Frequently Asked Questions

StationScope helps renters choose a neighborhood by transit station. You describe your budget, commute, and daily life in a chat. StationScope then recommends stations and nearby neighborhoods that fit, with rent estimates and commute estimates for each option.

Seven United States metros. New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. Each metro includes its subway or metro rail and its commuter rail, plus buses and other local modes where the region has them.

No. StationScope recommends areas, not specific apartments. It links you to listing sites with the map and filters already set for the recommended area, so you start from useful results instead of a blank search.

No. StationScope is built for renters only. The chat declines questions about buying a home.

No. They are modeled estimates. They start from United States Census median rent data and are adjusted upward to approximate current asking rents in each metro. They are not quotes, listings, or offers. Always verify prices yourself before you commit any money.

No. Commute times are modeled from station locations, line connections, and typical speeds and waits. They do not reflect delays, outages, construction, or weekend schedules. Treat them as rough comparisons between options, not as a timetable.

No. StationScope does not track elevator status or station accessibility. If you need elevator access, check the transit agency's accessibility pages before you count on a station.

You chat for free about what you need, and StationScope gives you a neighborhood recommendation at no cost. If you want to keep going, you can buy Refine Further and continue adjusting the result.

Refine Further costs $4.99, paid once. It unlocks continued refinement for your session and one report sent to your email. The report also has a web version you can open from a link in that email.

Tandem finds one shared neighborhood for a group of 2 to 5 people. It works for strangers, friends, partners, and family. Each person chats separately, and StationScope combines everyone's preferences into one shared recommendation with recommended stations, compromise analysis, and charts.

One person pays $18.99 and receives an access code by email. That person creates the group, picks the city, the group size, and the bedroom count, and sets a decision deadline. Then they share the group link so each person can join with a first name and an email address.

Each member chats privately about their own budget, commute, and preferences. When every member finishes, StationScope builds the shared recommendation and emails it to every member. The email usually arrives shortly after the last person finishes.

No. Each member's chat is private. Your group sees only the shared recommendation that StationScope produces. The report describes the group's preferences and tradeoffs, but no one can read your conversation.

The group does not wait forever. When the deadline passes, StationScope builds the recommendation from the members who finished, as long as at least 2 finished. The organizer can also close the group early with the Finalize now button once at least 2 members are done. Every member who joined still receives the email.

One purchase covers one group of up to 5 people. The size you enter at setup guides the flow, but more people can still join until the group reaches 5 members or the group closes. A group larger than 5 needs a second purchase and a second group.

In Tandem, the report goes to the address each member entered when joining, and every member gets the same email. In Solo, the report goes to the address you gave at checkout. Type your address carefully. The report is sent once, so check your spam folder if it does not appear.

In Solo, Refine Further exists for exactly this. It lets you keep adjusting your recommendation during your session. In Tandem, finishing your chat locks your answers, so take your time before you tap finish. Once the group report goes out, the group is closed, and a fresh recommendation needs a new group.

Solo chat and your first recommendation are free. Refine Further costs $4.99. Tandem costs $18.99 per group, covering up to 5 people. Each price is a single payment. Prices exclude any tax that may apply and may change for future purchases.

By card, on a secure checkout page hosted by Stripe. StationScope never sees or stores your card number. It keeps only the payment confirmation, the email you used, and the access code created for your purchase.

No. Each purchase is one payment for one report. Nothing renews and nothing charges again. A second Tandem group or a new Solo search needs a new purchase.

Purchases unlock access right away, so sales are final except where the law requires a refund. Billing mistakes are different. If you were charged in error, charged twice, or paid and got nothing, email support within 60 days of the charge and StationScope will review it. Contact StationScope before disputing with your bank, since a chargeback can revoke access.

The code goes to the email you used at checkout, usually within 5 minutes. Check your spam folder first. If it still has not arrived, email support from the address you paid with and StationScope will resend it.

No. There are no accounts or passwords. A purchase is tied to a code or a session instead. Keep your confirmation email. If you close your browser or lose your tab, your code is how you get access back.

The emailed report is yours to keep. A Tandem group's web report link stays open for 12 months. The chats behind a paid group or session are deleted after 12 months as well, so continued refinement of an old session does not last forever. The Privacy Policy lists the full retention schedule.

The site works in English, Spanish, and Chinese through the language picker. StationScope runs in the browser on phones, tablets, and computers. There is no app to install. A current version of any major browser works.