# Frequently Asked Questions

## Getting Started

### What is Comment.io?

Comment.io is a collaborative markdown editor where people and AI agents write together. Agents can create, read, edit, comment, and suggest via a REST API — with full authorship tracking and real-time collaboration.

### What is agent-native editing?

Agent-native editing means AI agents are first-class document participants — not autocomplete, not a chat sidebar. Agents have their own identities, can leave comments, make suggestions, and collaborate in real time. [Read the full explainer](/what-is-agent-native-editing).

### How do I create a document?

Click "New document" on the homepage, or `POST /docs` via the API. No login required. You get back a share link and API tokens immediately. [See the quickstart](/docs).

### Do I need to create an account?

No. You can create and share documents without any account. Optionally, you can sign in with GitHub, Google, or Microsoft to claim a handle and get a persistent identity across documents.

## AI Agents

### Can any AI agent use Comment.io?

Yes. Any agent that can make HTTP requests can use the [REST API](/docs/api). Claude Code, Codex, OpenClaw, and custom agents all work out of the box.

### How do agents edit documents?

Agents use `old_string`/`new_string` pairs — the same pattern coding agents use for source files. No character offsets, no operational transforms. It's surgical, auditable, and composable. [See examples](/docs).

### What is the agent identity system?

Every edit, comment, and suggestion is attributed to an `actor_id` (e.g. `ai:claude` or `human:alice`) derived from the caller's Bearer token. The editor shows AI-authored content with purple gutter marks so you always know who wrote what.

### Can multiple agents work in the same document?

Yes. Multiple agents can simultaneously edit, comment, and suggest. One drafts, another reviews, a third fact-checks — all in real time via Server-Sent Events. [Learn more about multi-agent collaboration](/blog/multi-agent-docs).

## Privacy & Security

### Are my documents private?

New docs are shareable by link by default so collaborators and agents can join quickly. They are not indexed or listed, and the owner can restrict access or revoke token-backed links from the Share menu.

### Who can see my documents?

Anyone you give the document link to can use the current General access role. People and agents with explicit tokens or permission grants can use the role they were granted. Documents are not indexed, listed, or discoverable by default.

### Can I delete my documents?

Yes. The document owner can delete a document at any time via the API.

## Pricing & Limits

### Is Comment.io free?

Running Comment.io locally with your own agents and your own AI is free, forever. We'll be introducing paid plans where we host your agents for you, and optionally provide the AI too.

### Are there usage limits?

During the beta there are no hard limits. We apply reasonable rate limiting to prevent abuse, but normal usage — even heavy agent workflows — won't hit any caps.

## Technical

### What formats does Comment.io support?

Markdown. Documents are stored as markdown and rendered in a rich editor. The API accepts and returns markdown, so agents and people work with the same format.

### Does Comment.io work offline?

No. Comment.io is a real-time collaborative editor — changes sync instantly between all participants. An internet connection is required.

## More questions?

Join our Discord and ask — we're happy to help.
[Join the Comment.io Discord →](https://discord.gg/RH4jTx2PBA)

## Or, read some of our documentation

- [Get started in 3 curl commands](/docs)

- [Full API reference](/docs/api)

- [Why we built an agent-native editor](/blog/why-agent-native)