Privacy Policy

Last updated: 16 January 2026

Introduction

TermAway ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our applications.

macOSiOSiPadOS

TermAway runs on your own machine, over your LAN or your private Tailscale network. We operate no cloud service, and your terminal data is never sent to infrastructure we run.

Information We Do Not Collect

TermAway is built with a privacy-first architecture. We do not collect, store, or transmit:

  • Personal identification information
  • Terminal commands or output
  • Session data or browsing history
  • Location data
  • Device identifiers
  • Usage analytics within the app

How TermAway Works

Self-Hosted

TermAway runs on your own machine. Your terminal sessions travel over your local network, or over Tailscale's end-to-end encrypted network when you're away. No terminal data passes through infrastructure operated by TermAway.

macOS Server Application

The macOS menu bar application runs a local WebSocket server on your Mac. This server:

  • Binds to your Mac's network interfaces (your LAN, and your Tailscale interface when connected)
  • Creates pseudo-terminal (PTY) sessions for your shell
  • Maintains session data only in local memory
  • Does not log or store any command history beyond your shell's own history

iOS and iPadOS Client Application

The iOS/iPadOS application connects to your Mac over your local network. It:

  • Uses Bonjour/mDNS for automatic server discovery on your network
  • Stores server connection details locally on your device
  • Does not transmit any data to external servers
  • Does not access or require cloud services

Data Storage

On Your Mac

The macOS application may store:

  • Application preferences (window position, settings)
  • Server configuration (port number, authentication settings)

This data is stored locally in the application's sandbox and is not transmitted anywhere.

On Your iOS/iPadOS Device

The iOS/iPadOS application may store:

  • Server connection details (IP addresses, ports)
  • Application preferences (theme, font size)
  • Session names and organisation

This data is stored locally on your device and protected by iOS security measures.

Website Analytics

Our website (termaway.app) uses Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our marketing site. This is separate from the TermAway applications, which do not contain any analytics.

The website analytics may collect:

  • Pages visited and time spent
  • Referring websites
  • General geographic location (country/region)
  • Browser and device type

You can opt out of website analytics by using browser extensions that block Google Analytics, or by enabling "Do Not Track" in your browser.

Third-Party Services

The TermAway project operates no analytics service or cloud relay. If you use Tailscale, its infrastructure may relay end-to-end encrypted packets that Tailscale cannot decrypt.

Security

We take the security of your terminal sessions seriously:

  • No port forwarding required: reach it on your LAN or over your private Tailscale network, with no public TermAway URL
  • Optional authentication: Password protection for server access
  • No cloud dependency: Your data remains under your control
  • Open source: The application code is available for review on GitHub

Children's Privacy

TermAway is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. As TermAway does not collect any personal information, this policy applies equally to users of all ages.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date.

Open Source

TermAway is open source software released under the MIT Licence. You can review the complete source code on GitHub to verify our privacy practices.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us: