TYVM
✳ Why it’s free

Free, and we’ll show you the bill.

TYVM doesn’t take a cut of your support, and it doesn’t sell anything about you. So we cover the bills another way, and we show you every part of it.

See what it costs to runHow we stay free
✳ What we refuse

What we won’t do to pay for it.

These aren’t things we haven’t got to. They’re doors we shut, because a lot of the people here are young.

Take a cut of yours

Not a fee, not a percentage, not a “processing charge.” Your support goes straight to you.

Show you ads

No ad space, no sponsors tucked into your page. Nobody’s renting room in it.

Track or sell you

No profiles, no advertising cookies, nothing about you for sale. It isn’t built.

Sell anyone a say

Nobody buys a say over where TYVM goes. Not an underwriter, not an investor, not the biggest supporter.

✳ How we stay free

So here’s how we pay for it.

Right now the founder pays the whole bill. The plan is to be funded by the people who use it, in two ways.

The people

People chip in

A little from a lot of people covers the bills. Always optional, and it never unlocks anything others don’t get. Our own page for it, @tyvm, is still being set up.

See the numbers →
The underwriters

Local businesses underwrite a line

One plain line of text in our footers, public-radio style. Never an ad, and never on your page.

How that works →
✳ Nothing hidden

We’ll publish the bill.

Line by line, on a cost page that opens with the app. The first numbers will be estimates, and the page will say so. A bigger number just means more people are here, which is the right way round.

✳ Fair questions

The money questions.

Is TYVM free?
Yes, making a page and getting support on TYVM are free, and TYVM never takes a cut. One day there may be paid extras for grown-ups, like a custom domain, but never a fee on support and never a wall in front of a page.
How is TYVM funded?
Right now TYVM is funded by its founder. The plan is small, optional support from the people who use it, plus businesses underwriting one plain line of text in TYVM’s footers, never ads and never a cut of anyone’s support. Nobody buys a say: not an underwriter, not an investor, not the biggest supporter.
Does TYVM take a cut of tips?
No. Supporters pay the person directly in their own Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, Stripe payment link or website, so the money never passes through TYVM and TYVM takes nothing from it.
Does TYVM sell my data?
No. TYVM doesn’t track or profile people, runs no ads, and has nothing about you for sale.
What is underwriting on TYVM?
Underwriting is public-radio style support: a business pays for one plain line of text in TYVM’s footers, untargeted and untracked. It never appears on a creator’s page. More for businesses →
How can I support TYVM?
Soon at TYVM’s own page, @tyvm, which is being set up and will work like everyone else’s. Until then, tell a friend, or if you run a business, underwrite a line. Underwrite a line →
Is TYVM a nonprofit?
No, TYVM is a small for-profit company. It takes no cut, sells no data, runs no ads, and will publish what it costs to run, line by line. Supporting TYVM is support, not a tax-deductible donation. What TYVM costs to run →
Can my business or organization back TYVM?
Yes. A business can underwrite one plain line of text in TYVM’s footers from $1 a month, and schools, libraries and funders can talk to TYVM about pilots and support. Ways to back TYVM →

Like it? Help keep it free.

Tell a friend, or if you run a business, underwrite a line.

See what it costsPartner with us