Privacy Policy
Last updated: 2026-06-02
TLDW is built to be private by default. The short version: your media is processed on your Mac, and TLDW has no servers, no accounts, and no analytics.
What TLDW does on your device
- Transcription is 100% local. Audio is transcribed on your Mac using whisper.cpp (Metal-accelerated). The audio never leaves your machine.
- Downloaded media is temporary. When you paste a link, TLDW downloads the audio to a temporary folder, transcribes it, and deletes the temporary files when the job finishes (or is cancelled).
- Your output stays yours. The Markdown notes are saved only to the folder you choose, on your Mac.
What leaves your device (only if you choose it)
TLDW summarizes the transcript using an AI model. You pick how:
- Local (Ollama) — the summary is generated on your Mac. Nothing leaves your device.
- OpenRouter — if you opt in and add your own OpenRouter API key, the transcript text is sent to OpenRouter to generate the summary, using your key. That data is handled under OpenRouter's privacy policy. TLDW never sees or proxies this — it goes directly from your Mac to OpenRouter.
When you transcribe a link, the download request goes from your Mac directly to the source site (e.g. YouTube), exactly as your browser would.
What we collect
Nothing. TLDW has no backend, no telemetry, and no accounts. We do not collect usage data, identifiers, or contact info. Your settings and (optional) OpenRouter API key are stored locally on your Mac.
This website
trytldw.app is a static site. We may use privacy-friendly, cookieless analytics to count visits; it does not identify you.
Children's privacy
TLDW is not directed at children and collects no personal information from anyone.
Changes
If this policy changes, we'll update this page and the date above.
Contact
Questions? Email msweisberg21@gmail.com.