Email us
Questions, bugs, account help, or privacy requests.
Support
How can we help?
Real people read every message. We usually reply within a day or two, and safety reports within 24 hours.
Beta feedback
Testing on TestFlight? Take a screenshot in Ballad and tap Share Beta Feedback, or open TestFlight and tap Send Beta Feedback.
Report a safety concern
Press and hold a verse and choose Report verse, or email us with the ballad and handle.
Frequently asked questions
What’s a ballad? What’s a verse?
A ballad is a story that a small group writes together: a short story, novel, play, or poem. A verse is one turn’s worth of writing. Depending on how the creator set up the ballad, that’s one sentence, paragraph, page, or chapter.
How do turns work?
Bards take turns in the order shown in the queue. When it’s your turn, the ballad shows Your verse on your shelf, along with how many days you have left. The creator chooses the time limit, from one day to one week.
What happens if someone doesn’t take their turn?
Ghost protection. When a turn runs out of time, it passes to the next bard automatically, so one busy friend can’t stall the whole story.
Why does the creator approve verses?
The creator sets the story’s direction and is the first line of moderation. Their own verses go straight in. Everyone else’s wait for a quick review: the creator can weave a verse in, or hand it back to its author with a fresh clock for another pass.
How do I invite friends?
After you begin a ballad, tap Invite bards with Messages. You can also open a ballad you created, tap the people icon, and choose Invite bards with Messages under Invites. Friends who join take their place in the turn queue.
Who can read my ballad?
The creator decides when the ballad begins. Bards only means just the people writing it. Invited readers means readers the bards invite can follow along too. Mature 17+ ballads are never shown to anyone under 17.
Why does Ballad ask for my birthday?
To make sure you’re at least 13, and to keep Mature 17+ ballads hidden until you’re 17. Your birthday is never shown to anyone. See the Privacy Policy.
Can other bards see my name or email?
No. Ballad is semi-anonymous. Other bards see your handle, your bio, and activity from ballads they can already read. When you sign in with Apple, you can also choose Hide My Email so that not even we see your real address.
How do I block or report someone?
To report a verse, press and hold it and choose Report verse. To block a bard, tap their name to open their profile, then tap Block. Their ballads disappear from your Reading shelf. You can unblock them in Profile → Blocked bards. See our Community Guidelines for what happens next.
What is Ballad+, and how do I cancel?
Ballad+ lets you create unlimited ballads at once and unlocks premium page turns. The free plan includes two active ballads that you created, and reading is always unlimited. To cancel, go to Settings → [your name] → Subscriptions → Ballad on your iPhone. For refunds, visit reportaproblem.apple.com.
I signed out. Where did my ballads go?
During the beta, your ballads are stored on your iPhone. Signing out keeps them there, and they’ll come back when you sign in again on the same device.
How do I delete my account?
In Ballad, open the Profile tab, scroll to the bottom, and tap Delete account. Confirm, and your profile and data are erased right away.
If you can’t get into the app, email [email protected] from the address you signed in with and we’ll delete it for you. Verses you’ve already added to other people’s ballads stay in those stories without your handle. If you want specific verses removed, tell us which ones.
Is Ballad available on Android or the web?
Not yet. Ballad is for iPhone and iPad for now.