Android tester program

We’re inviting home canners to try the PreserveVault Android app free during private testing, in exchange for honest feedback. This page explains the program and what the app includes.

Why we’re looking for testers

PreserveVault is a real product in active development. Before a wider release, we want people who actually can food at home to use the app and tell us what works, what’s confusing, and what’s missing.

During this test phase, invited testers get full access to the current test build at no charge so they can explore everything and send feedback. Testers are not charged to join and are not required to buy Premium.

About free testing vs later public app

Private test builds are meant to be generous so you can try vault, recipes, and tools freely and give useful feedback.

When we open a wider public release, the app is planned as freemium:

• Free — safety tools and guides, shopping list, free recipes, and vault with a batch limit (for example about 10 batches)
• Premium (optional) — exclusive recipes when marked Premium, unlimited vault, and other paid features as we ship them. Planned Android prices (AUD): about A$7.99 / month or A$49.99 / year, billed through Google Play only

We will say clearly in the app and on this site which build you have (tester vs public freemium). Step-by-step video packs, if offered, are planned as a separate later upgrade — not part of today’s Premium promise for testers.

Who it’s for

• Home canners (pressure canning, water bath, or both)
• Android phone users (Google Play)
• People willing to try real workflows and report bugs or ideas

Not suitable as a children’s app. Food safety is an adult skill — always follow tested canning methods.

How to take part

1. Use the Google Play tester / opt-in link we share (Facebook groups, email, or support). That link is the official way to install the test version.
2. Install PreserveVault from Play when prompted.
3. Use Recipes, Tools, Vault, and Account as you would for real canning notes.
4. Send feedback to support@preservevaultapp.com — phone model, what you tried, and screenshots if something breaks.

If you found this page without a link, email support and ask about the current Android test program. We may still be filling the tester group.

What’s in the app today (test build)

Features available to testers in the current Android build include:

• Safety — first-run warning, ongoing safety banner, full warnings page
• Recipes — browse by category, search, pressure and water-bath methods, dual metric / US units
• Process guidance — times and altitude-style tables where recipes provide them
• Shopping list — add from recipes, combine quantities, add the same recipe more than once for multiple batches
• Vault — log batches, batch numbers for lids, use-by tracking, filters and colours, custom batches
• Learn & reference guides — canning topics such as acidity, altitude, canners, jar prep, after canning, syrups, pickles, salsa safety, glossary, and more
• Account — switch metric / US customary; app version; Premium info when that build includes it

Content (recipes and guides) is updated when we release a new app version. Vault and shopping data stay on your device in the current design.

What we’re working toward

We’re actively improving the app. Planned work includes items like the following — not a promise of dates, just a transparent look at the direction of travel:

• More free USDA-style recipes over time
• Optional Premium (unlimited vault, specialty / historical recipes)
• Public freemium release after private testing
• Later: optional Premium Plus with step-by-step videos (when ready)
• Richer recipe organisation and discovery
• Printable jar labels (batch number, dates, contents)
• Export vault lists (e.g. PDF or spreadsheet)
• Use-by reminders on the phone
• Cloud backup / sync of vault data across devices
• Improved shopping lists (history, multiple lists)
• Batch tags and stronger organisation tools
• iPhone / iOS version later
• Polish, performance, and bug fixes from tester feedback

Some ideas may change, merge, or drop based on feedback and what home canners actually need. Your input helps set priorities.

Safety

PreserveVault is educational. Always use tested methods for your food, jar size, and altitude. Low-acid foods need a pressure canner — not a boiling-water canner alone. When in doubt, throw it out. Read the in-app safety notice before canning.

Contact

support@preservevaultapp.com · Support page · Privacy policy