Privacy Policy

Effective Date: August 4, 2026

Textful (“we,” “us,” or “our”) operates the website at textful.app and the Textful macOS app. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle information.

The Mac App

Textful is a local editor. Your files, vaults, search, terminal sessions, and document contents stay on your Mac. We do not host your notes, and the app does not require an account or sign-in to edit.

Preferences such as theme, fonts, vault list, pinned files, keyboard shortcuts, and a random install identifier are stored only on your device (in app defaults), except where this policy says something is sent to our servers.

The app does not:

  • Upload your files, folders, vault paths, editor contents, search queries, or terminal input/output to us
  • Send crash dumps or detailed feature-usage analytics
  • Require an account to use the editor

Network requests the app makes

The app does make a small set of network requests to our servers at textful.app (or a local server in development builds). Those are limited to the following.

Install and launch events

When Textful starts, it may report a lightweight event so we can understand installs, updates, and whether the app is still in use. That report may include:

  • An install identifier — a random UUID created on first launch and stored in app defaults. It names this installation only; it is not your name, email, Apple ID, or hardware serial. Clearing app defaults or reinstalling in a way that wipes defaults creates a new identifier.
  • Event kind: installed, updated, or launched
  • App version (and previous version when reporting an update)
  • macOS version and processor architecture (for example, Apple silicon or Intel)

We store these as installation records and related events on our servers (including last-seen time and app/OS version). We use them to operate and improve the product — for example, how many installs exist, which versions are running, and whether an update reached people. We do not use them to read your files.

Software updates

Textful checks for updates using the Sparkle framework. By default it periodically requests our appcast (for example https://textful.app/appcast.xml) and may download a signed installer when you choose to update (or when an update flow you start completes). Update checks and downloads are for keeping the app current; they do not include your documents.

Feedback you send

Help → Send Feedback…, Help → Report a Bug…, and the form on Settings → Help submit a message to our servers when you press Send. Nothing is sent until then. The submission includes your message, optional email (only if you provide one), app version, and macOS version / architecture. We store the submission so we can respond and improve the product, and we may email a copy to our support inbox. You can leave the email blank to stay anonymous; if you do, we may not be able to reply.

You can also write to us from your own mail client at support@textful.app (the address is shown on Settings → Help).

iCloud Drive

When you create a vault, Textful may offer a location under iCloud Drive/Textful. That folder is part of your Apple ID and Apple’s iCloud service. Textful does not run a cloud sync product of its own and does not receive or store those files on our servers. How Apple handles iCloud data is covered by Apple’s privacy policy.

Apple system features

On supported Macs, macOS may offer system text features in the editor (for example Writing Tools, speech, or spelling and grammar). Those features are provided by Apple on your device and under Apple’s terms and privacy practices. Textful does not send that content to our servers.

Embedded terminal and shell command

The optional terminal drawer runs a shell on your Mac. Commands and their output stay local unless a command you run contacts the network itself. Installing the optional textful CLI places a local shim on your system; it does not phone home.

This Website

The site at textful.app is a Rails application. Depending on how you use it, we may process:

  • Waitlist. If you join a waitlist or early-access list, we store the email address you submit and whether we have invited you, and we may email you about access or product updates related to that list.
  • Accounts. When account registration is available (for example by invitation or feature flag), we store your email address and a password hash, confirmation status, and session records. Sessions may include IP address and user agent to keep you signed in securely.
  • App API. Feedback and install/launch events from the macOS app, as described above, are received and stored by the website.
  • Downloads and updates. We serve download links and the Sparkle appcast used by the macOS app. Ordinary web server logs may record request metadata (for example IP address, user agent, and path) as part of operating the site.
  • Visit analytics. In production we use Tinylytics for basic site analytics (for example page hits). We do not use the site to sell advertising.
  • Email. If you email us (for example paul@textful.app or support@textful.app), we use the contents only to respond and to improve the product.

How We Use Information

We use the information described above to:

  • Provide, secure, and operate the website, downloads, and app update feed
  • Respond to feedback and support requests
  • Understand install base and version adoption (via install/launch events)
  • Manage waitlists and accounts when those features apply
  • Improve Textful

Retention

We keep information only as long as we need it for the purposes above, unless a longer period is required by law. Feedback, waitlist entries, accounts, and install/event records may be retained while they remain useful for support, operations, or product decisions, then deleted or anonymized.

We Do Not Sell Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or share personal information for advertising or marketing lists. We may use infrastructure providers (for example hosting, email delivery, and the analytics tools named above) solely to run the product; they process data on our behalf under their own terms.

Children’s Privacy

Textful is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

Your Choices and Requests

You can use the editor without creating a website account. Feedback email is optional. You can decline optional update installation prompts. If you want us to delete feedback you sent, a waitlist email, or an account, write to us at the addresses below and we will help where we reasonably can. Install events are not tied to your name; if you clear the app’s stored defaults, future events use a new install identifier.

Changes

We may update this policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date.

Contact

Questions about privacy? Write to support@textful.app or paul@textful.app.