A short guide to bases, tags, and sync — plus answers to the questions that come up most.
From an empty app to tapping a box and seeing what's inside it.
A Base is one database — "Moving boxes", "Home inventory", "Wine". Tap + on the base list and start blank, or clone a template that already has a sensible schema.
Add the fields you actually need. One field is the primary field — it's the title you'll see in lists and Spotlight results.
Each record is one physical thing. Fill it in, attach photos, then link an NFC tag or print its QR code.
Mix them however your workflow needs. Schema is data, not code — you can change it later.
Single line — names, serial numbers, locations.
Multi-line notes and descriptions.
Numeric, with an optional unit label.
A simple yes/no flag.
Date, with optional time.
One option from a list you define.
Several options from that same list.
One or more images attached to the record.
Repeating sub-records — box contents as name + quantity rows.
Changing a field to an incompatible type can leave existing values blank for that field. If the base matters, export a JSON backup first.
How tags get written, how your data moves between devices, and how to get it out again.
Open a record → Link a tag, then hold a blank sticker to the top of your iPhone. Tapbase writes tapbase.app/r/<id> to it in a second.
Every record can show a QR code encoding the same link. Print it for surfaces a sticker won't hold, or for phones without background NFC.
The link is a random identifier that only means something inside your own database — nothing personal is written to a tag or encoded in a code.
With iCloud on, bases sync across your devices through your own private iCloud database. No Tapbase account, no Tapbase server.
Sharing a base uses Apple's CloudKit sharing — send an invite and their copy stays in sync with yours. They'll need Tapbase and an iCloud account.
Any base exports to CSV or JSON from its menu.
Export is a Pro feature.
One-time purchase, no subscription. The free tier is fully functional — it's capped by scale, not crippled by feature locks.
Bought it already and got a new phone? Settings → Restore Purchases, also on the upgrade screen. Purchases follow your Apple ID across your devices and Family Sharing.
If yours isn't here, email us — it probably belongs on this list.
Include your iOS version and what you were doing when things went wrong — it saves a round trip. Tapbase has no server and collects no data, so nothing about your bases is visible to us unless you tell us.
support@tapbase.app →