Terms of Service

Last Updated: August 9, 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Anchor website (https://anchordesktop.com) and its related web application (collectively, the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you disagree with any part of the terms, you may not access the Service.

Anchor ("we," "us," or "our") is an entity incorporated in South Africa.

2. Access, Accounts, and Authentication

2.1. Registered Accounts (Cloud Sync)

To access the Service, enable cross-device synchronization, or use specific widgets that require server-side integration (e.g., Calendar integrations), you must register for an account. We utilize third-party authentication providers, including Google OAuth and Microsoft OAuth. You are responsible for maintaining the security of your third-party accounts.

2.2. User Responsibilities

You agree that the information you provide upon registration is accurate and current. You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account.

3. Fees, Trial, and Subscriptions

3.1. Free Trial

New accounts receive a 60-day free trial with full access to the Service. No payment method is required to start or complete the trial. If your trial ends and you have not subscribed, your account becomes read-only: your desktops, bookmarks, and other content remain viewable and exportable, but you will not be able to make changes until you subscribe. Your data is not deleted when a trial expires.

3.2. Subscriptions

Continued full use of the Service after the trial requires a paid subscription of USD $25 per year. Subscriptions renew automatically each year until canceled. You may cancel at any time via Settings → Subscription & Billing (or through the payment provider's customer portal); cancellation takes effect at the end of the paid period already underway, and your account then becomes read-only as described in Section 3.1.

3.3. Payment Processing (Paddle)

Payments are processed by Paddle, acting as Merchant of Record. When you subscribe, your contract of sale is with Paddle, and Paddle's Checkout Buyer Terms apply to the purchase. Anchor never receives or stores your card details.

3.4. Refunds

If you are not satisfied with your subscription, you may request a full refund within 14 days of any charge — whether your first payment or a renewal — no questions asked. Request a refund by contacting us at the email address in Section 13 or directly through Paddle, and it will be processed by Paddle back to your original payment method. Refund requests made after the 14-day window are considered at our discretion, in accordance with Paddle's buyer refund policy (see the Checkout Buyer Terms linked above). Refunding a charge ends the associated subscription period.

3.5. Price Changes

We may change subscription pricing from time to time. Price changes apply prospectively only, from your next renewal at the earliest, and never retroactively during a paid period. Promotional pricing (such as founding-user discounts) remains in effect for as long as the subscription it was applied to stays active.

3.6. Accounts Created Before Paid Launch

Accounts registered before subscriptions were introduced retain free access to the Service and are not required to subscribe. This grandfathered access is provided at our discretion for as long as we continue to operate the Service and does not create an obligation to maintain any particular feature indefinitely.

3.7. No Advertisements

The Service is funded by subscriptions, not advertising. We do not display third-party advertisements within the Service.

4. Use of Service

4.1. License

Subject to these Terms, Anchor grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, and revocable license to use the Service for your personal or internal business purposes.

4.2. Restrictions

You agree not to:

  • Reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to extract the source code of the software.
  • Use the Service for any illegal purpose or to transmit malicious code (viruses, worms).
  • Interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of the Service.
  • Attempt to bypass or break any security mechanism on the Service.
  • Resell or "white-label" the Service without our express written consent.

5. Intellectual Property and Data Ownership

5.1. Our IP

The Service and its original content (excluding Content provided by users), features, and functionality are and will remain the exclusive property of Anchor and its licensors. The Service is protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws of South Africa and foreign countries.

5.2. Your Content (Registered Users)

For Registered Users, you retain ownership of the data and preferences you sync to our servers. By using Cloud Sync, you grant us a license to host, store, and display this content solely for the purpose of providing the Service to you (e.g., synchronizing your startpage across devices).

6. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Features

Anchor includes optional features powered by Artificial Intelligence (specifically Google Gemini via Firebase), such as automatic bookmark categorization.

6.1. Accuracy and Reliability

AI output is probabilistic, not deterministic. You acknowledge that AI-generated content (e.g., categories, summaries, or organization suggestions) may be inaccurate, inappropriate, or incomplete ("Hallucinations"). Anchor makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, reliability, or quality of any AI-generated content.

6.2. User Responsibility

You agree that you are solely responsible for reviewing and verifying any changes, organizations, or categories suggested by the AI before accepting or relying on them. You assume all risks associated with the use of AI features.

6.3. Service Availability

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue AI features at any time (e.g., due to usage quotas, third-party API availability, or cost) without prior notice or liability.

7. Third-Party Services

7.1. Google Services

Anchor integrates with Google APIs (e.g., Google Calendar). Use of these features is subject to Google's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. We do not control Google's services and are not liable for their availability or accuracy.

7.2. Microsoft Services

Anchor integrates with Microsoft services (e.g., Microsoft Outlook Calendar) via the Microsoft Graph API. Use of these features is subject to the Microsoft Services Agreement and Microsoft Privacy Statement. We do not control Microsoft's services and are not liable for their availability or accuracy.

The Service may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not owned or controlled by Anchor. Anchor has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites or services.

8. Disclaimer of Warranties ("AS IS")

THE SERVICE (INCLUDING ALL AI FEATURES) IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS. ANCHOR MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE OPERATION OF THE SERVICE OR THE INFORMATION, CONTENT, OR MATERIALS INCLUDED THEREIN.

TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMISSIBLE BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANCHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE.

9. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL ANCHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, RESULTING FROM:

  • YOUR ACCESS TO OR USE OF OR INABILITY TO ACCESS OR USE THE SERVICE;
  • ANY UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR USE OF OUR SERVERS AND/OR ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION STORED THEREIN;
  • ANY INACCURACIES OR ERRORS IN AI-GENERATED CONTENT OR CATEGORIZATION;
  • ANY BUGS, VIRUSES, TROJAN HORSES, OR THE LIKE THAT MAY BE TRANSMITTED TO OR THROUGH OUR SERVICE BY ANY THIRD PARTY.

10. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms, including any question regarding their existence, validity, or termination, shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Western Cape, South Africa.

11. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to modify or replace these Terms at any time. If a revision is material, we will try to provide at least 30 days' notice prior to any new terms taking effect. By continuing to access or use our Service after those revisions become effective, you agree to be bound by the revised terms.

12. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your account (if applicable) or access to the Service immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation if you breach the Terms. Upon termination, your right to use the Service will immediately cease.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us: