Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 1, 2026

Kistle is a quiet macOS app for capturing stray thoughts, made by an independent developer. This page explains what data Kistle and this website handle — and, just as importantly, what they don't. The short version: the notes you write in the app never leave your Mac.

The app

Your notes stay on your device. Everything you capture — your Later box, tasks, completed items, and settings — is stored locally on your Mac. Kistle has no account, no cloud, and no sync. We never see, collect, or transmit your notes.

No tracking. The app contains no analytics, advertising, or third-party trackers.

The one time the app uses the network is feedback you choose to send. If you tap “Send feedback,” the app sends only the message you typed plus a little technical context — the app version, your operating system and language, an anonymous random identifier (a one-time ID stored on your device, not linked to your name or email), and a timestamp. It never sends your notes. Feedback reaches our private team channel so we can improve the app. Sending feedback is entirely optional, and the app works fully without it.

Notifications. The optional daily review reminder is generated locally on your Mac and sends no data anywhere.

This website (kistle.app)

Waitlist. If you enter your email to be notified at launch, we store your email address — along with a coarse country code, your browser language, and the date — so we can send you a single message when Kistle is released, plus the occasional important update. We will not sell or share it, and you can unsubscribe at any time. We’ll delete your address on request.

Bot protection. Our signup form uses Cloudflare Turnstile, a privacy-respecting alternative to traditional CAPTCHAs. It helps block automated abuse without the cross-site tracking that tools like reCAPTCHA rely on.

Hosting and security. This site and its services run on Cloudflare. As with any website, Cloudflare processes basic technical information (such as your IP address) to deliver the site and protect it from attacks. We don’t use cookies or third-party advertising trackers.

Who we share data with

We keep third parties to a minimum:

• Cloudflare — website hosting, waitlist signup, bot protection (Turnstile), and security. See the Cloudflare Privacy Policy.

Feedback you choose to send is processed through our infrastructure and reaches a private channel used only by our small team. We do not sell your personal information to anyone.

How long we keep data

• Waitlist email: until launch and for related updates, or until you unsubscribe or ask us to remove it.
• Feedback: kept only as long as needed to read and act on it; system logs are short-lived (a few days).
• Your notes: stored on your device, under your control, until you delete them. We never hold a copy.

Your rights

Wherever you live — and in particular under the GDPR (EU/UK) and the CCPA/CPRA (California) — you can ask us to:

• access the personal data we hold about you (in practice, your waitlist email),
• correct or delete it,
• unsubscribe from launch emails, and
• opt out of any “sale” of personal data — we don’t sell data, so there’s nothing to opt out of.

To exercise any of these, email us (below). Because the app stores your notes only on your device, those are always yours to access or delete directly.

International users

We’re a small independent project. Data handled by our service providers may be processed in the United States and other countries. By joining the waitlist or sending feedback, you understand your information may be processed outside your home country.

Children

Kistle isn’t directed at children under 16, and we don’t knowingly collect data from them.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the app grows — for example, if we add accounts or payments. We’ll revise the “last updated” date above, and for significant changes we’ll note them on this page.

Contact

Questions or requests about your data: hello@kistle.app
Kistle is operated by an independent solo developer based in Japan.