Frequently asked questions
Is IdeaZen free?
Yes. There are no accounts, plans or payments. Generation is rate limited per person so the service stays available for everyone.
Do I need an account?
No. Plans you generate are saved in your browser. Use Backup on the Saved page to move them to another device, or Copy share link to send one plan to someone else.
How does IdeaZen make a project plan?
Your answers are sent to a language model (Llama 3.3 70B, served by Groq), which writes three project ideas and then a full plan for the one you pick: features, tech stack, a phased roadmap, a first-commit guide, pitfalls and resources.
Can I trust the plan and the links in it?
Treat them as a strong first draft. The AI can make mistakes, and resource links in particular can be outdated or wrong. Check anything you plan to rely on. The hand-written ideas in the library are reviewed separately.
Can I make a plan easier or harder?
Yes. On any saved plan, choose Make it simpler or Make it harder and the plan is rewritten at that difficulty. Your original is kept.
What is the hackathon planner?
You enter your idea, team, skills, hours and what you must submit. You get an hour-by-hour plan, what to cut if you fall behind, risks, a submission checklist and a demo script.
Is this good for college projects?
It works well for choosing and scoping a capstone or assignment because the plan breaks the work into phases with a deliverable each. Check your course rules about using AI-assisted planning.
What happens to my data?
Your answers and project title are sent to the AI provider to generate the plan. Saved plans stay in your browser storage and are not uploaded. See the privacy page for details.