Privacy Policy

Effective date: January 30, 2026

BetterSearch is a macOS application that provides fast, advanced search for your iMessages. This privacy policy explains what data BetterSearch collects, how it is used, and your rights regarding that data.

Your Messages Stay on Your Device

BetterSearch operates entirely on your Mac. Your messages are never uploaded, transmitted, or shared with us or any third party. All indexing and searching happens locally on your device. The search index BetterSearch creates is stored only on your Mac.

Information We Collect

We collect the minimum information necessary to deliver and license the product:

Email address — collected at the time of purchase for license delivery. This is processed by our payment provider, Polar.sh.
Device identifier — a hardware identifier is used to activate your license and enforce the three-device limit. This identifier is sent to Polar.sh during license activation and deactivation.

We do not collect analytics, usage data, telemetry, or crash reports. We do not track how you use the app.

Information We Do Not Collect

To be explicit, BetterSearch does not collect or access:

The content of your messages
Your contacts or address book
Your search queries
Your browsing or app usage behavior
Your location

Local Data

BetterSearch requires Full Disk Access to read your iMessage database in order to build a local search index. This data never leaves your Mac. If you set a passcode to protect access to BetterSearch, it is hashed and stored locally on your device and is never transmitted.

Third-Party Services

BetterSearch relies on the following third-party services:

Polar.sh — handles payment processing, license key generation, and license validation. When you purchase BetterSearch, your email and payment information are processed by Polar.sh. When the app validates your license, it communicates with Polar.sh servers. Please refer to Polar.sh's privacy policy for details on how they handle your data.
Sparkle — an open-source software update framework. BetterSearch uses Sparkle to check for application updates. This involves periodic requests to a server to check for new versions. Sparkle may send basic system information (such as your OS version and app version) as part of the update check. No personal information is included. You can disable automatic update checks in Settings.

Data Security

Because BetterSearch processes your messages entirely on your device, your message data is protected by your Mac's built-in security, including FileVault disk encryption and your user account password. License communication with Polar.sh is conducted over encrypted (HTTPS) connections.

Children's Privacy

BetterSearch is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will update the effective date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact

If you have questions about this privacy policy or your data, please contact us at support@usebettersearch.com.