Support

Frequently Asked
Questions

Everything you need to know about Cockroach AI.

🔍
Getting Started
What is Cockroach AI?+
Cockroach AI is a desktop application that provides real-time AI-powered assistance during job interviews. It sits as an always-on-top overlay on your screen, listens to the conversation, captures screenshots of questions, and gives you instant answers — all while remaining undetectable during screen sharing.
What operating systems does it support?+
Cockroach AI supports macOS (both Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3 and Intel) and Windows (x64). The website automatically detects your OS and shows the correct download. Linux support is planned for a future release.
How do I install and start using it?+
1. Download the app from the homepage (it detects your OS automatically).
2. Install the .dmg (Mac) or .exe (Windows).
3. Create an account or sign in.
4. Purchase a plan via PhonePe — activation is instant.
5. Fill in your profile (resume, target role, JD) on the Welcome screen.
6. Click Start Assistant and the overlay appears on screen.
Do I need an internet connection to use Cockroach AI?+
License validation requires an internet connection on first launch. The AI answer engine (Ollama) runs locally on your machine, so once validated, the core features work offline. Screen capture analysis requires the local model to be running.
Plans & Pricing
What plans are available and how much do they cost?+
We have 4 plans, all including every feature:

Daily — ₹100 (1 day)
Monthly — ₹500 (30 days)
Quarterly — ₹1,000 (90 days)
Yearly — ₹5,000 (365 days)

There are no hidden fees, no auto-renewals, and no hourly limits within your plan period.
Do plans auto-renew?+
No. All plans are one-time purchases. You will not be charged automatically when your plan expires. You simply purchase a new plan when you need access again.
Which plan should I start with?+
If you have a specific interview coming up, start with the Daily plan (₹100). It gives you full access for one day with no commitment. If you have multiple interviews spread over a month, the Monthly plan (₹500) offers the best value — roughly ₹16/day.
Can I upgrade my plan mid-way?+
Currently, plan upgrades work by purchasing a new plan. The new plan's duration starts from the day of purchase. Contact us at help@cockroach-ai.com if you need help stacking plans.
Features
Is Cockroach AI really undetectable during screen sharing?+
Yes. The overlay uses Electron's alwaysOnTop and transparent window properties combined with a screen-share safe mode that hides the window when a screen capture event is detected. During Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, or any other screen share, the overlay is not visible to the interviewer.
How does the screenshot / screen capture feature work?+
Click the 📷 camera button. The overlay hides itself, takes a full-screen screenshot using macOS's built-in screencapture (or Windows equivalent), crops out the overlay region, extracts text using Apple Vision OCR (or Windows OCR), detects the question type (coding, MCQ, system design, etc.), and sends it to the local AI model for an answer. The whole process takes 3–8 seconds.
What types of interview questions can it handle?+
Cockroach AI handles:

Coding: DSA, LeetCode, HackerRank problems — gives solution + explanation + time complexity
System Design: Architecture, scaling, trade-offs
MCQ: Picks the correct answer and explains why
Behavioural: STAR-format answers using your resume context
Technical Q&A: DevOps, Cloud, Kubernetes, Terraform, etc.
What is the Resume Context feature?+
On the Welcome screen, you can upload your resume PDF, enter your target role, experience, job description, and key notes. The AI uses this information to personalise every answer — so instead of generic responses, you get answers that reference your actual projects, skills, and background.
What is the Session ZIP download?+
When you close the app, a popup asks if you want to download a ZIP of the current session. The ZIP contains all screenshots taken, all Q&A pairs from the mic session, and your profile data. It's a great way to review what was asked and how it was answered after the interview.
Technical
What AI model does Cockroach AI use?+
Cockroach AI uses Ollama with a locally-running language model. This means the AI runs entirely on your device — your questions and answers never leave your machine. No data is sent to OpenAI, Anthropic, or any external AI provider.
What are the minimum system requirements?+
Mac: macOS 12 Monterey or later, Apple Silicon (M1+) or Intel Core i5+, 8GB RAM minimum (16GB recommended for best AI performance).

Windows: Windows 10/11 x64, Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5+, 8GB RAM minimum.
The screen capture isn't working. What do I do?+
1. On Mac: Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording and make sure Cockroach AI is enabled.
2. Restart the app after granting permissions.
3. Make sure the question is visible on screen before clicking 📷.
If the issue persists, email help@cockroach-ai.com with your macOS version.
The mic isn't capturing audio. How do I fix it?+
1. On Mac: Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and enable Cockroach AI.
2. On Windows: Go to Settings → Privacy → Microphone and allow desktop apps.
3. Make sure the 🟢 ON button is active (green) in the overlay.
4. Restart the app and try again.
How do I hide/show the overlay quickly?+
Use the global keyboard shortcut:
Mac: ⌘ + Shift + H
Windows: Ctrl + Shift + H
This toggles the overlay visibility instantly without closing the app or stopping any active session.
Billing & Account
What payment methods are accepted?+
Payments are processed via PhonePe and support: UPI (GPay, PhonePe, Paytm, etc.), all major debit and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, RuPay), Net Banking (all major Indian banks), and Bank Transfer / NEFT / RTGS.
Is there a refund policy?+
All purchases are final and non-refundable. We recommend starting with the ₹100 Daily plan to try the product before committing to a longer plan. See our full Refund Policy for details.
How do I check my subscription status?+
In the app: go to ⚙️ Settings → Profile. It shows your subscription plan and expiry date. On the website: click your profile icon in the top-right navigation — the dropdown shows your plan and expiry.
My plan shows as expired but I just paid. What do I do?+
1. Restart the app — it re-validates your license on launch.
2. Make sure you're logged in with the same email used for purchase.
3. If still not resolved after 15 minutes, email help@cockroach-ai.com with your PhonePe payment ID (from the payment confirmation email).
How do I delete my account?+
Email us at help@cockroach-ai.com with the subject "Delete Account" and your registered email address. We will delete all your data within 30 days.

Still have questions?

We're happy to help. Reach out and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.

📧 Email us at help@cockroach-ai.com