FAQ

Common questions about how BallPark works and what it does not do.

Which should I use—peer comparison or expectation check?

Peer comparison is for positioning: am I paid higher, lower, or the same as someone I trust? You each pick one pay range from the same step size. You never see the other person's range—only direction. Expectation check is for offer alignment: you already have a proposed range and want overlap and match status before a conversation. Each side enters a low and high; results use coarse steps, not exact gaps, and the proposer never sees the other side's exact range. Pick the flow that matches your question—you can't switch after creating a room. If you don't have a proposed range to offer, start with peer comparison.

How many comparisons can I run?

Without an account, you can have up to three open comparisons you created at once. Finish one or wait for it to expire (~7 days) to start another. Joining someone else's invite is unlimited.

What are the limitations?

Each room is one private comparison with exactly two people—no groups. Each person submits once and cannot edit afterward. In peer comparison you pick a pay range bracket, not an exact salary. You choose peer or expectation check when you create the room and cannot switch flows later. Links expire after about seven days. There are no accounts, no salary database, and no employer dashboard. Negotiation overlap is shown in coarse steps, not exact gaps.

Why the random nicknames (e.g. "You joined as: Responder (MightyPurpleHawk71)")?

Fair question—they do look silly on purpose. Each room assigns random nicknames as a room label so you can tell which comparison this is—and who invited whom in the share message—without signing in or sharing real names. They are not anonymity theater between people who already know each other, and not who you are or a login. On result screens we use "you" and "your" so the nickname stays out of the way.

What if I close the tab—can I get back to my side?

Yes. A short-lived browser cookie lets you return to the same side if you close the tab or refresh—it is not a login and is not linked to your identity. The animal nickname is only a room label; it is not what restores your place.

Can my friend see my exact salary?

No. In peer comparison you each pick a pay range, not an exact number. The result is higher, lower, or same—we never show the other person's range. In expectation check, the other person never sees your full expected range—only overlap and match status.

Do you store my exact salary?

Peer comparison: no—only a pay-range bracket. Expectation check: we store the low and high endpoints of each side's range to compute overlap—not a single salary figure—and we do not show the other person your full expected range.

Can my employer see this?

No. There is no employer dashboard. Rooms are link-gated and limited to two people. Only someone with the invite link can join.

Is BallPark a pay-transparency or Human Resources (HR) compliance tool?

No. We help two people privately compare pay ranges or check whether ranges overlap—trusted pair only, not a salary database or market benchmark. Employers with legal disclosure or reporting duties must meet those outside BallPark. BallPark is not legal advice and does not satisfy employer obligations under Directive (EU) 2023/970 or similar rules.

Is this anonymous?

Private, not anonymous. You invite someone you know—they'll know who sent the link. Nicknames are room labels for which comparison this is, not a way to hide from your invitee. In peer comparison they never see your exact pay or your range—only higher, lower, or same. To use a room we don't ask for your name or email—no account. We store only what's needed for that comparison, not a profile tied to you. Nobody else can browse or search it; only someone with the link can join. If you join the waitlist after a result, we store your email separately—still not linked to room data in our system.

Do you collect my data?

We store the minimum needed to run one comparison: pay-range brackets in peer flow; in expectation check, the low and high endpoints of each side's range (not a single salary)—plus flow type, bracket width, and when the room expires. Waitlist email is stored separately if you opt in after a result. We do not sell or share individual compensation with employers. See the Privacy page for full detail.

Do you track me across the site?

We use cookieless analytics on page views, and may run session-local A/B content experiments (stored in sessionStorage for that visit only—not a persistent tracking cookie, not for ad targeting). We do not track submit or result screens. Room links are redacted in analytics paths. See the Privacy page for full detail.

How long do you keep my comparison?

Rooms expire after about seven days and are no longer accessible. We do not retain room data for benchmarking, market reports, or resale.

Why not just publish the range in the job post?

Many teams should—and some do. BallPark helps when range talk still happens in messages or calls: send one private link, see if expectations overlap before you schedule, without asking for an exact number. Share the link yourself—no Applicant Tracking System (ATS) integration in v1.

What's a pay range or bracket?

A coarse bracket you pick instead of an exact salary—for example a span of 10k. Negotiation uses overlap and match status in those coarse steps, not exact gaps.

Why not just send a number on WhatsApp?

You can—and sometimes that's fine. BallPark helps when a direct ask feels awkward: both submit alone, neither sees exact numbers, and you only learn direction or overlap after both are in.