Find answers to common questions and learn how to get the most out of SummaryForge.
Complete guide to using SummaryForge
Get help from our support team
Learn about OpenAI API keys
Click the "Get Started" button on the homepage or visit the signup page. You'll need to provide an email address and create a password. New accounts receive 2 welcome credits to try the service.
We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) through our secure payment processor. All transactions are encrypted and PCI-compliant.
No, credits never expire. Once purchased, they remain in your account until you use them. You can view your credit balance anytime on the Credits page.
We offer refunds for unused credits within 30 days of purchase. If you've used any credits, we'll refund the remaining balance. Contact support to request a refund.
We support PDF and EPUB files up to 50MB in size. You can also paste URLs to online ebooks or search for books by title/author.
Generation time depends on the book's length. Short books (100-200 pages) typically take 2-5 minutes, while longer books (500+ pages) may take 10-15 minutes. You'll see real-time progress updates during generation.
Great news! If a summary already exists in our cache, you get instant access without using a credit. This makes SummaryForge very cost-effective for popular books and textbooks.
Currently, summaries are generated in a comprehensive format that captures key concepts, main ideas, and important details. You receive all output formats (markdown, PDF, EPUB, text, audio, flashcards) automatically.
Go to the Summaries page and click the download button next to any completed summary. You'll receive a .tgz archive containing all formats.
Using your own API key gives you full control over your AI usage and costs. You can monitor your OpenAI usage directly and aren't subject to rate limits from shared keys. This also keeps our service affordable.
Yes! Your API key is encrypted with AES-256-GCM before storage. It's never exposed to the client, never logged, and all processing happens server-side. We take security very seriously.
Common issues:
Create a group on the Groups page and collaborate with your team:
Yes! You can join or create as many groups as you need. This is perfect for different classes, study groups, or research projects.
Only you can see your summaries by default. If you share a summary with a group, only members of that specific group can access it. You have full control over sharing.
Click the "Invite Friends" button on your group page. You can paste multiple email addresses (separated by commas, spaces, or new lines). Each person will receive a custom invitation email with a link to join your group. If they don't have an account yet, they'll be prompted to sign up first.
Yes! Each group has a real-time chat feature where all members can discuss shared materials, ask questions, and collaborate. Messages are updated live, so you can have instant conversations with your team.
Yes, group owners and admins can remove members at any time. Removed members lose access to group-shared summaries and the group chat, but keep their own personal summaries.
Check these common issues:
If the issue persists, contact support with the error message.
Ensure pop-ups are not blocked in your browser. Check your browser's download settings and make sure you have enough disk space. Try using a different browser if the issue continues.
Try resetting your password using the "Forgot Password" link on the login page. If you're still having trouble,contact support for assistance.
Try clearing your browser cache and cookies. Check your internet connection. If the issue persists, we may be experiencing high traffic - please try again in a few minutes.
Can't find the answer you're looking for? Our support team is here to help.