Frequently Asked Questions
Plain answers about privacy, cost, safety, and what Switchback is here to do.
Is Switchback free?
Yes. Switchback is free to download and use.
Is my information private?
Yes. Your data is stored securely and never sold or shared with advertisers or third parties. The journal, safety plan, check-ins, and coach responses stay private to your account.
Is Switchback a replacement for therapy, treatment, or medical care?
No. Switchback is a personal support tool, not a clinical service. It is not a therapist, a treatment program, or an emergency service. If you are in crisis, use the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988), contact SAMHSA at 1-800-662-4357, or call 911.
Who is Switchback for?
Switchback is built for three kinds of people: someone in active recovery who wants their plan close; someone working on a personal habit or pattern (mirror mode); and someone supporting a loved one in recovery (ally mode). You choose your mode when you sign up.
What happens when I sign up?
You take a short guided assessment that builds your personal profile — your triggers, coping tools, warning signs, support contacts, and your own message to yourself. That profile powers everything: your safety plan, your Coach, your daily check-in. It takes about 10–15 minutes.
What is the Coach?
The Coach is the app's in-the-moment support feature. When a hard moment hits, you open it and walk through a short guided sequence built from your own answers. It is not a chatbot and it does not give advice. It surfaces your own tools and people in the moment you need them.
Does Switchback work offline?
Some parts of the app — like reading your safety plan — work without a connection. Features that generate responses (the Coach, daily reflections) require an internet connection.
Who built this?
Switchback was built by Jack Fay, who built it during his own recovery. It is not made by a clinic, a pharmaceutical company, or a treatment center.