Frequently asked questions
This FAQ covers what people ask most before downloading PhotoPots — what a pot actually is, what happens to a photo when you sort it, whether the in-app camera really skips the Camera Roll, and how sync, pricing, and privacy shake out. Short version: your work photos live in pots, your Camera Roll stays personal, and nobody but you ever sees any of it.
Pots, sorting, and who it's for
What is a pot?
A pot is a private container inside PhotoPots — like a folder, but for a part of your life. Make one for work, one for receipts, one for the kids. Each pot gets its own name and color, and photos in a pot stay out of your Camera Roll.
How is PhotoPots different from albums in the Photos app?
Albums in the Photos app just add a label — the photo stays in your Camera Roll, your Memories, and your widgets. Sorting into a pot actually moves the photo: the original leaves the Camera Roll and lives in PhotoPots instead. Work photos stop showing up next to vacation shots.
Does sorting delete my photos?
No — sorting moves them, it never deletes them. The original is removed from the Camera Roll and kept safely inside PhotoPots, with iCloud backup if you use it. You can view, edit, share, or move any photo back to the Camera Roll whenever you like.
Who is PhotoPots for?
Anyone who communicates with photos on the job — contractors, real estate agents, inspectors, nurses, teachers, and field techs. If your Camera Roll mixes job-site shots with family photos, PhotoPots was built for you.
Capture straight into a pot
How does capture-to-pot work?
Pick a pot, tap the camera, and shoot. The photo lands straight in that pot and never touches your Camera Roll. It's the fastest way to keep a work photo work-only from the moment you take it.
Does the in-app camera really skip the Camera Roll?
Yes, really. Photos taken with the PhotoPots camera are written directly to your pot, not to the system photo library. There's nothing to clean up later — no duplicates, no leftovers.
What happens to GPS and other metadata?
PhotoPots keeps it. GPS coordinates, timestamps, and camera details stay attached to your photos, and cropping or editing inside the app doesn't strip them. If you need to prove where and when a job-site photo was taken, that record is intact.
Your pots, everywhere you work
How does iCloud sync work?
If you're signed in to iCloud, your pots and photos sync automatically across your devices. Snap a photo on your iPhone and it's waiting on your iPad or Mac when you get back to your desk. There's nothing to set up beyond turning iCloud on.
Which devices does PhotoPots run on?
iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Capture and sort on your phone in the field, then review, crop, and share on a bigger screen at the office. Your pots look and work the same everywhere.
What happens if iCloud is turned off?
PhotoPots still works — your pots and photos simply stay on that device only. Nothing breaks and nothing is lost. Turn iCloud on later and everything starts syncing from where you left off.
Simple pricing, nothing to hide
What do I get for free?
The free version includes everything you need to try PhotoPots properly: pots, the in-app camera, OCR search, and 25 sorts a week. For a lot of people that's plenty. No trial timer, no credit card.
What does Pro add?
Pro removes the weekly limit, so sorting and capturing are unlimited. That's the whole deal — every other feature works the same on both plans. If 25 sorts a week starts to feel tight, Pro is the fix.
Do you see my photos?
No. PhotoPots has no servers of its own and there's no account to create. Your photos live on your device and in your personal iCloud — the same place Apple already keeps them. We can't see them because they never come to us.
Do I need an account to start?
No account, ever. Download the app and make your first pot in under a minute. You only pay if you decide to upgrade to Pro for unlimited sorting, and that's handled privately through the App Store.
Want the full picture?
See how sorting and capture-to-pot actually work, compare the plans on the pricing page, or get in touch with support if your question isn't answered here.