Questions & answers

Frequently asked questions

The short version: free, private, and parents stay in charge of every ride. The longer versions are below.

Is Carpool Team really free?

Yes. Carpool Team is free for organizers and parents — no subscriptions, no ads, no locked features. An optional tip jar helps cover maps, email, and hosting, but tipping changes nothing about what you can use.

How does Carpool Team protect home addresses?

Home locations are stored as private coordinates and never shown to anyone — not on a map, not in a list. Teammates only ever see names and the extra minutes a pickup would add to their own drive.

Do parents need to download an app?

No. Carpool Team runs in the browser on any phone or computer. Parents sign in with a one-time email code or their Google account — no passwords to remember.

How do parents join a team?

The organizer shares one invite — a private link and a short code — usually pasted into the team's existing group chat. Parents open the link, enter the code, and add their family. There's no email roster to build.

Does Carpool Team schedule or manage the rides?

No, and that's deliberate. It shows each parent which teammate is the easiest ask for a given destination, then opens their texting app with a ready message. The actual carpool is arranged parent-to-parent, like always.

What if a parent can't drive?

They still benefit. A parent who can't drive can see which families pass near them and make an informed ask instead of a group-chat plea. Many families trade rides unevenly — that's fine; nothing is tracked or enforced.

Who can see my child's information?

Only your team, and only a first name plus your relationship to them (mom, dad, guardian). There are no child accounts, no profiles, and no photos.

What does the organizer have to do after setup?

Almost nothing. Create the team, add the usual destinations, share the invite once. Parents help themselves for the rest of the season — the organizer never manages rides, approves drivers, or chases RSVPs.