Frequently Asked Questions

TipPanel works in a few simple steps:

1. Create a campaign: Set up a campaign with your desired settings, including payment options, message requirements, and more.
2. Customize your widget: Design your widget to match your brand and website using our appearance settings.
3. Embed the widget: Add the widget to your website using the provided embed code.
4. Receive tips: Visitors to your website can now send you tips and messages through the widget.
5. Manage and analyze: Use the TipPanel dashboard to manage your campaigns, moderate messages, and analyze your performance.

TipPanel handles all the payment processing, security, and technical aspects, so you can focus on creating content and engaging with your audience.

TipPanel can be used on virtually any type of website, including:

• Blogs and content websites: Accept tips from readers who appreciate your content.
• Portfolio websites: Allow clients and fans to support your work.
• Online stores: Provide an option for customers to leave a tip during checkout.
• Non-profit websites: Accept donations from supporters.
• Community websites: Allow members to contribute financially to the community.
• Service websites: Provide an easy way for clients to tip for good service.

TipPanel works with most website platforms, including WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, and custom-built websites.

TipPanel is available in most countries worldwide. However, payment processing availability may vary depending on the payment methods you choose to accept.

Stripe, our primary payment processor, is available in 40+ countries. PayPal is available in 200+ countries.

If you're unsure about availability in your country, please contact our support team for more information.

TipPanel offers several pricing plans to suit different needs:

• Free Plan: Basic features with limited usage.
• Pro Plan: More features and higher usage limits.
• Premium Plan: All features with high usage limits.
• Lifetime Plan: One-time payment for permanent access to Premium features.

For detailed pricing information, please visit our Pricing page or check the Subscription section in the help center.

In addition to the subscription cost, payment processors may charge transaction fees for each payment processed through your widget. These fees vary depending on the payment method and your location.

Yes, TipPanel supports multiple users on Premium and Lifetime plans. This feature allows you to:

• Add team members to your account with different permission levels
• Assign specific roles to each user (Admin, Editor, Moderator, Viewer)
• Control what each user can access and modify
• Track actions performed by each user

To add users to your account:

1. Go to your Profile settings
2. Select the "Team" tab
3. Click "Add Team Member"
4. Enter the user's email address and select their role
5. The user will receive an invitation email to join your account

Note that the number of users you can add depends on your subscription plan.

To change your email address:

1. Go to your Profile settings
2. Click on the "Account" tab
3. Enter your new email address in the "Email" field
4. Enter your current password to confirm the change
5. Click "Save Changes"
6. Verify your new email address by clicking the link in the verification email

To change your password:

1. Go to your Profile settings
2. Click on the "Security" tab
3. Enter your current password
4. Enter your new password and confirm it
5. Click "Update Password"

For security reasons, you'll receive an email notification whenever your email address or password is changed.

If you wish to delete your TipPanel account:

1. Go to your Profile settings
2. Click on the "Account" tab
3. Scroll to the bottom and click "Delete Account"
4. Read the information about account deletion
5. Enter your password to confirm
6. Click "Permanently Delete Account"

Important: Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. All your data, including campaigns, widgets, messages, and payment history, will be permanently deleted. Any active widgets on your websites will stop working.

If you have an active subscription, you may want to cancel it before deleting your account to avoid future charges.

If you exceed your plan's limits (e.g., number of campaigns, messages, or websites):

• You'll receive a notification in your dashboard and via email
• You'll need to either reduce your usage to stay within your plan's limits or upgrade to a higher plan
• TipPanel does not automatically charge you for overages

Depending on the specific limit you've exceeded, different restrictions may apply:

• Campaign limit: You won't be able to create new campaigns until you delete existing ones or upgrade your plan
• Message limit: Your widgets will still work, but new messages won't be stored in your dashboard
• Website limit: Your widgets will only work on the allowed number of domains

To avoid exceeding your limits, you can monitor your usage in the dashboard and set up email alerts to notify you when you're approaching your limits.

Yes, TipPanel offers extensive customization options for your widget. You can customize:

• Colors: Primary color, background color, text color, button colors
• Typography: Font family, font size, font weight
• Layout: Widget position, size, spacing
• Content: Button text, form labels, thank you message
• Appearance: Border radius, shadows, animations
• Branding: Add your logo, remove TipPanel branding (on paid plans)

You can also use custom CSS for advanced customization on Pro and higher plans.

To customize your widget:

1. Go to your campaign settings
2. Click on the "Appearance" tab
3. Use the visual editor to customize your widget
4. Preview your changes in real-time
5. Save your changes when you're satisfied

For more information, check our Widget Appearance guide.

Yes, you can have multiple TipPanel widgets on the same website. This is useful for:

• Creating different tip options for different purposes
• Having separate widgets for different sections of your website
• A/B testing different widget designs

To add multiple widgets to your website:

1. Create multiple campaigns in your TipPanel dashboard
2. Customize each widget as needed
3. Copy the embed code for each campaign
4. Paste each embed code into your website's HTML

You can also use the TipPanel JavaScript API to programmatically control which widget appears on which page or section of your website.

Note: Each widget counts as a separate campaign toward your plan's campaign limit.

Yes, TipPanel gives you several options to control when and where your widget appears:

• Position: Choose where the widget appears on the page (bottom right, bottom left, top right, top left, or center)
• Trigger: Choose how the widget is triggered (button click, page load, scroll percentage, exit intent, or time delay)
• Pages: Specify which pages the widget should appear on using URL patterns
• Devices: Choose which devices the widget should appear on (desktop, tablet, mobile, or all)
• Frequency: Control how often the widget appears to the same visitor

For advanced control, you can use the TipPanel JavaScript API to programmatically show or hide the widget based on custom conditions.

To configure these settings:

1. Go to your campaign settings
2. Click on the "Display Settings" tab
3. Configure the settings according to your preferences
4. Save your changes

Yes, TipPanel widgets are fully responsive and mobile-friendly. They automatically adapt to different screen sizes and devices, providing an optimal experience for all users.

Key mobile-friendly features include:

• Responsive design that adjusts to screen size
• Touch-friendly interface with appropriately sized buttons
• Mobile-optimized payment flows
• Fast loading times for mobile connections
• Compatibility with mobile browsers

You can preview how your widget looks on different devices using the preview feature in the widget appearance settings. This allows you to ensure your widget looks and functions well on all devices before embedding it on your website.

If you want to disable the widget on mobile devices, you can do so in the Display Settings tab of your campaign settings.

Payments made through your TipPanel widget are processed by Stripe or PayPal and deposited directly into your connected account. Here's how it works:

1. A supporter makes a payment through your widget
2. The payment is processed by Stripe or PayPal
3. The funds are deposited into your Stripe or PayPal account
4. You can then transfer the funds to your bank account

For Stripe payments:

• Funds are typically available in your Stripe account within 2 business days
• Stripe automatically transfers funds to your bank account on a schedule you set (daily, weekly, or monthly)
• You can also manually transfer funds to your bank account at any time

For PayPal payments:

• Funds are typically available in your PayPal account immediately
• You can transfer funds to your bank account manually or set up automatic transfers
• Bank transfers typically take 1-3 business days to complete

Note: Stripe and PayPal may have different policies and processing times depending on your country and account status. Check their documentation for specific details.

There are two types of fees that may apply to payments processed through your TipPanel widget:

1. Payment Processing Fees:

• These fees are charged by the payment processor (Stripe or PayPal) for processing the payment
• They typically consist of a percentage of the transaction amount plus a fixed fee
• For example, Stripe typically charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction in the US
• PayPal fees are similar but may vary depending on your country and account type
• These fees are deducted from the payment amount before it reaches your account

2. TipPanel Platform Fees:

• TipPanel does not charge any additional fees on Free and Lifetime plans
• On Pro and Premium plans, TipPanel charges a small platform fee of 1% per transaction
• This fee helps us maintain and improve the platform
• The platform fee is deducted from the payment amount before it reaches your account

You can choose to absorb these fees yourself or pass them on to your supporters by enabling the "Add processing fee to payment" option in your campaign settings. When this option is enabled, the fee amount will be added to the payment amount, so your supporters pay the fees instead of you.

For example, if a supporter wants to tip you $10:

• With fees absorbed by you: You receive $10 minus the processing fees
• With fees passed to supporter: The supporter pays $10 plus the processing fees, and you receive the full $10

Yes, TipPanel allows you to set suggested tip amounts to guide your supporters. This can help increase your average tip amount by providing reference points.

To set suggested tip amounts:

1. Go to your campaign settings
2. Click on the "Payment Settings" tab
3. Scroll to the "Suggested Amounts" section
4. Enable the "Show suggested amounts" option
5. Add up to 5 suggested amounts (e.g., $5, $10, $25, $50, $100)
6. Optionally, add labels to each amount (e.g., "Buy me a coffee", "Support my work", "You're awesome!")
7. Save your changes

Your widget will now display these suggested amounts as buttons that supporters can click to quickly select a tip amount. Supporters can still enter a custom amount if they prefer.

You can also set a default selected amount, which will be pre-selected when the widget opens. This can help anchor your supporters to a specific amount.

Yes, TipPanel supports recurring payments (subscriptions) on Pro and higher plans. This allows your supporters to set up automatic monthly or annual payments to support you on an ongoing basis.

To enable recurring payments:

1. Go to your campaign settings
2. Click on the "Payment Settings" tab
3. Scroll to the "Recurring Payments" section
4. Enable the "Allow recurring payments" option
5. Choose which intervals to offer (monthly, annual, or both)
6. Optionally, offer a discount for annual subscriptions
7. Save your changes

Your widget will now include an option for supporters to make their payment recurring. They can choose between a one-time payment or a recurring subscription.

Recurring payments are processed automatically by Stripe or PayPal on the same day each month or year. Supporters can cancel their subscription at any time through the receipt email they receive or by contacting you.

You can manage all your subscribers in the "Subscribers" section of your TipPanel dashboard, where you can view subscription details, payment history, and cancel subscriptions if needed.

Yes, TipPanel integrates with popular automation platforms on Pro and higher plans. These integrations allow you to trigger automated workflows when someone supports you through your widget.

Supported automation platforms include:

• Zapier
• Make (formerly Integromat)
• n8n
• Pipedream
• Automate.io

With these integrations, you can automate tasks such as:

• Adding supporters to a CRM
• Sending personalized thank-you emails
• Creating tasks in project management tools
• Updating spreadsheets with supporter information
• Posting notifications to Slack or Discord
• And much more

To set up an automation integration:

1. Go to the "Integrations" page in your TipPanel dashboard
2. Click "Add Integration" and select your automation platform
3. Follow the instructions to connect your account
4. Configure the trigger events (e.g., new payment, new message)
5. Set up your automation workflow in the automation platform
6. Test the integration to ensure it works correctly

TipPanel also provides a webhook option for custom integrations with any system that can receive webhook notifications.

Yes, TipPanel provides a comprehensive API that allows you to programmatically interact with your TipPanel account. The API is available on Pro and higher plans, with different levels of access depending on your plan:

• Pro Plan: Limited API access (read-only for most endpoints)
• Premium and Lifetime Plans: Full API access (read and write for all endpoints)

With the TipPanel API, you can:

• Retrieve information about your campaigns, payments, and messages
• Create and update campaigns
• Customize widget appearance
• Process payments programmatically
• Moderate messages
• Generate reports and analytics

The API uses RESTful principles and returns data in JSON format. Authentication is done using API keys, which you can generate in your TipPanel dashboard.

To get started with the API:

1. Go to your Profile settings
2. Click on the "API Keys" tab
3. Generate a new API key
4. Use this key in your API requests for authentication

Detailed API documentation is available in the API Reference section of the help center.

Yes, TipPanel can be integrated with most content management systems (CMS) and e-commerce platforms. We offer several integration options:

• Embed Code: The simplest method is to add the widget embed code to your site, which works with any platform that allows custom HTML/JavaScript.
• Official Plugins: We offer official plugins for popular platforms like WordPress, Shopify, and Wix.
• API Integration: For custom integrations, you can use our API to build a deeper integration with your platform.

Here's how to integrate with specific platforms:

• WordPress: Install our WordPress plugin or add the embed code to your theme's footer.
• Shopify: Install our Shopify app or add the embed code to your theme's liquid files.
• Wix: Add an HTML/Embed element to your page and paste the embed code.
• Squarespace: Add a Code Block to your page and paste the embed code.
• Webflow: Add a Custom Code element to your page and paste the embed code.
• Ghost: Add the embed code to your theme's footer or use a Code Injection.
• Custom platforms: Use our API to build a custom integration.

For e-commerce platforms, you can also integrate TipPanel at specific points in the customer journey, such as:

• On the checkout page as an optional tip
• On the thank-you page after purchase
• In the shopping cart as an upsell

For detailed integration instructions for specific platforms, check our Integrations guide.

TipPanel is committed to protecting your data and respecting your privacy. Here's how we handle different types of data:

• Account Information: We collect and store basic account information like your name, email, and profile details to provide our service.
• Payment Information: We never store your payment card details. When you add a payment method to receive tips, this information is securely transmitted directly to our payment processors (Stripe or PayPal).
• Supporter Data: We collect information about your supporters (name, email, message, payment amount) to process their payments and display their messages in your dashboard.
• Analytics Data: We collect anonymous usage data to improve our service and provide you with analytics about your campaigns.

We follow these data principles:

• Data Minimization: We only collect the data necessary to provide our service.
• Purpose Limitation: We only use your data for the purposes for which it was collected.
• Data Security: We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data.
• Transparency: We're clear about what data we collect and how we use it.
• User Control: You can access, export, and delete your data at any time.

We do not sell your data to third parties. We may share your data with third-party service providers (like payment processors) only as necessary to provide our service.

For more information, please see our Privacy Policy.

Yes, TipPanel is designed to be compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for users in the European Union. We've implemented various measures to ensure compliance:

• Lawful Basis for Processing: We process personal data only with a valid legal basis, such as consent, contract fulfillment, or legitimate interests.
• Data Subject Rights: We respect and facilitate the rights of data subjects, including the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict processing, data portability, and object to processing.
• Consent Management: Our widgets include consent mechanisms for collecting personal data from your supporters.
• Data Protection by Design: We've designed our systems with data protection principles in mind.
• Data Processing Agreements: We have appropriate agreements with our data processors.
• International Data Transfers: We ensure appropriate safeguards for any data transfers outside the EU.
• Data Breach Notification: We have procedures in place to detect, report, and investigate personal data breaches.

As a TipPanel user, you are considered a data controller for the personal data of your supporters. We provide tools to help you comply with your GDPR obligations:

• Privacy Policy Integration: You can link to your privacy policy in the widget.
• Consent Checkboxes: You can add consent checkboxes to your widget for marketing communications or other purposes.
• Data Export: You can export supporter data to fulfill data access requests.
• Data Deletion: You can delete supporter data to fulfill erasure requests.

For more information about our GDPR compliance, please see our Privacy Policy or contact our Data Protection Officer at privacy@tippanel.com.