Question 1

What is Smart Query and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

Smart Query is a self-service SQL reporting tool for growing teams. Connect your Excel files or PostgreSQL database, then ask questions in plain English and get instant charts and structured reports. No SQL knowledge, no rebuilding pivot tables, no waiting on analysts required.

Question 2

How do I get started with Smart Query?

Accepted Answer

Getting started takes just a few minutes: Sign up for a free account. Connect your first data source (upload an Excel file or connect a PostgreSQL database). Go to the Ask AI page and start asking questions about your data in plain English. That's it — you'll get instant charts and answers right away.

Question 3

Do I need any technical skills or SQL knowledge?

Accepted Answer

Not at all! Smart Query is designed for non-technical users. You simply type your questions in plain English — for example, "What were my top-selling products last month?" or "Show me revenue by week" — and the AI handles everything behind the scenes. The platform automatically generates SQL queries, runs them, and shows you visual results.

Question 4

Is there a free trial available?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We offer a 7-day free trial on our paid plans so you can explore all features before committing. During the trial, you get full access to all plan features. You can cancel anytime before the trial ends to avoid any charges. We also have a Free plan with limited queries if you want to try the basics first.

Question 5

Can I use Smart Query on my phone or tablet?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Smart Query is fully responsive and optimized for mobile devices and tablets. You can check your Reports, ask AI questions, and view charts on the go from any device with a web browser. The entire interface adapts to your screen size for a seamless experience.

Question 6

What data sources can I connect?

Accepted Answer

Smart Query currently supports two data source types: Excel/CSV — upload .xlsx, .xls, or .csv files to analyze spreadsheet data. PostgreSQL — connect directly to your PostgreSQL database for real-time analytics. More connectors (MySQL, Google Sheets, and others) are coming soon.

Question 7

What file formats and sizes are supported for uploads?

Accepted Answer

We support Excel (.xlsx, .xls) and CSV (.csv) file formats. File size limits depend on your plan: Free plan — up to 25MB. Pro plan — up to 100MB. Premium plan — up to 500MB. Files under 100MB are processed directly in your browser, while larger files are handled by our server for optimal performance.

Question 8

Can I connect multiple data sources at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can connect multiple data sources to your account. However, the number of active data sources depends on your plan. You can switch between data sources at any time using the data source selector in the sidebar. Each data source operates independently with its own strategic analysis.

Question 9

How do I sync or refresh my data source?

Accepted Answer

There are two types of updates: Sync Data Source — updates the connection and re-imports data from the source (e.g., fetching the latest rows from your database or Excel file). You can do this from the Data Sources page. Refresh Analytics — refreshes the Report analyses with the latest imported data. You can do this from the Reports page. Both can be done manually at any time.

Question 10

What happens to my data if I disconnect a data source?

Accepted Answer

When you disconnect a data source, the associated data (imported records, vector embeddings, and analytics) is kept for 7 days in case you change your mind. After 7 days, all data is permanently removed from our servers. Reports that used that data source will show an empty state. Make sure to export any important visualizations before the data is removed.

Question 11

What kind of questions can I ask the AI?

Accepted Answer

You can ask virtually any analytical question about your data in plain English. Examples include: "What were my total sales this month?", "Which products are my best sellers?", "Show me revenue trends over the last 6 months", "How many returning customers do I have?", "What is my average order value?", and many more. The AI understands context and can generate complex queries including trends, comparisons, and aggregations.

Question 12

How accurate are the AI-generated answers?

Accepted Answer

Smart Query uses advanced AI models combined with your actual database schema to generate precise SQL queries. We have multiple layers of validation: The AI prompt is optimized with your exact column names. Generated queries are validated against your schema before execution. Results are run directly against your real data. For complex queries, the system automatically retries with a more powerful model if the first attempt fails.

Question 13

What happens if the AI gives me an incorrect answer?

Accepted Answer

While our AI is highly accurate, it may occasionally misunderstand a question. If you get unexpected results: Try rephrasing your question to be more specific. Check the SQL Query tab to see the generated query. Make sure the right data source is selected. If the issue persists, contact our support team. Every query also shows the SQL used, so you can always verify the logic.

Question 14

Can the AI generate charts and visualizations automatically?

Accepted Answer

Yes! When you ask a question, the AI not only generates the answer but also automatically recommends the best chart type (bar, line, pie, area, etc.) for your data. You can view results as a chart, table, or raw SQL query. Charts can be customized with titles, descriptions, and colors before saving them to a Report.

Question 15

What are AI queries and how are they used?

Accepted Answer

Each time you ask the AI a question, it uses one query. Your plan includes a set number of monthly queries (varying by plan tier). Queries reset at the start of each billing cycle. If you run low on queries, you can purchase additional query packs from the Usage & Plans page without upgrading your plan. The Free plan includes a limited number of queries to get you started.

Question 16

Can I handle very large datasets with Ask AI?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Smart Query is optimized for large datasets (even 1M+ records). The AI generates separate optimized queries for charts (aggregated/limited to 1,000 rows for fast rendering) and tables (with server-side pagination for browsing full datasets). You'll always see a notification if any optimization was applied, and you can browse all records using pagination controls.

Question 17

Can I bring my own AI API key?

Accepted Answer

Yes! If you prefer to use your own OpenAI or other supported AI provider API key, you can configure this in your AI Settings. This lets you use your preferred model and manage costs directly through your own API account. Your key is securely stored and never shared.

Question 18

How does the Insights feature work and is my data safe?

Accepted Answer

The Insights feature analyzes your query results to surface key patterns like trends, top performers, and outliers. All analysis is performed locally in your browser — your actual data never leaves your device for this feature. The AI only receives your database schema (table and column names) to help generate SQL queries. Your business data remains completely private and is never sent to any AI service.

Question 19

How do I create and customize a Report?

Accepted Answer

Go to the Reports page and click "New Report". You can choose from pre-built templates (Sales, Marketing, Analytics) or start from scratch. Once created, ask AI questions and save the resulting charts/tables as analyses to your Report. Enable "Edit Mode" to drag-and-drop analyses, resize them, show/hide analyses, and rearrange your layout.

Question 20

How do I save an AI-generated chart to a Report?

Accepted Answer

After asking a question in Ask AI, click the "Save to Report" button above the results. You can customize the analysis title, description, and chart colors before saving. Choose which Report to save it to, and it will appear as a new analysis that you can rearrange in Edit Mode.

Question 21

Can I export my charts and data?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Smart Query supports multiple export formats: charts can be exported as PNG or PDF, and table data can be exported as CSV, Excel (.xlsx), or raw SQL. Each export option is available directly from the chart or table view. Exported charts retain your customized colors and styling.

Question 22

Is there a limit to how many Reports I can create?

Accepted Answer

Report limits depend on your plan. The Free plan has a limited number of saved reports, the Pro plan allows more, and the Premium plan offers unlimited Reports. You can check your current usage and limits on the Usage & Plans page. If you're over your limit, you'll need to remove some reports or upgrade your plan.

Question 23

Can I set a default Report?

Accepted Answer

Yes! From the Reports listing page, click the menu on any report and select "Set as Default". Your default report will load automatically when you navigate to the main Reports page, giving you instant access to your most important metrics.

Question 24

What plans are available and how much do they cost?

Accepted Answer

We offer three main plans: Free — get started with 15 queries/month and 50K row storage at no cost. Pro ($18.99/month) — 200 queries/month, 3 data sources, 500K rows, and advanced export features. Premium ($34.99/month) — 400 queries/month, 10 data sources, 2M rows, priority support, and all advanced features. All paid plans include a 7-day free trial. Visit our pricing page for current pricing and a full feature comparison.

Question 25

How does data storage quota work?

Accepted Answer

Smart Query uses a unified row-based data storage quota across all connected data sources. Rows include all records from your Excel files and PostgreSQL database (and any other connector rows). Your plan sets a maximum number of rows that can be stored. When you reach the limit, syncing pauses until you upgrade or free up space.

Question 26

What happens when I reach my data storage quota?

Accepted Answer

When you reach your unified row quota, syncing will ingest only up to your remaining quota and then pause. Existing data remains available for analytics, but new records will not be imported until you upgrade or free up space. Free users can upgrade to a higher plan. Pro/Premium users can delete old data before a specific date to free up space, or upgrade to Enterprise.

Question 27

Can I free up storage without upgrading my plan?

Accepted Answer

Pro and Premium users can delete old data before a specific date to free up storage. This permanently deletes older records and frees up space for new data. The feature automatically detects date columns (created_at, date, order_date, etc.) and works with all connected data sources.

Question 28

How does the 7-day free trial work?

Accepted Answer

When you sign up for a Pro or Premium plan, you get full access to all features for 7 days at no charge. Your payment method is collected at signup but won't be charged until the trial ends. You can cancel anytime during the trial to avoid charges. If you don't cancel, your subscription automatically activates and billing begins after the trial period.

Question 29

Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can change your plan at any time from the Usage & Plans page. Upgrades take effect immediately, and you'll be charged the prorated difference. Downgrades take effect at the end of your current billing cycle, so you keep access to your current plan's features until then.

Question 30

Can I cancel my subscription at any time?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. You can cancel your subscription anytime from the Usage & Plans page. After cancellation, you'll retain access to all paid features until the end of your current billing period. Your data remains safe and accessible. You can reactivate your subscription at any time if you change your mind.

Question 31

Can I buy additional AI queries without upgrading?

Accepted Answer

Yes! If you run low on queries before your next billing cycle, you can purchase additional query packs directly from the Usage & Plans page. Query packs are one-time purchases that are added to your current balance and are valid for 3 months from the purchase date.

Question 32

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) through our secure payment processor, Stripe. All payment information is encrypted and handled by Stripe — we never store your card details on our servers.

Question 33

Do you offer enterprise or custom plans?

Accepted Answer

Yes! For organizations needing custom integrations, dedicated support, higher limits, or volume discounts, we offer tailored enterprise plans. Contact our sales team through the Contact page to discuss your specific requirements and get a custom quote.

Question 34

How is my data protected?

Accepted Answer

We take data security seriously with enterprise-grade measures: AES-256 encryption for data at rest. TLS 1.3 encryption for data in transit. Secure key rotation practices. Encrypted backups. Network protection with firewalls and VPC isolation. Your data is stored in secure cloud infrastructure with 24/7 monitoring.

Question 35

Do you sell or share my data with third parties?

Accepted Answer

Never. Your data is yours and yours alone. We do not sell, share, or provide access to your data to any third parties. Your data is used solely to power your analytics within Smart Query. We are the tool — you are the owner.

Question 36

How do you handle personally identifiable information (PII)?

Accepted Answer

Your data is protected with industry-standard encryption at rest and in transit. We follow strict data handling practices to ensure that any personally identifiable information (such as customer names, emails, or addresses) within your data sources is kept secure. All data is encrypted uniformly with our enterprise-grade security measures.

Question 37

Do you share my data with AI models?

Accepted Answer

No. We never share your actual business data with any AI models. When you ask a question, we only send the relevant database schema (table names, column names, and data types) to help the AI understand your data structure. Your actual data remains completely private and is processed exclusively within our secure infrastructure. The AI generates SQL queries based on the schema, and we execute those queries against your data locally. Additionally, the Insights feature performs all data analysis locally in your browser — no data is sent externally.

Question 38

What compliance standards do you meet?

Accepted Answer

Smart Query adheres to industry-leading compliance frameworks including SOC 2 Type II (security and availability controls), ISO 27001 (information security management), GDPR (European data protection), and CCPA (California consumer privacy). We also implement Privacy by Design principles throughout our development process.

Question 39

Can I export or delete all my data?

Accepted Answer

Yes! For GDPR compliance and your peace of mind: Data Export — you can export your Reports, charts, and table data in multiple formats (CSV, Excel, PNG, PDF). Account Deletion — you can permanently delete your entire account and all associated data (including database records, uploaded files, and vector embeddings) from the Profile settings page. Account deletion is irreversible, so please export anything you need first.

Question 40

How do I reset my password?

Accepted Answer

Click "Forgot Password" on the login page and enter your email address. You'll receive a password reset link within a few minutes. Click the link and set a new password. If you don't see the email, check your spam folder. For security, the reset link expires after a short time.

Question 41

Can I sign in with Google?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Smart Query supports social authentication with Google. You can sign up or log in using either provider for a faster, passwordless experience. Your social login is securely linked to your Smart Query account.

Question 42

How do I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

Go to Profile > Data & Privacy and click Delete Account. You'll first see a summary of all data that will be removed. To confirm, type DELETE_MY_ACCOUNT and click the confirmation button. This permanently removes all your data, including data sources, Reports, AI settings, and uploaded files. This action cannot be undone.

Question 43

How do I update my profile information?

Accepted Answer

Navigate to the Profile page from the sidebar. You can update your name, email, phone number, company, and location. Click "Edit" to enter editing mode, make your changes, and click "Save" to apply them. Changes take effect immediately.

Question 44

How do I check my current usage and remaining queries?

Accepted Answer

Visit the Usage & Plans page from the sidebar to see a detailed overview of your current plan, queries used vs. remaining, number of Reports, data source limits, and your next renewal date. You'll also see warnings when you're running low on queries or approaching plan limits.

Question 45

I'm having trouble logging in. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

Try these steps: Make sure you're using the correct email address. Try resetting your password using the Forgot Password link. If you signed up with Google or GitHub, use the same social login method. Clear your browser cache and cookies and try again. If the problem persists, contact our support team at support@smart-query.com with your email address and we'll help you regain access.

How can we help you?

What is Smart Query and how does it work?Getting Started

What is Smart Query and how does it work?

How do I get started with Smart Query?Getting Started

How do I get started with Smart Query?

Do I need any technical skills or SQL knowledge?Getting Started

Do I need any technical skills or SQL knowledge?

Is there a free trial available?Getting Started

Is there a free trial available?

Can I use Smart Query on my phone or tablet?Getting Started

Can I use Smart Query on my phone or tablet?

What data sources can I connect?Data Sources

What data sources can I connect?

What file formats and sizes are supported for uploads?Data Sources

What file formats and sizes are supported for uploads?

Can I connect multiple data sources at the same time?Data Sources

Can I connect multiple data sources at the same time?

How do I sync or refresh my data source?Data Sources

How do I sync or refresh my data source?

What happens to my data if I disconnect a data source?Data Sources

What happens to my data if I disconnect a data source?

What kind of questions can I ask the AI?Ask AI

What kind of questions can I ask the AI?

How accurate are the AI-generated answers?Ask AI

How accurate are the AI-generated answers?

What happens if the AI gives me an incorrect answer?Ask AI

What happens if the AI gives me an incorrect answer?

Can the AI generate charts and visualizations automatically?Ask AI

Can the AI generate charts and visualizations automatically?

What are AI queries and how are they used?Ask AI

What are AI queries and how are they used?

Can I handle very large datasets with Ask AI?Ask AI

Can I handle very large datasets with Ask AI?

Can I bring my own AI API key?Ask AI

Can I bring my own AI API key?

How does the Insights feature work and is my data safe?Ask AI

How does the Insights feature work and is my data safe?

How do I create and customize a Report?Reports

How do I create and customize a Report?

How do I save an AI-generated chart to a Report?Reports

How do I save an AI-generated chart to a Report?

Can I export my charts and data?Reports

Can I export my charts and data?

Is there a limit to how many Reports I can create?Reports

Is there a limit to how many Reports I can create?

Can I set a default Report?Reports

Can I set a default Report?

What plans are available and how much do they cost?Billing & Plans

What plans are available and how much do they cost?

How does data storage quota work?Billing & Plans

How does data storage quota work?

What happens when I reach my data storage quota?Billing & Plans

What happens when I reach my data storage quota?

Can I free up storage without upgrading my plan?Billing & Plans

Can I free up storage without upgrading my plan?

How does the 7-day free trial work?Billing & Plans

How does the 7-day free trial work?

Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan?Billing & Plans

Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan?

Can I cancel my subscription at any time?Billing & Plans

Can I cancel my subscription at any time?

Can I buy additional AI queries without upgrading?Billing & Plans

Can I buy additional AI queries without upgrading?

What payment methods do you accept?Billing & Plans

What payment methods do you accept?

Do you offer enterprise or custom plans?Billing & Plans

Do you offer enterprise or custom plans?

How is my data protected?Security & Privacy

How is my data protected?

Do you sell or share my data with third parties?Security & Privacy

Do you sell or share my data with third parties?

How do you handle personally identifiable information (PII)?Security & Privacy

How do you handle personally identifiable information (PII)?

Do you share my data with AI models?Security & Privacy

Do you share my data with AI models?

What compliance standards do you meet?Security & Privacy

What compliance standards do you meet?

Can I export or delete all my data?Security & Privacy

Can I export or delete all my data?

How do I reset my password?Account