Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 2026

BarnOwl is a local-first desktop application. This policy explains what data is and is not collected when you use BarnOwl.

1. What BarnOwl Does Not Collect

• BarnOwl does not record audio. No audio file is created at any point.
• BarnOwl does not transmit meeting transcripts to any server.
• BarnOwl does not store any meeting content outside your local device.
• BarnOwl does not require a user account to operate.
• BarnOwl does not collect usage analytics from the desktop application.

2. What BarnOwl Does Collect

BarnOwl collects minimal data for the sole purpose of license validation:

• License key: When you activate a Pro license, BarnOwl sends your license key to our licensing server to verify its validity. No other personal data is transmitted during this process.
• Trial session count: BarnOwl tracks the number of trial sessions used locally on your device. This count is stored in a local file on your machine only.

3. Meeting Transcripts

All meeting transcripts are processed and stored exclusively on your local device. Transcript files are saved to your local AppData folder. BarnOwl never reads, accesses, transmits, or backs up your transcript content. You have full ownership and control of all transcript data.

4. Website Analytics

The BarnOwl website (barnowl.app) may use privacy-respecting analytics to understand visitor traffic. No personally identifiable information is collected. No cross-site tracking cookies are used.

5. Third-Party Services

BarnOwl uses the following third-party service solely for license management:

• License validation server: Verifies your license key upon activation. Only the license key string is transmitted — no name, email, or device identifiers.

6. Data Retention

BarnOwl retains no user data on any server. Transcript files remain on your device until you choose to delete them. Uninstalling BarnOwl removes the application but does not automatically delete transcript files saved to your AppData folder.

7. Children's Privacy

BarnOwl is intended for professional use and is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect any information from children.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy as BarnOwl evolves. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated date. Continued use of BarnOwl after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

9. Contact

Questions about this privacy policy? Contact us at hello@barnowl.app.