Using the free tools without an account

ArborSlate offers three free tools you can use right in your browser: no account, no signup, no email required. Build transcripts and diplomas with live previews. Log ESA expenses. Download watermarked PDFs to see what you'll get. Want to remove the watermark? That's $19 per document, one-time, no subscription. You get a re-download link good for one year. Everything stays in your browser until you buy or sign up.

How to

Build a watermarked transcript preview

1. Go to /transcript-builder
2. Fill in your student's name, the issuing school/program name, and your school location
3. Add school years (e.g., 9th Grade or 2021-22)
4. For each year add courses: subject, mark/grade, optional credit hours and weighting
5. Live preview appears on the right side in registrar-style layout
6. Click Download watermarked preview to generate and download the PDF
7. Solve the Cloudflare Turnstile bot check if shown (faster on repeat visits)

Buy a clean transcript PDF (remove watermark)

1. Scroll past the preview to Find Want a clean PDF without the watermark
2. Enter your email address (for re-download link)
3. Click Buy clean PDF - $19
4. Complete Stripe checkout with your card (no account needed)
5. Land on your personal download page with a one-time link
6. Bookmark that page: link stays active for one year
7. Also receive re-download link via email

Build a watermarked diploma preview

1. Go to /diploma-builder
2. Pick a template: Classical (blackletter, mock seal) or Modern (editorial serif)
3. Fill in student name, school name, diploma type, graduation date
4. Add parent signature name and role (required) and optional secondary signer
5. Optionally add honors designation, issued location, and state
6. Live preview updates as you type
7. Click Download watermarked preview to generate and download the PDF

Buy a clean diploma PDF

1. Scroll to Get the clean PDF - $19
2. Enter your email address
3. Click Buy clean PDF - $19
4. Complete Stripe checkout
5. Land on your personal download page (good for one year)
6. Also receive re-download link via email

Log ESA expenses and get quarterly summaries

1. Go to /esa-tracker (Arizona ESA tracker)
2. Fill in the Date, Vendor, Amount, and official Category for each purchase
3. Optionally add a Description (what it bought, which student)
4. Click Add expense: it saves to your browser instantly, no upload
5. View all expenses in a table below with warnings for common audit traps
6. See totals by quarter (Q1 Jul-Sep, Q2 Oct-Dec, Q3 Jan-Mar, Q4 Apr-Jun) and by category
7. Expenses stay in your browser; refresh the page to see them again from localStorage

Get tips via email (optional email capture)

1. On any of the three builders, scroll past the main CTA
2. Find email-capture sections like Got more transcripts coming or Graduating more than one
3. Enter your email and click the button (e.g., Email me tips)
4. You'll be subscribed to tips and announcements
5. After subscribing, see a link to start the 14-day free trial (optional)

Options & settings

• Transcript builder: Registrar format (standard) only in the free anonymous builder—Common App formatting requires Transcript Pro ($60/year) or higher plan
• Transcript courses: GPA weighting toggle per course (for weighted GPA calculation)
• Diploma builder: Classical template (blackletter, mock gold seal) or Modern template (editorial serif)
• Diploma state field: Optional, populates regulations clause with state name
• Diploma signatures: Parent is required; secondary signer (spouse, co-op admin) is optional
• ESA tracker: Qualified disability toggle (only if the program has disability-only categories like Arizona)
• ESA tracker: Category-specific warnings for common traps (e.g., Teachers Pay Teachers, Venmo, memberships)

Common questions

Do I really need to enter an email to use these tools?

No. The transcript builder, diploma builder, and ESA tracker all work with zero signup. Everything runs in your browser. Entering an email is optional and only for tips or when you buy a clean PDF. The email at checkout is so we can send you a re-download link.

What's the difference between the watermarked preview and the $19 PDF?

The preview is identical in layout and content, with a light watermark across every page so you can see exactly what you're buying. The $19 version is the same diploma or transcript, clean and print-ready, no watermark. You get a re-download link good for one year.

If I buy a $19 PDF, does that give me an account?

No. The purchase is anonymous and one-time. You get a personal re-download link (via email or on your confirmation page) that stays active for one year. If you want to keep grades, attendance, portfolios, and other records, you'll need to sign up for the 14-day free trial or a paid plan.

Can I use these tools on my phone?

Yes. All three tools are mobile-responsive. The transcript and diploma builders show the form on one side and the preview on the other on desktop, stacking on mobile. Tap Download watermarked preview and it works the same way.

What happens to my data if I don't sign up?

Everything stays in your browser (localStorage). If you close the browser or clear your storage, your work is gone. If you buy a $19 PDF, that's backed up on our servers and you can re-download it anytime for one year. The ESA tracker data never leaves your browser unless you sign up.

Can I re-download my $19 PDF after one year?

No, the re-download link expires one year after purchase. But you can always rebuild the transcript or diploma for free using the same tool.

What ESA program is the tracker for?

The /esa-tracker page is specifically for Arizona ESA. ArborSlate also has state-specific trackers at /esa/[state] for other ESA programs, each with their own category rules and audit flags.

Good to know

• localStorage is browser and domain-specific: if you switch browsers or clear storage, your form data vanishes. Bookmark or save your watermarked preview if you might rebuild later.
• Cloudflare Turnstile appears on the first preview download and refreshes when expired. If you solve it and don't download for approximately 5 minutes, you'll need to solve it again. It does not appear in local development.
• Diploma templates are visual-only in the builder: you can't customize fonts, colors, or seal design. The two templates (Classical and Modern) are the full set.
• The ESA tracker quarters run Jul-Jun (Q1 Jul-Sep, Q2 Oct-Dec, Q3 Jan-Mar, Q4 Apr-Jun), matching Arizona's reporting calendar. Other state trackers at /esa/[state] may have different quarter boundaries.
• ESA expense warnings are based on vendor name and description keywords (e.g., Teachers Pay Teachers, Venmo, membership). They're not ADE rulings; always verify with ADE or ClassWallet for edge cases.
• Re-download links are one-time URLs sent via email. If you lose the email, you cannot retrieve the link from the app—there is no recovery mechanism. You can always rebuild the transcript or diploma for free, but you cannot re-download the specific $19 PDF you purchased.
• The watermark appears on every page of multi-page transcripts. It's light but visible so you can see the real layout before paying.

Plans

These tools are designed as frictionless entry points. No signup walls. No account creation before you can see the preview. Data lives in localStorage so work isn't lost on page refresh, and students can open the builder on any device as long as they use the same browser (and don't clear storage). The $19 one-time purchase is an intentional mid-funnel hook: parents get a clean PDF without committing to a subscription, but the re-download link lasts only one year, gently nudging them toward a lasting account for record-keeping. Anonymous checkout uses Stripe and Cloudflare Turnstile (bot check + rate limit) to prevent abuse. The email capture on each builder funnels interested parents to a 14-day trial, but it's truly optional and honest about the trial structure (no free-forever tier).