Privacy Policy
Effective date: June 6, 2026
Anchor is a macOS focus companion designed to run locally on your Mac. We do not sell, rent, or share your personal data, and we do not show ads. Anchor collects a small amount of anonymous usage and crash data to keep the app working well, as described below.
Data We Collect
To improve Anchor's reliability and understand how it is used, the app collects:
- App usage analytics — anonymous app-launch events, so we can gauge how many people use Anchor. These are aggregated and are not used to identify you. This is processed by Aptabase, a privacy-focused analytics service.
- Crash and error diagnostics — when Anchor crashes or hits an error, we collect technical details about the problem along with device and operating-system information to diagnose and fix it. This is processed by Sentry.
We never collect the contents of your screen, your camera input, the goals or notes you write, or what you are working on. Screen and camera analysis happens on your device.
Local App Data
Anchor may store focus session settings, session history, app preferences, downloaded local model files, and related app state on your Mac. This data stays on your device unless you choose to share it outside the app.
Screen Recording, Camera, and Notifications
Anchor may request macOS permissions such as Screen Recording, Camera, and Notifications. These permissions are used to provide focus-session features on your device. Screen contents and camera input are processed locally for local proctor modes.
Optional Third-Party Services
Anchor may include optional features that use third-party AI services if you configure and use them. When you use a third-party service, information needed for that feature may be sent to that provider and handled under that provider's privacy policy. You can avoid this by using Anchor's local modes.
Data Retention and Deletion
Anchor's local data remains on your Mac until you delete it. You can delete local Anchor data by removing the app and its related files from your Mac's Application Support and cache folders.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Updates will be posted on this page with a new effective date.
Contact
If you have questions about this privacy policy, contact Haichao Li at haichaoli616@gmail.com.