Frequently asked questions
25 questions we actually get asked — about getting started, privacy, pricing, and self-hosting. Still stuck? hello+unitae@mindsers.it.
Getting started
How do I create my congregation’s space?
Go to unitae.app/register, enter your congregation name and email, and you’re done — your dedicated space is ready in 30 seconds. No server, no technical knowledge, no credit card required.
How long does initial setup take?
Most congregations are fully operational within an hour. The quick-start checklist guides you through inviting members, creating territories, and configuring your first programme template.
Do I need technical skills to use Unitae?
Not at all. Unitae is designed for congregation members, not IT teams. The only exception is self-hosting, which requires Docker, a Linux server, a reverse proxy, and some knowledge in server administration — but managed hosting requires zero technical knowledge.
Can I invite my whole congregation?
Yes. Managed hosting supports up to 200 publishers, which covers the vast majority of congregations. Each member gets their own account with a personalized dashboard. You control access through 14 permission roles. Need more? Contact us at hello+unitae@mindsers.it.
What if I already have data in Excel?
For territories, you can import addresses automatically from the National Address Database (BANO) for French congregations. Publisher records are added manually — most congregations complete this in one sitting.
Is Unitae affiliated with or endorsed by the Watch Tower Society?
No. Unitae is an independent, open-source tool created by a congregation member. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society or any branch office. It is a personal initiative to help congregations with their administrative work, similar to how a brother might create a spreadsheet template and share it.
How do I present Unitae to the body of elders?
Start by trying the 14-day trial yourself — no cost, no commitment. Explore the territory and report features so you can show real examples. Then present it at a shepherds’ meeting. Key points to emphasize: open source (the code is readable), data hosted in France, GDPR compliant, cancel anytime with full data export. You can also show the demo page — five minutes of scrolling covers all the features.
Features
Can I import my existing territories?
You can create your territories from the interface and automatically import addresses from the National Address Database (BANO) for congregations in France.
How many publishers can I add?
Managed hosting supports up to 200 publishers — more than enough for most congregations. Self-hosted instances have no limit at all. If your congregation needs more on managed hosting, contact us.
Can I manage meeting programmes and speaker assignments?
Yes. You can define recurring programme templates, assign speakers and service roles, detect conflicts with members' days off, and export polished PDFs. Each template can even be delegated to a specific brother.
Can I track which publishers haven’t submitted their monthly report?
Yes. The publishers section shows report status for every member month by month — submitted, missing, or inactive. You see at a glance who you still need to follow up with.
Can I print territory cards to hand out?
Yes. Unitae generates PDF territory cards in one click, with an optional embedded map page. The S-13 report is also generated automatically from your territory data.
Does Unitae work on mobile?
Yes. The interface is fully responsive. Publishers can check their territory, submit absences, or view the information board from their phone without installing anything.
Can multiple elders manage programmes?
Yes. Each programme template can be delegated to a specific brother. They manage their own template independently while the coordinator retains oversight.
What about members who don’t use smartphones or computers?
They won’t miss anything. Unitae is designed to support existing relationships — publishers still talk to their group overseer, who can enter reports on their behalf. Elders can create and manage a publisher’s data in the app without that publisher ever needing an account. Territory cards can be printed as PDFs. The members who don’t use technology will not even notice the change — but the elders managing their information will save hours.
Pricing & billing
Is the free trial really no-commitment?
Yes. For 14 days, you have access to all features without providing a credit card. At the end of the trial, you choose whether to continue or not.
What is the difference between managed hosting and self-hosting?
The features are strictly identical. With managed hosting, we handle the server, backups, updates, and TLS certificate. Self-hosting requires Docker and a Linux server.
What happens if I cancel my subscription?
You can export all your data at any time. No lock-in. If you cancel, your data is deleted within 30 days, unless legally required to retain it.
Do you offer discounts for congregations in developing countries?
We want Unitae to be accessible everywhere. If €9/month is genuinely out of reach for your congregation, reach out at hello+unitae@mindsers.it — we’ll find something that works. The self-hosted version is and will always be free.
What payment methods do you accept?
Payments are handled by Stripe and support all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) as well as SEPA Direct Debit for European congregations.
Privacy & security
Is my data secure?
Absolutely. Your data is hosted in France (OVH, Gravelines), encrypted, and isolated from other congregations at the database level. Unitae is GDPR compliant by design.
Where exactly is my data stored?
All primary data is stored at OVH’s data center in Gravelines, France. No data is transferred outside the European Union without your knowledge.
Can other congregations see our data?
No. Each congregation’s data is strictly isolated at the database level using PostgreSQL Row-Level Security. It is architecturally impossible for one congregation’s data to appear in another’s view.
What happens if Unitae shuts down?
Your data is always yours. You can export everything — publishers, territories, reports, programmes — at any time. And because the entire codebase is open source under AGPL-3.0, Unitae can never disappear. Even if MindsersIT stopped tomorrow, any technically comfortable member could download the code and run the exact same application on their own server. Your congregation is never locked in.
Is Unitae GDPR compliant?
Yes. Unitae is designed for GDPR compliance from the ground up: your congregation is the data controller, MindsersIT acts as processor under a Data Processing Agreement (DPA). Built-in tools for data export, anonymization, and consent management are included.
Technical
Is the interface available in English?
Yes, the interface is available in both French and English. You can switch languages at any time from your account settings.
Can I self-host Unitae?
Yes. Unitae is 100% open source (AGPL-3.0) and can be deployed on any Linux server using Docker Compose. All features are available — the only limit is the infrastructure you deploy it on.
What are the server requirements for self-hosting?
For a small congregation, a modest VPS is enough to start: 1 vCPU, 1 GB RAM, and 20 GB of storage. As your congregation grows, you may need to upgrade — 2 GB RAM is recommended for larger congregations. Unitae uses Docker Compose with PostgreSQL and Redis.
Can I migrate from Territory Helper?
You can recreate your territory structure in Unitae and use the BANO integration for French addresses. A direct Territory Helper import tool is on the roadmap.
Still have questions?
Email us at hello+unitae@mindsers.it or try Unitae free for 14 days — no credit card required.