FAQs

Got a question about the 8seats app? We've answered some of the most common ones here.

General questions

Where did the idea behind 8seats come from?

We believe that digital chat conversations should be as natural and seamless as conversations in the real world. We took inspiration from the way people communicate in real life and invented a new chat interface to allow the same experience to exist inside a chat app.

I already have a chat app. Why should I start using 8seats?

Group conversations in the 8seats app are faster, more natural and more intuitive. Messaging apps have not undergone a meaningful evolution since group chat emerged around 2007, so it’s definitely overdue for an update! We wanted to create a better way for groups of people to communicate online, one that better reflects how conversations occur in real life.

Conventional chat apps tend to be linear rather than dynamic. This means that switching contexts between groups and sub-groups tends to be fiddly and Time-consuming. In fact, we’ve run side-by-side tests where 8seats has outperformed other well-known messaging apps by up to 400% when communicating between multiple groups of people. Less setup, sifting through lists or groups and fewer clicks and taps means you and your team can spend more time doing the things that matter.

What is a Table?

Tables are the heart of the 8seats app. They are the next evolution in group messaging. A table enables dynamic conversations between any combination of people in that group with a simple tap or swipe.

That means no more static groups and no endless lists of groups with mostly the same people in them!

How many people can I have on a Table?

Tables can fit up to 8 people – or up to 20 on the Business plan. If you need to communicate with an even larger group, don't worry! Simply start a Room. This will give you simple group chat, allowing you to broadcast to up to 10,000 members. Ideal for all staff broadcasts and compamny announcements.

We have more innovative features planned for the future, adding even more flexibility to Tables and empowering larger groups with natural conversation dynamics too.

Keep an eye on the 8seats.com website and the Discover area of the 8seats app for news about upcoming new features.

I put someone’s head down. Are you sure they can’t read my message?

Yes. If a table member’s head is down they can never read any messages sent to that conversation. Our system ensures there’s no way for them to access or intercept that message on their device.

What if I need to chat with more than 8 people?

Did you notice that the 8seats logo contains both the number 8 and the ∞ infinity symbol? That’s no coincidence! 8 is just where we start.

On our Business plan, you can extend your Tables to include up to 20 people, covering most team sizes where fast collaboration and dynamic conversations are required.

For the times when you need even more than that, our Rooms feature offers you simple group chat, allowing you to broadcast to up to 10,000 members.

Rooms do not include the heads up and down feature (that would get quite fiddly with more than 20 people!), however we have some innovative features planned for the future to bring natural conversation dynamic to much larger groups too.

Keep an eye on the 8seats.com website and the Discover area of the 8seats app for news about upcoming new features.

How many Tables or Rooms can I be part of?

In the Early Access version, there is a limit to the number of Tables and Rooms you can create, which depends on the type of account you have. However, you can be invited to other Tables and Rooms by other people. That means you can be a part of more Tables than your Table creation limit, and the same goes for Rooms. There is currently no hard limit on the total number you can be a part of.

Does your business need more Tables or Rooms, or do you have a special need for the 8seats app? Get in touch with our team here to talk to us about it. We’d love to hear from you.

How do I add people to my Table or Room?

A Table can have up to 8 people on it, or up to 20 for users on the Business plan. That means you can add up to 7 others – or 19 others for Business users. Rooms are much larger, with support for up to 10,000 members. Anyone who is a member of a Table or Room can invite other people to it.

Once you have a Table or Room set up, simply tap the blue ‘+’ icon near the top right of the screen to start the invite process. You can add multiple people directly from the contacts on your device, or if you want to add someone new, simply enter their name and phone number to securely invite them to your Table.

Are the messages I send secure?

Yes. In the Early Access version, messages and personally identifiable information on the 8seats platform are protected with 256-bit encryption, both at rest and in transit to ensure your privacy.

We have an even more advanced security systems planned for future versions of 8seats, including ‘sharded encryption’ (more on this soon), and the option for businesses to host the 8seats platform themselves.

Keep an eye on the 8seats.com website and the Discover area of the 8seats app for news about upcoming new features.

How can I customise my Table or Room?

You can customise your Table or Room with a background and colour. There’s a range of preset backgrounds or you can add your own. In future we’ll be adding more way for you to make Tables and Rooms feel personal and relevant to you, your group or your team.

What’s coming next for 8seats?

We have a big list of exciting new features coming to the 8seats app. While we’re not able to share exact details quite yet, we can say that these new additions will offer even more flexible group sizes, powerful utilities for your team, plus more ways to make your messaging experience faster, more natural and let you and your team get more done.

Some of these are due to be released very soon, while others will come a bit later. Keep an eye on the 8seats.com website and the Discover area of the 8seats app for news about upcoming new features.

How do I get the latest version of 8seats?

To get the latest version of 8seats for your mobile device, simply visit the App Store or Google Play store and hit the update button. You’ll find the links to the app below.

Get 8seats for iOS devices on the App Store.https://apps.apple.com/au/app/8seats/id6463196242

Get 8seats for Android devices on the Google Play Store.https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eightseats.app&hl=en_AU

We highly recommend setting your device to automatically update your apps so you always have the latest version.

If you’re using 8seats on your desktop computer, just refresh your browser to get the latest version. Depending on your choice of browser, you may need to force refresh.

To force refresh on Windows:

In Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera:

Press Ctrl + F5 or Ctrl + Shift + R

To force refresh on Mac OS:

In Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera:

Press Cmd + Shift + R

In Safari:

Press Cmd + Option + R or hold Option (Alt) and click the Refresh button in the address bar.

Can I become a Beta tester for new 8seats features before they are released?

Not yet, but soon! We will shortly be launching a Closed Beta testing program for the 8seats app so we can learn more about how our new features can enhance your messaging experience and help you and your team be more productive through faster and more natural online communications.

If you are interested in becoming a Closed Beta tester for unreleased features, please get in touch with us by email at [e-mail]

Workspaces

How do I create an 8seats account?

Ready to create your 8seats account and get started? Here’s how.

First, either download the 8seats app from the store for your preferred device:

Get 8seats for iOS devices on the App Store.https://apps.apple.com/au/app/8seats/id6463196242

Get 8seats for Android devices on the Google Play Store.https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eightseats.app&hl=en_AU

Or visit https://app.8seats.com in your browser on any desktop computer.

Please note that using 8seats in a mobile browser is not yet supported – though full support is planned and will be coming soon. Keep an eye on the Discover screen for all the latest news about new features coming to 8seats.

Next, click or tap on “Create new account” and follow the steps provided on the following screens.

• You’ll need to choose if you’re using 8seats as an individual, or for your business or team.

• Next, you’ll create an 8seats account for yourself.

• If you selected “I’m a business”, you’ll also create a new workspace for your team.

• Then, you’ll be able to invite others to join your workspace or personal space by entering their phone numbers;

We’ll even create your first Table automatically and add everyone your invited to it so you can start messaging with them straight away.

If at any stage you need assistance with your 8seats account or workspace, we’re here to help! Simply reach out and contact us at [e-mail].

I have an 8seats account already, how do I create a workspace for my team?

Already got an 8seats account? Great! If you’d like to create a workspace for your team, here’s how:

Open the 8seats app on your iOS or Android device, or visit https://app.8seats.com in your browser on any desktop computer and sign in to your account.

Please note that using 8seats in a mobile browser is not yet supported – though full support is planned and will be coming soon. Keep an eye on the Discover screen for all the latest news about new features coming to 8seats.

Open the menu by tapping or clicking on the circular profile picture on the top left of your screen.

Then tap or click on “Create a new workspace” and follow the steps provided on the following screens.

If at any stage you need assistance with your 8seats account or workspace, we’re here to help! Simply reach out and contact us at [e-mail].

What’s the difference between creating an account as an individual or a business?

When you create an 8seats account as a business, you’ll get a new workspace for your team – plus every person on your team will get a personal space.

If you decide to create an account as an individual, you’ll just get your own personal space, without the need to create a whole workspace.

If you have a team and are using 8seats for your business, we highly recommend that you choose “I’m a business” and get the added benefits of creating a workspace. If you’re planning to use 8seats for personal use only, choosing the individual plan may be best for you.

What is an 8seats workspace?

A workspace is one place that connects everyone in your team, including members and guests, as well as all of your team’s Table, Rooms and DMs. This means that all of your message data – including any images, videos or files your team sends – is stored securely within your workspace. In 8seats, you own all of the data for your business or team.

In addition to your workspace, everyone with an 8seats account also has a Personal space, complete with its own Tables and Rooms – perfect for all those conversations outside of work too.

You can also create and join multiple workspaces if you need to work across different businesses, or keep the data for each workspace separate. While all team accounts are currently given the Free Team plan, please note that once Business plans become available, each workspace will be billed per member.

How do I add my co-workers to my workspace?

When you first create a workspace, you’ll be able to invite some team members to help get you started. We’ll even create your first Table automatically and add everyone your invited to it so you can start messaging with them straight away.

Once your workspace is created, any time you invite someone new to a Table or Room in that workspace, they will also be invited to join your workspace, plus you’ll be able to choose if you want to invite them as a member or a guest.

The current version of 8seats uses phone numbers to invite people. In the near future, we’ll be adding more ways to add everyone you need into your workspace. Keep an eye on the Discover screen for all the latest news about new features coming to 8seats.

What’s the difference between a member and a guest?

Members can create new Tables and Rooms in the workspace, as well as make changes to their settings. Members can also invite other people to Tables and Rooms.

Guests can be invited to Tables and Rooms, but they are not able to create new ones in the workspace, and may not invite other people.

As a good rule, the team members within your business are best as Members. Use Guests for people who are outside your business, such as vendors and suppliers, partner businesses, customers and clients, or other associates.