Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

What is ThreadArt?

ThreadArt turns your WhatsApp conversations into beautiful word cloud artwork. Simply upload your chat export, create a unique visual from the words you and your loved ones have shared, then download a high-resolution image or order a professionally framed print.

How does it work?

1. Export your WhatsApp chat (instructions below)
2. Upload the .txt or .zip file to ThreadArt
3. Customize your artwork — choose a shape, colour palette, fonts, and which words to feature
4. Download your digital artwork or order a framed print

Do I need an account?

No. ThreadArt requires no sign-up, no login, and no account creation. Just upload your chat and start creating.

Is it really private?

Yes. Your chat is processed entirely on your device. Your messages never leave it, and when you close the tab or the app, everything is discarded. The only thing our servers ever receive is the finished artwork image, and only if you order a print.

Exporting Your Chat

How do I export a WhatsApp chat on iPhone?

1. Open the WhatsApp conversation you want to use
2. Tap the contact or group name at the top
3. Scroll down and tap Export Chat
4. Select Without Media
5. Save the resulting .zip file

How do I export a WhatsApp chat on Android?

1. Open the WhatsApp conversation you want to use
2. Tap the three dots menu in the top-right corner
3. Tap More, then Export chat
4. Select Without Media
5. Save the resulting .txt file

Should I include media when exporting?

No. Always choose Without Media. ThreadArt only uses the text content of your messages. Excluding media keeps the file small and the upload fast.

Can I export group chats?

Yes. Group chats work just as well as individual chats. The word cloud will include messages from all participants, and you can filter by individual participants during customization.

How far back does the export go?

By default, WhatsApp exports your entire chat history. Once uploaded, you can customize the time period within ThreadArt to focus on a specific date range.

What file formats are supported?

ThreadArt accepts .txt files (typically from Android) and .zip files (typically from iPhone). Both are standard WhatsApp export formats.

Privacy & Consent

Do I need consent from the people in my chat?

Yes. We strongly recommend getting consent from all participants before creating artwork from a shared conversation. A simple message is all it takes:

"Hey everyone! I want to create a word cloud artwork from our chat history as a gift. Is everyone okay with this?"

What if someone says no?

Respect their decision. Either don't proceed with that chat, or use ThreadArt's participant filter to exclude their messages from the artwork.

Is any of my data stored?

Not your chat. All chat processing happens client-side on your device, your chat export is never uploaded, and it is discarded when you close the tab or the app. The one exception is a print order: the finished artwork image is uploaded so it can be printed, and is deleted once the order is fulfilled.

Can ThreadArt see my messages?

No. Your messages are processed entirely on your device using your browser's computing power. ThreadArt's servers never see your messages. If you order a print, they receive only the finished artwork image — the words in your word cloud — so it can be printed.

What data does ThreadArt collect?

We collect your name, email, and delivery address only when you place an order for a physical print, and the finished artwork image is uploaded so it can be printed. Payments are handled by Stripe. The website uses Google Analytics and Google Ads measurement only if you accept cookies, and only ever with counts and order details — never anything from your chat. The iOS app has no analytics. For full details, see our Privacy Policy.

Customization

Can I choose which words appear?

Yes. You have full control — adjust the word count, exclude specific words, filter by time period, and choose which participants' messages to include.

What shapes are available?

ThreadArt offers a range of shapes including Free Form, Heart, Circle, Star, Diamond, and more. Each shape gives your artwork a distinct character.

What colour themes can I use?

Choose from Vibrant, Pastel, Monochrome, Ocean, Sunset, and a selection of art-inspired themes. Each palette is designed to look stunning both on screen and in print.

Can I change the font?

Yes. Multiple font options are available to match the style and mood of your artwork.

Can I edit words manually?

You can exclude specific words, adjust word frequency, and filter messages by participant. This gives you fine-grained control over exactly what appears in your final artwork.

Products & Pricing

What does a digital download include?

For £4.99, you get a high-resolution PNG image at 300 DPI, available in multiple sizes (A4, A3). The download is instant and the file is print-ready.

What do framed prints include?

Framed prints start from £57.99, UK delivery included, and come with:

• Premium archival paper rated for 100+ years
• Professional colour-accurate printing
• Solid wood frame with UV-protective glass
• Multiple sizes available (A4, A3, A2)
• Free UK delivery — it’s already in the price

Why does the digital download cost £4.99?

The price reflects the value of a unique, personalised piece of artwork created from your conversations. It keeps ThreadArt accessible to everyone while ensuring the service remains sustainable and prevents abuse.

Can I print the digital download myself?

Absolutely. The file is high-resolution (300 DPI) and print-ready. You can take it to any print shop or use a home printer.

What about print quality?

Our framed prints use archival paper rated for over 100 years, professional colour-accurate printing, and solid wood frames with UV-protective glass to keep your artwork looking perfect.

What sizes are available?

We offer A4, A3, and A2 sizes for both digital downloads and framed prints.

Shipping & Delivery

How long does delivery take?

Every item is made to order, so there is a production step before anything ships. Production takes around 10 business days, then delivery depends on where the item is printed and where it’s going.

• Digital downloads: Instant — available immediately after purchase
• Printed and delivered in the same country: about 12–14 business days
• Crossing a border within the same continent: about 13–17 business days
• Crossing an ocean: about 17–26 business days

The exact estimate for your item and destination is shown before you pay.

How much does shipping cost?

UK delivery is included in every price, so the price you see is the price you pay. For other countries we add only the extra postage beyond the UK rate, at cost — nothing for some items, considerably more for a framed print to Australia. Choose your delivery country in the order panel and the exact total is shown before you pay.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes. We currently deliver to the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Pick your country in the order panel to see the delivery cost and estimate for your item.

Orders shipped outside the country they are printed in may attract import duty or handling charges set by the destination country. These are not included in the price and are the recipient’s responsibility.

Will I get a tracking number?

Yes. A tracking number is sent to you via email once your order has been dispatched.

What if my order arrives damaged?

Contact us at hello@threadart.net within 7 days of delivery with photos of the damage. We will send a free replacement at no extra cost.

Payment & Refunds

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept all major credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. All payments are processed securely through Stripe.

Is my payment secure?

Yes. All payments are handled by Stripe, which is PCI-DSS compliant — the highest standard of payment security in the industry.

What is your refund policy?

• Digital downloads: Refundable within 24 hours, provided the file has not been downloaded
• Framed prints: Refundable within 30 days if there is a defect or damage
• Custom artwork: Because every piece is made to order, we cannot offer refunds for change of mind

For full details, see our Refund Policy.

What if I'm not happy with the quality?

If there is any issue with print quality, we will replace or refund your order — no questions asked. Contact hello@threadart.net with your order details.

Technical Issues

My chat won't upload. What should I do?

1. Make sure you exported Without Media
2. Check the file is a .txt or .zip file
3. Ensure the file is under 50 MB
4. Try using Google Chrome (recommended browser)
5. Clear your browser cache and try again

If the problem persists, email us at hello@threadart.net with details of the issue.

Why is processing taking a long time?

Large chats with 20,000+ messages can take 30–60 seconds to process. This is normal — all processing happens locally in your browser.

Why are some words missing from my artwork?

Common words (like "the", "and", "is") are removed automatically to make your artwork more meaningful. You can adjust these settings during customization.

Does ThreadArt work on mobile?

Yes. ThreadArt is fully mobile-optimized and works on phones and tablets.

Which browsers are supported?

ThreadArt works on all modern browsers including Chrome (recommended), Safari, Firefox, and Edge.

Gifting

Can I send ThreadArt as a gift?

Yes. During checkout, you can enter the recipient's delivery address and add a personalised gift message.

Can I schedule a delivery for a specific date?

Scheduled delivery is not yet available, but express shipping options are offered to help you meet important dates.

Is gift wrapping available?

Gift wrapping is coming soon. All prints are carefully packaged for safe delivery.

Use Cases

What occasions is ThreadArt good for?

ThreadArt makes a meaningful, personalised gift for any occasion:

• Mother's Day & Father's Day
• Anniversaries & Weddings
• Graduations
• Baby showers
• Retirements
• Memorials & tributes

Can I use a work or team chat?

Yes, with consent from all participants. We also recommend checking your company's policies on using workplace communications for personal projects.

Can I create a memorial artwork?

Yes. Many of our customers create artwork from conversations with loved ones who have passed away. It is a beautiful and lasting way to preserve those words.

Can I use ThreadArt for business purposes?

Absolutely. Teams use ThreadArt for retrospectives, celebrating company culture, showcasing testimonials, and more. Just ensure you have consent from all participants.

Platform Support

Does ThreadArt work with other messaging apps?

Currently, ThreadArt supports WhatsApp only. Support for Telegram, iMessage, Slack, and Discord is coming soon.

Why WhatsApp first?

WhatsApp is the world's most popular messaging platform with over 2 billion users. We started here to serve the widest audience and are expanding to other platforms based on demand.

Support

How can I get help?

Email us at hello@threadart.net and we will respond within 24 hours.

What should I include in a support request?

• Your order number (if applicable)
• A description of the issue
• Screenshots if relevant
• Your browser and device information

Where do I send feature requests?

We love hearing your ideas. Send feature requests to requests@threadart.net.

Where do I report bugs?

Please report bugs to bugs@threadart.net with as much detail as possible.

Legal

ThreadArt is a UK-based company and fully GDPR compliant. You may use your artwork for commercial purposes.

For more information, please review our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Still Have Questions?

We are here to help. Reach out to us at hello@threadart.net and we will get back to you as soon as possible.