> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.whalesync.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.whalesync.com/resources/support/faq.md).

# FAQ

## How is Whalesync different from Zapier?

In short, Zapier is an *automation* tool whereas Whalesync is a *data syncing* tool. Zapier is highly flexible and lets you architect logic such as “when a record is updated in Airtable, create a new record in Webflow, and then send an email.”

Whalesync is less flexible BUT amazing at keeping two data sources in sync with little effort. You just connect Airtable and Webflow and Whalesync creates, updates, and deletes records bi-directionally automatically.

For a more detailed breakdown, check out: [How is Whalesync different from Zapier?](https://www.whalesync.com/blog/how-is-whalesync-different-from-zapier)

## How does Whalesync count records?

Whalesync counts the records in your **active syncs** — syncs that have run at any point during the current calendar month — and we don't "double-count" records across a Whalesync base.\
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For example, let's say you have two Airtable bases:

* Base 1 → 100 records
* Base 2 → 0 records

Then you use Whalesync to sync Base 1 and Base 2, so now each has:

* Base 1 → 100 records (in sync)
* Base 2 → 100 records (in sync)

In total Whalesync would count that as 100 records.\
\
If you have other Airtable bases in your account (e.g. Base 3, Base 4, etc.), none of those count towards your Whalesync total until you start syncing them.

**Paused syncs don't count against your limit.** If a sync stays paused for a full calendar month, its records stop counting the next month, and deleting a sync removes its records from your count right away. Your count resets at the start of each month, so it always reflects what you're actively syncing.

For a full breakdown, see [How record limits work](/resources/support/how-record-limits-work.md).

## What data does Whalesync store?

While there are slight differences for each connector, as a general rule, Whalesync stores your:

* Records
* Database/site ID
* Table/column names and IDs
* API keys

Our database uses encryption for data storage. We encrypt API keys and private URLs at rest with [AES-256](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Encryption_Standard), thus double encryption for those.

As an example, for Airtable, Whalesync stores your records, your Airtable base ID, table name, column names, your Airtable API key, and a URL to a private view of your base.

## If I pause my subscription, will Whalesync keep my syncs?

Yes, if you pause your subscription, syncing will be disabled but Whalesync will not delete your sync configurations.

If you reactivate your subscription in the future, you will be able to resume your syncs and all pending changes will be synced over.

Because your syncs are disabled while your subscription is paused, they stop counting toward your record limit the following calendar month. See [How record limits work](/resources/support/how-record-limits-work.md) for more on how record counting works.