Bookend — Privacy Policy

Last updated: 20 October 2026

Bookend is a local-first workspace for structured documents and notes. Your work stays on your device. We do not run servers that collect your data, and we do not track you.

In short: Bookend does not collect, transmit, or sell any personal data. The only time information leaves your device is when you choose to use an AI feature, in which case the content you select is sent directly to the AI service you configured — never through us.

Who we are

Bookend is developed by Wayfarer Technology. If you have any questions about this policy or your privacy, contact bookend@wayfarertechnology.org.

Information we collect

None. Bookend has no analytics, no telemetry, no advertising, and no user accounts. We do not collect your documents, your usage, your location, your contacts, or any identifiers. Your Bookend documents (.bookend files) and app settings are stored locally on your device and in any location you choose to save to (for example the Files app, iCloud Drive, or another folder). We have no access to them.

Optional AI features

Bookend can connect to AI services to help you write, research, and generate content. These features are optional and only run when you use them. You configure which service to use — for example a model running locally on your own machine (such as Ollama), or an OpenAI-compatible provider you supply.

When you use an AI feature, the content you choose to process and your prompt are sent directly from your device to the service you configured. This data does not pass through the developer's servers.
How that content is handled is governed by the privacy policy of the provider you chose. If you use a local model, the data stays on your own hardware.
If your provider supports web search and you enable it, your search query is sent to that provider.
Any API key or access token you enter is stored securely in your device's Keychain / secure storage and is sent only to the service you configured, as authorization. It is never shared with the developer or anyone else.

Screen colour ("Ambient") mode

On macOS, Bookend offers an optional appearance mode that tints its interface to match your screen. When you turn this on, Bookend samples your screen's colours on your device, in memory, to pick those tints. Nothing is recorded, stored, or transmitted, and the feature requires your explicit opt-in and the system screen- recording permission.

Third parties

The only third parties that may receive any data are the AI or search providers you explicitly configure and choose to use, as described above. Bookend includes no third-party analytics, advertising, or tracking SDKs.

Children

Bookend is not directed at children and does not knowingly collect any personal information from anyone, including children.

Your choices

Because your data lives on your device, you remain in control of it: you can delete your documents and the app at any time, and you can choose whether to use any AI feature. Uninstalling the app removes its local data from your device.

Changes to this policy

If this policy changes, the updated version will be posted on this page with a new "last updated" date.