Frequently asked questions

ARC is an interactive storytelling app where stories branch and evolve based on the choices you make. Instead of following one fixed path, every chapter ends with a real decision — and the story stretches, bends, and remembers what you picked. No two readers experience the same story the same way.

Each ARC Exclusive starts at the beginning and unfolds from there. But because stories branch, you may find yourself on a completely different path than another reader who started the same book. You can replay from any fork point at any time.

Yes — that's the whole idea. The same story can lead to very different outcomes depending on the choices made along the way. Some readers finish a book and immediately go back to see what the other path looked like.

ARC Exclusives are built with a strong narrative spine — compelling setups, real characters, and stories designed to branch meaningfully. The writing is crafted to hold up across every path, not just the obvious one.

Kiro is your reading companion — an AI that reads alongside you inside every ARC story. Ask it anything about the characters, the plot, what a choice might mean, or what's really going on beneath the surface. It knows the story, knows your chapter, and knows the choices you've already made.

Yes. Kiro is aware of your current chapter, the choices you've made, and the path your story has taken. It isn't a generic chatbot — it's scoped entirely to your version of the story.

Anything that helps you read better. "Why did she say that?" "What's he hiding?" "What happens if I choose this?" "Who can I trust right now?" Kiro won't spoil — it illuminates. It gives you insight, not answers.

Kiro is available on all ARC Exclusives. Free readers and ARC Reader subscribers get Kiro with a daily limit. ARC Reader Plus subscribers get unlimited Kiro with no interruptions.

Audio is available to ARC Reader Plus subscribers. Kiro and audio together mean you can listen to every chapter and still ask questions as you go.

Yes. The first chapter of every ARC Exclusive is free — including audio and Kiro with a daily limit. You can also read ARC Shorts and create one story of your own without subscribing. No credit card required to start.

ARC Exclusives are novels built specifically for the platform. They start with a strong opening chapter and expand through reader choices — new branches, new chapters, new outcomes. They are the flagship reading experience on ARC.

Shorts are three- to ten-minute branching micro-stories. They're designed for a burst of plot when you don't have time for a full chapter — complete stories with real choices and alternate outcomes, just faster.

An ARC Story is one you start yourself. Give ARC a genre, a mood, a premise — and it builds a branching book around your setup. Characters, chapters, and alternate paths grow as you read and choose. Free readers can create one. Subscribers can create as many as they want.

ARC is currently available on iOS. The app is in beta, actively evolving, and new platform support is in development.

Subscribing opens the full shelf — every chapter of every ARC Exclusive, unlimited branching paths, unlimited story creation, and deeper access to Kiro. ARC Reader Plus adds unlimited Kiro and audio for every chapter.

ARC Reader gives you the full reading experience — every chapter, every fork, Kiro daily, unlimited story creation. ARC Reader Plus is for readers who want to live inside ARC — it adds unlimited Kiro with no daily cap and audio for every chapter so you can listen as well as read.

Yes. Both ARC Reader and ARC Reader Plus include a 7-day free trial. You won't be charged until the trial ends, and you can cancel at any time before then.

Yes. Annual billing works out to two months free on both plans — $99.99 per year for ARC Reader and $199.99 per year for ARC Reader Plus. You can start monthly and switch to annual at any time.

Subscriptions are managed through your Apple ID in the iOS Settings app under Subscriptions. You can cancel, pause, or switch plans there at any time.

You can start reading immediately as an anonymous user — no email or sign-up required. We recommend converting to an email and password account when you're ready so your books, progress, and story history are protected and transferable between devices.

Anonymous accounts are tied to the device. If you lose access to the device before converting to an email account, your reading history and stories may not be recoverable. Converting your account is the best way to keep everything safe.

Yes, once you convert to an email and password account. Your books, progress, and subscription follow you across devices.

Yes. Converting to an email account lets you share content with friends on the platform.

ARC is made by Fishybear. You can find out more at fishybear.com.

ARC is still in beta and actively evolving. New features, story formats, reading tools, and platform improvements are continuously in development. Reader feedback shapes what ARC becomes — so everything you notice, enjoy, or wish were different genuinely matters.

The best way right now is through the beta testing channel. Your feedback directly influences what gets built next.