1. Agreement to these Terms
These Terms of Service ("Terms") are a binding agreement between you and GladeFocus ("GladeFocus", "we", "us") governing your use of the GladeFocus iOS application and related services (the "App"). By creating an account or using the App, you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the App.
2. Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction) to use the App, because it includes real-money features. By using the App you represent that you meet this requirement and that any payment method you use is your own.
3. What the App does
GladeFocus is a personal focus and self-control tool. It lets you:
- Run focus sessions and block distracting apps and websites during them, using Apple's Screen Time (Family Controls) features and an optional on-device content-filter (VPN) that you control.
- Optionally subscribe to Glade Pro for additional features.
- Optionally place a stake ("Money on the Line") on a session as a self-commitment device.
The App is a productivity tool. It is not a financial product, an investment, a game of chance, a wager, or a gambling service, and it does not offer any opportunity to win money or prizes.
4. Accounts
You can use core features without an account. Some features require you to sign in (via email, Google, or Sign in with Apple). You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your credentials and for activity under your account. You may delete your account at any time from Profile → Delete Account; deletion is described in the Privacy Policy.
5. Glade Pro subscription
- Glade Pro is an auto-renewable subscription sold through Apple In-App Purchase. Available plans and prices are shown in the App at the time of purchase and may include an introductory free trial.
- Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your Apple ID is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends.
- Manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple ID settings (Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions). We cannot cancel an Apple subscription on your behalf.
- Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you purchase a subscription, where applicable.
- Refunds for Apple In-App Purchases are handled by Apple under Apple's policies; we do not control them.
6. "Money on the Line" (stakes)
This section governs the real-money stake feature. Read it carefully — it explains when your money can be charged.
6.1 What a stake is
A stake is an optional amount you choose to put on the line for a focus session. It is not a purchase of any feature, content, or service — the App works fully whether or not you stake. When you place a stake, our payment processor Stripe places an authorization hold on your saved card for the stake amount. A hold reserves funds; it is not an immediate charge.
6.2 When your stake is returned (no charge)
If you complete your focus session as configured, the hold is released and no money is captured. You keep 100% of your own money. Holds are released automatically; if a hold cannot be released immediately, it expires on its own (typically within about 7 days) and no charge occurs.
6.3 When your stake is forfeited (charged)
Your stake is captured (charged in full) only if you break the commitment you set — specifically if you:
- end a session early / give up before it completes; or
- disable, revoke, or tamper with the Screen Time restriction or content filter that the App set for your session (subject to a short on-screen grace period to re-enable it).
By placing a stake, you authorize GladeFocus and Stripe to capture the held amount if any of the above occurs. You expressly acknowledge and agree that turning off Screen Time (or otherwise disabling the block) during a staked session will result in your stake being charged.
6.4 Forfeited stakes are non-refundable; where the money goes
Forfeited stakes are non-refundable except where required by law. [100% of every forfeited stake, net of unavoidable payment-processing fees charged by Stripe, is donated to the Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees. GladeFocus retains no portion of forfeited stakes as revenue.]
6.5 Payment processing and disputes
Stakes are processed by Stripe under Stripe's terms and privacy policy. Your full card number is entered on Stripe's secure pages and is never stored by the App. If you believe a stake was captured in error, contact us at gladefocus@gmail.com before initiating a chargeback so we can review. We reserve the right to suspend the stake feature for any account that abuses it.
6.6 Not gambling; no winnings
You can never win money, receive more than you staked, or profit from a stake. The best possible outcome of any stake is the return of your own money. The stake has no element of chance; the outcome is determined solely by your own actions.
7. Blocking, Screen Time, and content filtering
- To block apps you authorize the App to use Apple's Screen Time (Family Controls) on an individual basis. You can revoke this in iOS Settings at any time (doing so during a staked session may forfeit your stake, per Section 6).
- The optional content filter installs an on-device VPN configuration that filters DNS to enforce your blocklist. It processes traffic locally and does not log or transmit your browsing history (see the Privacy Policy).
- While a focus session is armed, the App may prevent itself from being deleted (
denyAppRemoval) so that blocking cannot be trivially bypassed. This restriction is automatically removed when the session ends or when the App next launches with no active session. You may end a session (which removes the restriction) subject to the stake terms above. - No guarantee. Blocking depends on iOS APIs and your device configuration and may not block every app, site, or method of access. The App is an aid to self-control, not a guarantee. You are responsible for your own device and choices.
8. Acceptable use
You agree not to misuse the App, including by attempting to circumvent payment or security controls, reverse-engineer the App except as permitted by law, use it to harm others, or use it in violation of any law. You are responsible for the apps and sites you choose to block.
9. Intellectual property
The App and its content are owned by GladeFocus and its licensors and are protected by law. We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use the App for your personal, non-commercial use, subject to these Terms and the Apple Licensed Application terms in Section 13.
10. Disclaimers
THE APP IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT BLOCKING WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE OR THAT THE APP WILL PREVENT ALL ACCESS TO BLOCKED CONTENT.
11. Limitation of liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, GLADEFOCUS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR LOST PROFITS OR DATA. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM RELATING TO THE APP WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN GLADE PRO SUBSCRIPTION FEES IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM, OR (B) US $50. Stakes that were returned to you, or that were forfeited and donated/applied as described in Section 6, are not "amounts paid to us" for this purpose. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations, so some of the above may not apply to you.
12. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold GladeFocus harmless from claims arising out of your misuse of the App or violation of these Terms, to the extent permitted by law.
13. Apple App Store additional terms
These Terms are between you and GladeFocus only, not with Apple. Apple is not responsible for the App or its content. To the extent required by Apple:
- Your license to use the App is a non-transferable license to use it on any Apple-branded device you own or control, as permitted by the App Store Terms of Service.
- Apple has no obligation to provide maintenance or support for the App.
- To the maximum extent permitted by law, Apple has no warranty obligation for the App; any warranty claims will be our responsibility.
- Apple is not responsible for addressing product-liability, legal/regulatory-compliance, or intellectual-property claims relating to the App.
- Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of these Terms and may enforce them against you.
- You represent that you are not located in a US-embargoed country or on a US prohibited-parties list, and you will comply with applicable export laws.
14. Changes to these Terms
We may update these Terms; we will change the "Last updated" date and, for material changes, provide notice in the App. Continued use after changes take effect means you accept the updated Terms.
15. Termination
We may suspend or terminate your access for violation of these Terms. You may stop using the App and delete your account at any time. Sections that by their nature should survive (e.g. 6.4, 9–12) survive termination.
16. Governing law and disputes
These Terms are governed by the laws of California, USA, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules. You agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in California to resolve any dispute.