Effective date: January 30, 2026
These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of BetterSearch, a macOS application for searching iMessages ("the App"). By purchasing, downloading, or using BetterSearch, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the App.
Upon purchase, you are granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to install and use BetterSearch on up to three (3) Macs that you own or control. This license is for personal, non-commercial use. You may not sublicense, resell, redistribute, reverse-engineer, decompile, or disassemble the App.
BetterSearch requires a valid license key to operate. Each license key may be activated on up to three Macs. You can transfer your license to a different Mac by first deactivating it on the current device through Settings. License validation requires an internet connection.
BetterSearch is available as a one-time purchase. Payment is processed by our third-party payment provider, Polar.sh. By completing a purchase, you also agree to Polar.sh's terms of service. The purchase price is listed on our website at the time of purchase and may change at any time without notice, though changes will not affect completed purchases.
You may request a full refund within fourteen (14) days of your purchase date, for any reason. To request a refund, contact us at support@usebettersearch.com with your purchase email and license key. Refunds will be processed through the original payment method. Upon refund, your license will be deactivated.
BetterSearch requires macOS and Full Disk Access permission to function. You are responsible for ensuring your system meets the requirements and for granting the necessary permissions. The App reads your local iMessage database in read-only mode to build a search index.
Your license includes lifetime access to future updates. BetterSearch checks for updates using the Sparkle framework. You may disable automatic update checks in Settings. We are not obligated to provide updates on any specific schedule.
BetterSearch processes your iMessage data entirely on your device. We do not have access to your messages, search queries, or any content stored locally by the App. For full details on data handling, see our Privacy Policy.
You agree not to:
BetterSearch, including its code, design, branding, and documentation, is the intellectual property of its developer. These Terms do not transfer any ownership rights to you. All rights not explicitly granted in these Terms are reserved.
BetterSearch is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. We do not warrant that the App will be error-free, uninterrupted, or compatible with all systems or configurations.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall the developer of BetterSearch be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenue, whether incurred directly or indirectly, or any loss of data or use, arising out of or in connection with your use of the App. Our total cumulative liability shall not exceed the amount you paid for the App.
We reserve the right to terminate or suspend your license if you violate these Terms. Upon termination, you must cease all use of the App and delete all copies from your devices. Sections that by their nature should survive termination (including Disclaimer of Warranties, Limitation of Liability, and Intellectual Property) will survive.
We may update these Terms from time to time. If we make material changes, we will update the effective date at the top of this page. Your continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at support@usebettersearch.com.