BuddyShelf Privacy Policy
Last updated: April 8, 2026
The short version
BuddyShelf does not collect, store, or transmit any of your personal data. Everything stays on your Mac.
What data stays on your device
- Your project files — BuddyShelf reads your project folders to detect changes and run Git operations. These files never leave your machine.
- API keys — Your AI provider key (Claude, ChatGPT, or Gemini), GitHub token, and FTP credentials are stored in your Mac's Keychain. We never see them.
- License key — Your BuddyShelf Pro license key is stored in your Mac's Keychain.
- App settings — Preferences like your terminology level, appearance mode, and project list are stored locally in macOS UserDefaults.
Network connections BuddyShelf makes
BuddyShelf only connects to the internet when you initiate an action:
- AI descriptions — When you use the AI description feature, your file changes are sent directly from your Mac to your chosen AI provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, or Google) using your own API key. We are not involved in this connection.
- Cloud backup — When you back up a project, BuddyShelf pushes to GitHub using your personal access token. The connection is between your Mac and GitHub.
- Web publishing — When you publish, BuddyShelf connects to your FTP/SFTP server using credentials you provided.
- License validation — When you activate or validate a Pro license, BuddyShelf contacts LemonSqueezy's API to verify your key. Only the license key is sent — no personal data, no project data.
What we do NOT do
- We do not collect analytics or telemetry
- We do not track your usage
- We do not use advertising SDKs
- We do not sell or share any data
- We do not have a backend server
- We do not require an account to use the app
Third-party services
BuddyShelf integrates with third-party services only when you configure them. Each has its own privacy policy:
- GitHub — cloud backup (optional)
- Anthropic (Claude) — AI descriptions (optional)
- OpenAI (ChatGPT) — AI descriptions (optional)
- Google (Gemini) — AI descriptions (optional)
- LemonSqueezy — license activation
Children's privacy
BuddyShelf does not knowingly collect any information from children under 13. The app does not collect information from anyone.
Changes to this policy
If this policy changes, we'll update the date at the top of this page. Since BuddyShelf doesn't collect data, meaningful changes are unlikely.
Contact
Questions? Reach out at hello@ixcreations.com