FAQ
What is Percol8?
A tester exchange for indie devs. Test someone else's app and you earn a seat; spend seats getting your own app tested.
What's the difference between a 14-day test and a quick test?
In a 14-day test a full cohort of testers installs together and checks in daily for two weeks straight, which surfaces the bugs and the drop-off a single session never reaches. A quick test is one round: claim a slot, use the app, send written feedback within 5 days.
Why 14 days?
Because that's how long it takes to find out whether an app survives being lived with rather than opened once. On Android, with at least 12 testers, it also clears Google Play's closed-test requirement, which is a useful side effect of running a real test.
What are seats?
Percol8's one currency. Test another dev's app and you earn seats. List your own app for testing and you spend them. No separate credit system, no ratio to learn.
How many seats do things cost or earn?
Launching a 14-day test costs the developer 5 seats for each tester who gets confirmed; completing one earns a tester 5 seats. Publishing a quick test costs the developer 1 seat per slot listed, regardless of how many get filled; submitting feedback earns a tester 1 seat.
What's the difference between Current, Upcoming, and Completed tests?
Current tests are open and joinable right now. Upcoming tests are announced but not open yet. Completed tests have finished, and show the developer's own testimonial and ratings where they've left one.
Can I join a test before it's open?
Yes. A campaign still in draft (shown under Upcoming) can still be joined - you're waitlisted for free, and whoever pre-registered earliest gets confirmed first once the developer opens it up, up to capacity.
What happens once I join a 14-day test waitlist?
You wait until the developer launches the campaign. Once they do, you get a 48-hour window to install the app, then you check in once a day for 14 days straight. Complete all 14 and you earn 5 seats.
What happens once I claim a quick test slot?
You install the app, use it, and send back written feedback (what worked, what didn't, and any bugs) within 5 days. Submit it and you earn 1 seat.
How does Percol8 know I actually tested the app?
A 14-day test tracks your daily check-ins, and they have to be consecutive. A quick test needs structured written feedback before your seat lands, so a star rating on its own won't do it.
How do ratings work?
Once a test finishes, the developer can give each tester a thumbs up or down, and a tester can do the same for the developer. It's a simple reputation signal today, not a detailed scoring system.
I'm a developer with no seats. How do I get started?
Register your app and open a 14-day test waitlist. Opening one is free; you only spend seats when you launch. You can also earn seats by testing other people's apps before you publish a quick test.
Can I invite specific people to test my app?
Yes. From your campaign's manage page, you can invite someone by email. If they don't have a Percol8 account yet, they'll set one up and land straight on your campaign's waitlist.
Is Percol8 free?
Reciprocal testing (earning seats by testing, spending them to get tested) is free. There's no paid-tester option yet.
Still have a question? Read the story behind Percol8, or browse open tests to see it in action.