InstaRate FAQ

Every question about InstaRate answered in detail — getting started, calculator, quotes, rate lists, staff management, and data privacy.

Getting Started

Everything you need to know before you install and open InstaRate for the first time.

• Where can I download InstaRate? ⌄
  InstaRate is available exclusively on the Google Play Store for Android devices. Simply search for InstaRate in the Play Store, or visit the InstaRate page on our website and tap the Get it on Google Play button. The download is completely free and takes only a few seconds on any modern Android phone.
• Is InstaRate free to use? ⌄
  Yes — InstaRate is completely free to download and use with no hidden charges. Core features including the installment calculator, product management, and PDF quote generation are available at no cost. We believe every small retailer and dealer deserves professional-grade tools without a subscription barrier.
• Do I need an account or internet connection to use InstaRate? ⌄
  No account or login is required — InstaRate works completely offline once installed. All your product data, rate lists, and generated quotes are stored locally on your device. An internet connection is only needed to download updates from the Play Store, not to use the app day-to-day.
• Is there a setup guide or tutorial for new users? ⌄
  InstaRate includes an in-app onboarding flow that walks you through adding your first products, setting up your rate list, and generating a sample quote. Additionally, our website's InstaRate page hosts video walkthroughs and written guides covering every major feature. We recommend completing the onboarding flow before adding live product data.
• What should I do first after installing InstaRate? ⌄
  After installing, begin by entering your shop name and logo in the Settings section — this branding will appear on every PDF quote you generate. Next, add your products or import a rate list PDF, then configure your installment plan settings (down payment percentage, processing fee, and available months). Once those three steps are done, you're ready to create your first customer quote.

Installment Calculator

Understand exactly how InstaRate's calculator works and how to tailor it to your business.

• Which installment durations does InstaRate support? ⌄
  InstaRate supports installment plans from 3 months up to 36 months, giving you full flexibility to cater to a wide range of customer budgets. You can activate or deactivate specific durations (e.g., only show 6, 12, and 24-month plans) so the app only displays what your shop actually offers, keeping quotes clean and focused.
• Can I configure a custom down payment percentage? ⌄
  Yes. In the Calculator Settings panel you can set any down payment percentage that matches your shop's policy — common values range from 10% to 30%, but the field accepts any integer. The down payment amount is automatically calculated per product price and displayed on the generated quote so customers know exactly what they owe upfront.
• How is the processing or service fee handled in the calculator? ⌄
  You can define a flat processing fee or a percentage-based service charge in Settings. This fee is automatically added to the total financed amount before monthly installments are calculated, ensuring the quote accurately reflects what the customer will actually pay. The fee is itemized separately on the PDF so there is full transparency for the customer.
• Can I add custom markup or interest charges per product? ⌄
  Absolutely. Each product can carry its own markup percentage on top of the global installment settings. This is useful when certain brands have higher financing costs or when you want to protect your margin on specific high-ticket items. Per-product markups override the global setting only for that particular item on the quote.
• How do I calculate an installment plan for a customer? ⌄
  Open the Calculator tab, select a product from your rate list (or enter a custom price), choose the installment duration, and tap Calculate. InstaRate instantly shows the down payment, monthly installment amount, total payable, and any applicable fees. You can then add this calculation directly to a new quote with a single tap, saving you time during busy customer interactions.

Quote & PDF Features

Learn how to create, brand, and share professional installment quotes with customers.

• How do I create a quote for a customer? ⌄
  Tap New Quote, enter the customer's name and phone number (optional), then add one or more products by selecting them from your rate list or typing a custom price. Choose the installment plan for each item and tap Generate Quote. InstaRate builds a beautifully formatted PDF in seconds, ready to share or print.
• Can I add my shop logo to the PDF quote? ⌄
  Yes — go to Settings → Shop Profile and upload your logo from your phone's gallery. From that point on, every PDF quote will automatically include your logo at the top alongside your shop name, address, and contact number. This gives your quotes a polished, professional look that builds customer trust.
• Can I share a quote directly on WhatsApp? ⌄
  Absolutely. After generating a quote, tap the Share button and select WhatsApp from the share sheet. The PDF is attached automatically — no manual file hunting required. You can also share via email, Bluetooth, or any other app installed on your device. Sharing takes under five seconds from the quote screen.
• Is it possible to print a quote directly from the app? ⌄
  Yes. InstaRate integrates with Android's built-in print framework. Tap Print on any quote and Android will discover any compatible printers on your network (Wi-Fi or Cloud Print–compatible devices). The quote is formatted specifically to print cleanly on standard A4 paper with proper margins and font sizing.
• Can I create multiple quotes and keep them saved? ⌄
  Yes. All generated quotes are saved in the Quotes History section where you can browse, re-open, re-share, or delete them at any time. There is no limit on how many quotes you can store — they remain on your device until you manually delete them. Each saved quote also records the date it was created for easy reference.

Rate List & Products

Manage your product catalog, rate lists, brands, and categories with ease.

• Can I import a rate list from a PDF file? ⌄
  Yes — InstaRate supports importing product data from structured PDF rate lists. Tap Rate List → Import PDF, select the file from your device, and the app will parse the products, models, and prices. While highly formatted or image-only PDFs may require manual correction, most standard dealer rate sheets import cleanly with little to no editing needed.
• How do I add products manually if I don't have a PDF? ⌄
  Go to Rate List → Add Product and fill in the product name, brand, category, and price. You can also add a product image from your camera or gallery to make the rate list visually identifiable. Manual entries support all the same calculator and quote features as imported products, so there is no difference in functionality.
• Can I organize products by brand? ⌄
  Yes. InstaRate lets you assign every product to a brand, and you can then filter the rate list by brand to quickly find items during a customer conversation. You can add as many brands as your shop carries, and the brand filter is available on both the rate list view and the calculator product picker, making it fast to navigate large catalogs.
• Does InstaRate support product categories? ⌄
  Yes — in addition to brands, you can assign products to categories such as Smartphones, Smart TVs, Refrigerators, Washing Machines, and so on. Categories and brands can be used together as combined filters, so you can instantly narrow down to, for example, all Samsung refrigerators in your rate list with just two taps.
• Is there a search feature in the rate list? ⌄
  Yes. A real-time search bar at the top of the Rate List screen lets you type any part of a product name or model number to instantly filter results. The search works across all brands and categories simultaneously, so you can find any product in your entire catalog within a second or two — even if you have hundreds of items loaded.

Staff & Shop Management

Run your shop, manage your team, and track performance — all from one app.

• How do I add staff members to InstaRate? ⌄
  Navigate to Settings → Staff Management → Add Staff, enter the staff member's name, contact number, and assigned role. Each staff member can be assigned a PIN so they can log in independently on a shared device without accessing the owner's full settings. Staff entries can be edited or removed at any time.
• What roles and permissions are available for staff? ⌄
  InstaRate currently supports two primary roles: Owner (full access including settings, pricing, and staff management) and Staff (can create quotes and use the calculator but cannot modify product prices, delete records, or access financial summaries). This ensures your pricing and business data stays protected even when the phone is handed to an employee.
• Can InstaRate be used across multiple store locations? ⌄
  Each installed instance of InstaRate operates as a standalone shop profile. If you run multiple branches, you can install InstaRate on a dedicated device at each location and configure separate shop names, logos, and product catalogs per device. Cross-device sync is not currently available but is planned for a future update.
• Does InstaRate support dealer or distributor management? ⌄
  Yes — InstaRate includes a Dealer module where you can record your supplier and dealer contacts, their supplied brands, and price tiers. This makes it easy to check which dealer supplies which brand while generating quotes, without switching to your contacts app. Dealer records are private and never shared with anyone.
• Can I track how many quotes each staff member has created? ⌄
  Yes. The Reports section breaks down quote activity by staff member, showing the number of quotes created, the total value quoted, and the time period. This gives shop owners a clear picture of individual staff productivity without needing any external reporting tools. Reports can be filtered by date range for weekly or monthly reviews.

Data & Privacy

Your business data stays on your device. Here's everything you need to know.

• Does InstaRate work without an internet connection? ⌄
  Yes — InstaRate is designed as a fully offline-first application. Every feature, including the installment calculator, quote generator, rate list, and staff management, works without any internet connection. This is especially important for users in areas with unreliable connectivity, ensuring your shop never stops because of a network issue.
• Is there a cloud backup option for my data? ⌄
  InstaRate currently provides a local backup export feature — you can export all your data as a backup file and save it to your phone's storage or share it to Google Drive manually. Cloud auto-backup through Google Drive or a dedicated cloud service is on our development roadmap and will be available in an upcoming update.
• What happens if I lose my phone or it gets reset — will I lose my data? ⌄
  Since InstaRate stores data locally, a factory reset or device loss would result in data loss if you haven't created a backup. We strongly recommend exporting a backup regularly (at least once a week) and keeping a copy on Google Drive or another safe location. Restoring from a backup file after reinstalling the app brings back all your products, quotes, and settings.
• Does InstaRate collect or share my business data? ⌄
  No. InstaRate does not collect, transmit, or share any of your business data — including product prices, customer names, quote history, or staff information — with Mixlexa or any third party. There are no analytics SDKs and no advertising networks embedded in the app. Your business data is entirely yours and never leaves your device.
• If I uninstall and reinstall InstaRate, can I get my data back? ⌄
  Yes — as long as you exported a backup before uninstalling. On first launch after reinstalling, choose Restore from Backup and select your exported backup file. All your products, rate lists, quotes, staff, and settings will be fully restored. Without a prior backup, uninstalling permanently removes all locally stored data, so backup exports are an important habit to build.