Privacy Policy

Last updated: February 27, 2026

Koe ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle information when you use the Koe application ("App") and website ("Site").

Our Core Principle

Your privacy comes first. Koe is designed with privacy as a fundamental principle, not an afterthought. In local mode, nothing ever leaves your Mac. In cloud modes, we never store, read, or process your audio.

Information We Do NOT Collect

When using Koe with local transcription mode:

  • No audio recordings - Your voice is processed locally and never uploaded
  • No transcription data - Your transcribed text stays on your device
  • No usage analytics - We don't track how you use the app

Local Processing

Koe uses OpenAI's Whisper model running entirely on your Mac. When you use local transcription:

  1. Audio is captured from your microphone
  2. Processing happens on your device using the Whisper model
  3. Transcribed text is delivered to your active application
  4. No data leaves your device

Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) Mode

If you choose to use cloud transcription with your own API keys:

  • Your API keys are stored locally on your device only
  • Audio is sent directly to your chosen provider (Mistral, OpenAI, or Groq)
  • We never see or store your API keys or audio data
  • You control the relationship with the third-party provider

When using BYOK mode, please review the privacy policies of:

Pro Subscription

Account & Billing

If you subscribe to Koe Pro, we collect and store:

  • Email address - Used for authentication (OTP login) and billing
  • Subscription status - Active, canceled, etc.
  • Stripe customer ID - To manage your billing

This data is stored in our database (hosted on Supabase). We do not store your payment details - those are handled entirely by Stripe.

Audio Processing

When using Pro for cloud transcription, your audio passes through our WebSocket proxy server to reach provider APIs. Our server acts as a pass-through only:

  • No storage - Audio data is forwarded in real-time and never written to disk or any database
  • No processing - We do not analyze, transcribe, or inspect your audio
  • No logging - Audio content is never logged
  • Transient only - Data exists in server memory only for the milliseconds needed to forward it to the provider

Website Data

Our website (koe.fm) may collect:

  • Basic server logs - IP addresses, browser type, pages visited (standard web server logs)
  • No cookies - We don't use tracking cookies or analytics services
  • No third-party trackers - No Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or similar services

Data Storage

  • App settings are stored locally in your system's application data folder
  • Whisper models are downloaded once and stored locally
  • No cloud sync - Your data never leaves your device

Updates

The App may check for updates by contacting our servers. This only transmits:

  • Current app version
  • Operating system type

No personal or usage data is transmitted during update checks.

Children's Privacy

Koe is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify users of any material changes by updating the "Last updated" date.

Contact

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

Email: hi+koe@gwendall.com

Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have rights regarding your personal data. However, since Koe does not collect personal data when used in local mode, there is typically no data for us to provide, modify, or delete.

Summary: Koe is built for people who value their privacy. In local mode, nothing leaves your device. In BYOK mode, audio goes directly to your provider. In Pro mode, our server is a pass-through - we never store, read, or process your audio. We don't collect or sell your information. Your voice is yours.