact counts you can print are coming at launch.

Fair questions.

Is FormzoAI safe for sources who could be at risk?: FormzoAI is built for readers sharing their own experience. For whistleblowers, or anyone who could be harmed if identified, use SecureDrop or Signal. FormzoAI keeps the answers and any contact details you ask for, saved as the reader goes, and the IP address only as a keyed one-way hash. Our AI provider, whose models run in the US, keeps nothing afterwards. We may have to disclose data when the law requires it.
Where are readers' replies stored, and can we delete them?: In the EU (Frankfurt) or the US (Ohio), one region per workspace. You set how long replies are kept, and you can delete one reader's answers, conversation and files at any time, for example when a source asks to be taken out. Unfinished replies are deleted after 30 days. Uploaded files are private to your workspace, and FormzoAI's support tools show account details only, never answers.
Will the follow-up question lead readers?: FormzoAI asks one neutral question about the reader's own answer, and only when a reply is too vague to use, like “yes, a lot”. You set follow-ups per question from 0 to 3, so permission and yes-or-no questions stay exactly as written. Every follow-up is saved with the reply, so you can quote a reader alongside the question they were answering.
Can we trust the counts enough to print them?: Every theme shows roughly how many readers said it and opens to example replies, each next to the reader's own words, so treat the count as a guide and check the replies before a number goes in the copy. Exact counts, renaming themes, moving replies and coding into your own categories are coming at launch. Reporters still read the replies, make the calls and decide who is in the story.
Do readers need an account or an app?: No. Readers open the link, the embed under your article or a QR code in print, and answer in the browser on any phone or computer, as a short chat or a one-page form. They can type or speak, in their own language. Names, emails and phone numbers are asked only if you include those questions.
How much does running a callout cost?: Joining the waitlist is free. Starter is $19 a month for 500 replies with themes, quotes and CSV export. Pro is $49 a month for 3,000 replies and adds Ask your responses and Google Sheets sync. A one-off investigation fits the Event Pass: $79 once for 60 days and 3,000 replies with Pro features. Every plan starts with a 7-day trial and is paid by card.

Get in before your next callout goes out.

Get early access

Free to join. Spots open in batches.

914 callout replies, sorted before you pick up the phone.

When a reader writes “it went up a lot”, FormzoAI asks when and by how much. Every reply lands in a counted theme with quotes, next to whether that reader agreed to be contacted and named.

Rent increase callout

Leeds rent callout · made from “Reader callout for renters in Leeds whose rent went up this year, ask before we contact or quote anyone, closing Friday”

Their chat

Has your rent gone up this year? Tell us what happened.

Yes, a lot.

Follow-upWhen did it go up, and from how much to how much?

In March, from £950 to £1,240 a month. The agent gave us four weeks' notice and said the landlord is selling.

What you get

Theme

Rises over £200 at renewal

312 of 914 people said something like this

“In March, from £950 to £1,240 a month. The agent gave us four weeks' notice and said the landlord is selling.”

Example answers, written for this page.

Two days until the story runs.

914 replies, one reporter

The callout went out in Monday's newsletter and the replies are a spreadsheet you scroll at lunch. The editor wants three named renters and a number by Thursday.

“Yes, a lot.”

Half the replies say how angry people are and leave out the when, the how much and the who. Each one means another email, and most of those go unanswered.

“Can we use your name?”

The form never asked. So you message the best twenty to ask if you can call, then if you can quote them, then whether it's first name only, and half reply after the story has run.

From callout to call list.

Describe the callout in one sentence

“Reader callout for renters in Leeds whose rent went up this year, closing Friday.” You get the questions, with permission to contact and to quote asked last, and you can reword any line before it goes out.

Put it under the story

Embed it in the article, link it from the newsletter, post it on Bluesky. Readers answer on their phone without an account, in their own language, typed or spoken, and can attach a photo of the letter from the agent.

Read the themes, then make the calls

Replies grouped into themes, each with how many readers said it and the quotes behind it. Ask “who in Harehills has the letter and agreed to be named?” and you get those readers, with the phone numbers they chose to give.

Made for callouts with a deadline.

A follow-up for the facts

When a reply says “a lot”, the chat asks for the date, the amount or the name of the agent. You choose per question whether it follows up at all, and up to three times.

Contact and quote, asked separately

Readers tap “you may contact me”, “you may quote my name” or “quote me without my name”. Each one is its own column in the export.

Ask the whole pile

Type “who in Harehills has the letter from the agent?” and read those readers' replies in their own words.

Any language, typed or spoken

Readers answer in Urdu, Polish or English, or tap the microphone and talk. You read every reply in English with the original kept beside it.

The letter with the story

Ask for a photo of the rent letter or the notice. Uploaded files stay private to your workspace, with no public link.

Counts for the copy

Each theme shows roughly how many readers said it, like rises over £200 at renewal, with example replies a click away. Exact counts you can print are coming at launch.

Fair questions.

Is FormzoAI safe for sources who could be at risk?: FormzoAI is built for readers sharing their own experience. For whistleblowers, or anyone who could be harmed if identified, use SecureDrop or Signal. FormzoAI keeps the answers and any contact details you ask for, saved as the reader goes, and the IP address only as a keyed one-way hash. Our AI provider, whose models run in the US, keeps nothing afterwards. We may have to disclose data when the law requires it.
Where are readers' replies stored, and can we delete them?: In the EU (Frankfurt) or the US (Ohio), one region per workspace. You set how long replies are kept, and you can delete one reader's answers, conversation and files at any time, for example when a source asks to be taken out. Unfinished replies are deleted after 30 days. Uploaded files are private to your workspace, and FormzoAI's support tools show account details only, never answers.
Will the follow-up question lead readers?: FormzoAI asks one neutral question about the reader's own answer, and only when a reply is too vague to use, like “yes, a lot”. You set follow-ups per question from 0 to 3, so permission and yes-or-no questions stay exactly as written. Every follow-up is saved with the reply, so you can quote a reader alongside the question they were answering.
Can we trust the counts enough to print them?: Every theme shows roughly how many readers said it and opens to example replies, each next to the reader's own words, so treat the count as a guide and check the replies before a number goes in the copy. Exact counts, renaming themes, moving replies and coding into your own categories are coming at launch. Reporters still read the replies, make the calls and decide who is in the story.
Do readers need an account or an app?: No. Readers open the link, the embed under your article or a QR code in print, and answer in the browser on any phone or computer, as a short chat or a one-page form. They can type or speak, in their own language. Names, emails and phone numbers are asked only if you include those questions.
How much does running a callout cost?: Joining the waitlist is free. Starter is $19 a month for 500 replies with themes, quotes and CSV export. Pro is $49 a month for 3,000 replies and adds Ask your responses and Google Sheets sync. A one-off investigation fits the Event Pass: $79 once for 60 days and 3,000 replies with Pro features. Every plan starts with a 7-day trial and is paid by card.