What PairPad does
A shared code room: one link, live cursors, run the code together, replay the session.
PairPad is a code editor that lives at a link. Open the page and you are already editing a small JavaScript file; press Share and the pad becomes a room at its own URL. Anyone who opens that URL joins instantly with no account, and every keystroke, cursor and selection shows up for everyone, labelled with each person's name and colour. Edits merge with a CRDT, so two people typing on the same line never overwrite each other.
Running code is shared too. JavaScript and TypeScript run in a sandboxed iframe in the browser of whoever presses Run, and the console output is written into the room so everybody sees the same result, with who ran it and how long it took. Infinite loops are stopped after five seconds without freezing the page. SQL files run against an in-browser SQLite database and the result grid is shared the same way, and HTML files render in a live preview that inlines the CSS and JavaScript files of the room.
A room holds as many files as you need, each with its own language: JavaScript, TypeScript, SQL, HTML, CSS, JSON, Markdown, Python (highlighting only) and plain text. Rename a file to change its language, download everything as a .zip when you are done, and come back to the same link later — free rooms stay for 30 days after the last edit.
For interviews and mentoring, Pro adds the parts you need every week. Replay scrubs through the whole session keystroke by keystroke on a timeline, so you can see how a solution was reached, not just where it ended. Interviewer notes and a four-point scorecard sit beside the code and are readable only by the room owner — the database rules refuse anyone else. Save a question with its starter code to your question bank and start a fresh room from it in one click, lock a room so only you can edit, and keep rooms permanently with a list of all of them.
Nothing you run leaves your browser: code executes locally in a sandbox with no access to this page, its storage or your cookies. The only thing stored online is the room's text and shared output, so the people you invite can join.
Free vs Pro
| Feature | Free $0 · no account | Pro $29 one-time · 3 browsers |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited rooms from one link, no signup; anyone with the link edits | Included | Included |
| Live cursors + selections with names and colours (Yjs CRDT, conflict-free) | Included | Included |
| Languages: JavaScript, TypeScript, Python (highlight only), SQL, HTML/CSS, JSON, Markdown, plain text | Included | Included |
| Run JavaScript/TypeScript in a sandboxed iframe with a shared console everyone sees | Included | Included |
| Run SQL against an in-browser SQLite (sql.js) with a shared result grid | Included | Included |
| Live HTML/CSS preview pane | Included | Included |
| Multiple files (tabs) per room | Included | Included |
| Rooms persist at their link for 30 days after last use | Included | Included |
| Download the room as a .zip | Included | Included |
| Session replay: scrub through every keystroke of the session with a timeline | — | Pro |
| Interviewer mode: private notes + scorecard only the room owner sees (enforced by database rules) | — | Pro |
| Question bank: save rooms as reusable templates and start a new interview room from one in one click | — | Pro |
| Permanent rooms (never expire) and a list of all your rooms | — | Pro |
| Lock room: freeze editing for everyone except the owner | — | Pro |
Pro is $29, paid once. Checkout and the licence key are handled by Dodo Payments (merchant of record). By buying you agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.
Questions
Is PairPad free?
Yes, with no account and no install. The free plan includes: Unlimited rooms from one link, no signup; anyone with the link edits; Live cursors + selections with names and colours (Yjs CRDT, conflict-free); Languages: JavaScript, TypeScript, Python (highlight only), SQL, HTML/CSS, JSON, Markdown, plain text; Run JavaScript/TypeScript in a sandboxed iframe with a shared console everyone sees; and 5 more. Pro ($29, paid once) adds: Session replay: scrub through every keystroke of the session with a timeline; Interviewer mode: private notes + scorecard only the room owner sees (enforced by database rules); Question bank: save rooms as reusable templates and start a new interview room from one in one click; Permanent rooms (never expire) and a list of all your rooms; and 1 more.
Does PairPad upload my data?
Yes, for shared rooms. The room's files and shared run output are stored in Google Firebase in the United States so the people you invite can join; a free room is deleted 30 days after the last edit. Pro rooms you own are kept, with their edit history for replay, until you ask us to delete them. Interviewer notes are readable only by the person who wrote them. Code runs in your browser. See the Privacy Policy for retention and deletion.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Open the page and start working. It works on desktop and mobile browsers.
How does the Pro licence work?
You pay once and receive a licence key by email from Dodo Payments (our merchant of record). Paste it under "Have a key?" inside the tool. One key works on up to 3 browsers; you can release a browser at any time to use the key elsewhere.
Do people I share with need an account?
No. Anyone with the link joins and edits. Rooms use anonymous sign-in behind the scenes, and you can set the name shown on your cursor by clicking your avatar.
Where does my code run?
In each person's browser, in a sandbox. Nothing is executed on our servers. The person who presses Run executes the code and the output is shared with the room. The room's text is stored in Firebase so others can join.
Which languages can I run?
JavaScript and TypeScript run with a shared console, SQL runs on an in-browser SQLite database with a shared result grid, HTML and CSS render in a live preview, and JSON can be validated. Python, Markdown and plain text are editable with highlighting but do not run.
How long do rooms last?
Free rooms stay at their link for 30 days after the last edit. Pro rooms you own never expire and keep their full edit history for replay.
Can the candidate see my interview notes?
No. Notes and the scorecard are stored under the room owner's account and the database rules deny every other reader, including other people in the room.
Is Pro a subscription?
No. $29 once, on up to three browsers.
