Data Retention
WizChat automatically manages the lifecycle of temporary and session-based data. Your subscription plan determines how long different data types are retained.
What's Affected
Data retention applies to session and conversation data — temporary data generated during chatbot interactions:
| Data Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Chat history | Conversations between end users and your chatbot |
| Questions & Answers | Query logs visible in Analytics |
| In-chat file uploads | Files uploaded by end users during a chat session (not your knowledge base) |
Your knowledge base documents (PDFs, web pages, videos, Excel files, etc.) are not affected by data retention. They remain available until you manually delete them.
Retention Periods by Plan
| Data Type | Free | Starter | Pro | Pro+ | Business | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chat history & Q&A | 30 days | 90 days | 180 days | 365 days | 365 days | Unlimited |
| In-chat file uploads | 3 days | 7 days | 14 days | 30 days | 30 days | Unlimited |
Enterprise plans have unlimited retention — no data is automatically deleted.
What Happens When Data Expires
- Chat history & Q&A — Expired conversations are permanently deleted. They will no longer appear in your Analytics dashboard.
- In-chat file uploads — Files uploaded by end users during a chat session are permanently removed. The chatbot will no longer be able to reference them in follow-up messages.
Deletion happens automatically on a daily basis. There is no action required on your part.
In-Chat File Uploads vs Knowledge Base
It's important to understand the difference:
| In-Chat File Uploads | Knowledge Base | |
|---|---|---|
| Who uploads | End users during a conversation | You (the chatbot owner) |
| Purpose | Temporary analysis in a single session | Permanent knowledge for the chatbot |
| Subject to retention | Yes (per-plan limits above) | No (kept until you delete) |
| Where to manage | Automatic | Dashboard > Knowledge Base |
Upgrading for Longer Retention
If you need your data retained for longer, upgrade your plan:
- Go to "Settings" > "Billing"
- Click "Change Plan"
- Select a plan with longer retention
The new retention period applies immediately to all existing data.
When you downgrade to a plan with shorter retention, data older than the new retention period will be deleted during the next daily cleanup cycle.