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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about creating a free digital memorial on TributePoint.

Getting Started

Creating a memorial page on TributePoint
Is TributePoint really free?
Yes, TributePoint is completely free for families. You can create a memorial page, upload photographs, write an obituary, share it with family, and keep it online permanently — all at no cost whatsoever. There are no hidden fees, no trial periods, and no credit card required. We also offer optional paid plans for funeral homes and companies that need additional features like custom branding, multiple tribute management, and team accounts. But for individual families honouring a loved one, TributePoint will always be free.
How do I create a memorial page?
Creating a memorial is simple and takes just a few minutes:
  • Visit tributepoint.co.za/work.php and click "Create Tribute"
  • Enter your loved one's details: their full name, date of birth, and date of passing
  • Write a biography or obituary — even a few paragraphs are enough to start
  • Upload photographs from different stages of their life
  • Choose from one of our beautifully designed themes
  • Save and share the unique link with family and friends
You do not need any technical skills. The editor guides you through each step, and you can save your progress and return later to add more content. For detailed guidance, read our step-by-step obituary writing guide.
Do I need to download an app?
No. TributePoint works entirely in your web browser — on any smartphone, tablet, or computer. There is no app to download or install. Simply visit tributepoint.co.za on any device with an internet connection. The website is designed to work beautifully on all screen sizes, including older and budget smartphones commonly used in South Africa.
Do I need to register an account?
Yes, a free account is needed so that you can manage your tribute over time — update photos, edit the obituary, add funeral details, and control privacy settings. Registration takes less than a minute and requires only your name, email address, and a password. You can register here.

Tribute Types

What is a Legacy Memorial Page?
A Legacy Memorial Page is a permanent tribute for someone who passed away in the past — weeks, months, years, or even decades ago. Unlike an upcoming funeral tribute, a legacy memorial focuses on the person's life story, photographs and family memories. There is no funeral date, programme or livestream required — just a beautiful, lasting place to honour their memory. It's free for families and stays online forever.
What's the difference between a Funeral Tribute, a Memorial Service and a Legacy Memorial?
We offer three tribute types so you can choose the right one for your situation:
  • Funeral Tribute — for an upcoming funeral. Includes service details, programme, locations, livestream and donations. Create a funeral tribute.
  • Memorial Service — a separate service page added on top of an existing funeral tribute (for example a 7-day, 1-month or 1-year memorial service). Reuses the loved one's name, dates and photos. Available from your dashboard once you've created a funeral tribute.
  • Legacy Memorial Page — a standalone tribute for a loved one who passed away in the past. Focused on their life story and photos rather than a service. Create a legacy memorial.
Can I create a memorial for someone who passed away years ago?
Yes. Our Legacy Memorial Page is designed for exactly that — honouring a parent, grandparent, sibling or friend who passed away at any point in the past. There is no funeral date or service detail to fill in. Just share their life story and photographs, choose a theme, and you'll have a permanent online tribute you can share with family and friends. It's completely free.

About Memorial Pages

How long does a memorial page stay online?
Memorial pages on TributePoint are permanent. They remain online indefinitely so that family members can revisit the tribute at any time — on anniversaries, birthdays, or whenever they want to remember their loved one. Unlike social media posts that get buried in feeds, a TributePoint memorial has its own permanent web address that never changes.
Can visitors leave condolence messages?
Yes. Each memorial page includes a condolence section where family, friends, and community members can leave heartfelt messages, share their favourite memories of the deceased, and light a virtual candle in their honour. These contributions become part of the permanent tribute — a growing collection of love and remembrance that the entire family can treasure.
How many photos can I upload?
The free plan allows you to upload multiple photographs to create a meaningful photo gallery. We recommend including photos from different stages of your loved one's life — childhood, young adulthood, family years, and later life. Group photos, candid moments, and images of places and activities they loved all help tell the complete story of who they were. For tips on selecting the best photos, see our guide on keeping memories alive.
Can I choose a different theme or design?
Yes. TributePoint offers several professionally designed themes, each created to be dignified, respectful, and beautiful. You can preview themes before selecting one, and change your theme at any time without losing any content. Each theme is designed to look elegant on both desktop computers and mobile phones. Visit our themes page to browse available designs.
Can I edit or update the memorial after publishing?
Absolutely. You can update your memorial at any time by logging into your account. Many families start with basic information immediately after the passing and then add more photos, stories, and details over the following days and weeks. You can also update funeral arrangements, add service recordings, and include new memories shared by family members after the funeral.

Sharing & Privacy

Sharing a memorial via WhatsApp
How do I share the memorial with family?
Every memorial page has a unique, clean URL that you can share through any channel:
  • WhatsApp — The most popular method in South Africa. Simply copy the link and send it to family groups or individuals.
  • Facebook — Share as a post on your profile or in a private family group.
  • Email — Send the link with a personal message to relatives who prefer email.
  • SMS — For elderly family members or those without smartphones, send the link via text message.
For a complete guide on reaching every family member, read our article on sharing a tribute with family far away.
Can I control who sees the memorial?
Yes. TributePoint gives you full control over your memorial's visibility. You can set your tribute to public (visible to everyone) or keep it private (only accessible to people who have the direct link). If your family prefers privacy, share the link only in private WhatsApp groups and direct messages rather than posting it publicly on social media. You can change the privacy setting at any time from your dashboard.
Does the memorial work on any phone?
Yes. TributePoint memorial pages are designed to work on any device — whether it is a high-end smartphone, a budget Android phone, a tablet, or a desktop computer. The pages load quickly even on slower mobile data connections, which is important for reaching family members in rural areas of South Africa where internet speeds may be limited.

Funerals & Cultural Traditions

Blending traditional and modern funeral practices in South Africa
Does TributePoint support different cultural traditions?
TributePoint is designed to complement any funeral tradition — whether you follow Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana, Afrikaner, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, or any other cultural or religious practice. A digital memorial page does not replace traditional ceremonies; it enhances them by providing a permanent, shareable record that distant family members can access from anywhere. Many South African families use TributePoint alongside their traditional burial rites and night vigils. Learn more in our guide on traditional vs. modern funerals in South Africa.
Can I include funeral service details on the page?
Yes. You can add the date, time, and venue of the funeral or memorial service directly on the tribute page. This means anyone who visits the page will immediately see the practical details they need. You can also add directions, parking information, dress code guidance, and any special instructions. If the service will be livestreamed, you can include the streaming link on the page as well.
Can I livestream a funeral through TributePoint?
TributePoint supports linking to livestream services. While we do not host the video stream directly, you can embed or link to a YouTube, Facebook Live, or other streaming service on the memorial page. This allows distant family members to watch the service in real time. After the service, you can also upload a recording so that people in different time zones can watch it later at their own pace.

For Funeral Homes & Companies

Can funeral homes use TributePoint for their clients?
Yes. TributePoint offers dedicated company plans designed specifically for funeral homes, funeral parlours, and memorial service providers. Company accounts allow you to create and manage multiple tributes for your clients, add your own company branding, and provide families with a professional digital memorial service as part of your offering. This adds significant value to your funeral packages at a very affordable cost.
Can I add my funeral home's branding?
Company plan subscribers can add their logo, company name, and contact information to every tribute they create. This means each memorial page your team creates will carry your funeral home's branding — a professional touch that families appreciate and that helps establish your company's reputation as a modern, caring service provider.
How do team accounts work?
With a company plan, you can invite team members to your account. Each team member can create and manage tributes under your company's branding. This is ideal for funeral homes with multiple staff members who interact with different families. All tributes are centrally managed under your company dashboard, and you can assign tributes to specific team members as needed.

Technical & Support

What happens if I forget my password?
You can reset your password at any time using the "Forgot Password" link on the login page. Enter the email address you registered with, and we will send you a secure link to create a new password. If you have trouble, contact our support team via WhatsApp or email and we will assist you.
Is my personal information safe?
Yes. TributePoint takes privacy seriously. We comply with South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and store all data securely. We do not sell your personal information to third parties. You can read our full privacy policy for detailed information on how we collect, use, and protect your data.
How do I contact TributePoint for help?
We are here to help. You can reach our support team through: Email and WhatsApp support is available 24/7. We aim to respond within a few hours during business days.
Can I delete a memorial page?
Yes. The account owner can delete a tribute page at any time from their dashboard. If you need assistance with removing a page or have a request related to a memorial you did not create, please contact our support team and we will help resolve the matter promptly and respectfully.

Still Have Questions?

We are always happy to help. Get in touch through any of these channels and our team will respond as quickly as possible.

WhatsApp Email Phone Contact Form

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More Questions South African Families Ask Us

These are real questions we receive from families on the phone and over email. We have answered them as honestly and practically as we can.

Privacy & Trust

Will my loved one's photos appear in Google search results?

Only if you set the page to Public. The default visibility for new pages is Unlisted, which means the page is not indexed by Google and is only viewable by people who have the direct link. You can change visibility at any time from the page settings.

Who can edit the page after I create it?

Only you, plus any people you explicitly invite as administrators or editors. Other family members cannot take over the page, and TributePoint staff do not edit user pages without a written request from the page owner.

What happens to the page if I stop using it?

Nothing — it stays live. We do not delete inactive pages or convert them to paid plans. The page remains accessible at the same URL indefinitely.

Are you POPIA-compliant?

Yes. TributePoint is registered as a Responsible Party under the Protection of Personal Information Act and operates in accordance with POPIA's processing, security, and data subject rights provisions. Read our full privacy policy for details.

Where is the data physically stored?

On secure servers hosted in Europe with daily encrypted backups. Data is transmitted over HTTPS and stored at rest with industry-standard encryption.

Can I download a copy of everything on my page?

Yes. You have the right under POPIA to request a copy of all data we hold about you and the memorial pages you have created. Email info@tributepoint.co.za from the email address on file.

Costs & Billing

Is the free plan really free, or will you charge me later?

The free plan is genuinely free, with no time limit and no card details required. We will never auto-upgrade you to a paid plan or bill you without your explicit consent.

What do paid plans actually unlock?

Paid plans remove display advertising on your page, unlock premium themes, allow custom URLs (e.g. tributepoint.co.za/john-doe), enable live-streaming integration with our RTMP server, and provide additional photo storage. The free plan includes everything most families need to honour their loved one.

Can I cancel a paid plan at any time?

Yes. Paid plans are month-to-month with no lock-in contract. Cancel from your dashboard or by emailing support — the page reverts to the free tier and remains live.

Do you take any percentage from donations made through my page?

No. 100% of donations made through the optional donations module go to the family or charity of your choice. Standard payment-processor fees apply (typically 2.9% + R3 per transaction for card payments via SnapScan, Zapper or PayShap).

Practical Setup Questions

How long does it take to set up a tribute page?

Most families have a basic page live in 15–30 minutes. The biography and photo curation can take longer if you want to do them carefully — but the page can be published with the essentials and improved over time.

Do I have to upload three photos before I can publish?

The page works best with at least three photos, but you can publish with fewer. We will warn you upfront before you start uploading so you know what to gather. You can always add more photos later as relatives send them in.

What size and format should photos be?

JPEG or PNG, ideally at least 1200 pixels on the long edge for the portrait. We compress images automatically for fast loading without losing visible quality. Photos sent via WhatsApp may be too compressed — ask the original sender to share them via Google Drive, email, or WhatsApp's "send as document" option.

Can I include the eulogy or funeral programme on the page?

Yes. The biography section is the natural place for the full eulogy. You can also upload the funeral programme as a PDF or use our funeral programme builder to design a printed programme that matches the page.

Can I add a live-stream link to the page?

Yes. You can paste a YouTube live link, Facebook Live link, or use our integrated RTMP streaming on paid plans. See our live-streaming guide for the practical setup.

Can multiple family members edit the page together?

Yes. The page owner can invite additional editors by email address. Each editor needs a free TributePoint account but does not need a paid subscription.

How do I share the page on WhatsApp?

Copy the page URL and paste it into any WhatsApp chat or group. WhatsApp will automatically generate a preview with the portrait photo and the headline. See our guide on sharing a tribute with family far away.

Cultural & Religious Questions

Can I create a page in isiZulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans or another South African language?

Yes. The biography, eulogy and condolence messages can be written in any language. The interface is currently in English, but the content of your page can be in any language — including mixed languages on the same page.

Does the page work for Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Christian funerals?

Yes. The page is faith-neutral by default. You can add religious symbols, scripture, or specific phrases ("Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un," "Zichrono livracha," "Hari Om," Bible verses, etc.) to the biography or as a sub-heading. Themes are available with subtle religious motifs and without.

Can the page support traditional African praise names (izithakazelo, direto)?

Yes. Many families add the deceased's clan praise names at the top of the biography or as a separate section. See our guide on writing an obituary for examples.

Can I link the page to a burial society or stokvel?

Yes. You can add the burial society's contact details, the chairperson's name, and even allow the society's secretary to be a co-editor. See our funeral donations guide for how families coordinate this.

After the Funeral

Can I keep adding to the page months later?

Yes. Many families add photographs, anniversaries, and tombstone unveiling dates over the years. The page is not locked after the funeral.

Can I print the condolence messages later?

Yes. The dashboard allows you to export all condolence messages and virtual candle entries as a PDF that can be printed and added to the family memory book.

What happens on death anniversaries?

The page remains accessible. Many families revisit it on the anniversary date and the deceased's birthday, sometimes adding a fresh photograph or note.

Who do I contact if something goes wrong with the page?

Email info@tributepoint.co.za or call 083 621 0224, Monday to Saturday 08:00–20:00 SAST. We aim to respond to email within four hours during support hours.