Last updated: March 20, 2026
Privacy Policy
Pewbeam Technologies Limited, trading as Pewbeam ("Pewbeam", "we", "us", "our"), is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share information when you use the Pewbeam desktop application ("the App", "the Software").
By using Pewbeam, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Software.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Information Stored Locally on Your Device
The following data is created and stored entirely on your device. We do not have access to it, and it is never transmitted to our servers:
- Sermon transcripts — The full text of transcribed sermons
- Transcript history — Date, duration, word count, and confidence scores for each session
- Sermon notes — AI-generated notes saved to your device after generation
- Custom themes — Theme designs you create, including fonts, colors, backgrounds, and layout settings
- App settings — Your preferences including microphone selection, Bible translation, display mode, and theme choices
- Bible search history — Recent searches performed within the app
- Verse queue — Verses queued for display during a session
1.2 Information Transmitted to Third-Party Services
When you use certain features, data is transmitted to third-party services for processing:
Audio data (online transcription)
- When using online transcription mode, audio from your selected microphone is streamed in real time to a third-party service for speech-to-text processing
- The service processes the audio and returns transcription text
- Audio data is not stored after processing
- Audio is streamed only while transcription is active — when you stop transcription, streaming stops immediately
Transcript text (sermon notes)
- When you generate sermon notes, the transcript text is sent to a third-party AI service for processing
- The service returns structured sermon notes, which are saved locally on your device
- Your data is not used for model training
- Transcript text is only sent when you explicitly request sermon note generation — it is never sent automatically
License data
- When you activate, deactivate, or validate a license, the following is transmitted to our licensing service: license key, device fingerprint, and machine name
- This data is used solely for license activation and validation
1.3 Anonymous Usage Analytics (Opt-In)
If you choose to enable usage analytics in Settings, anonymous event data is sent to a third-party analytics service. Analytics are disabled by default and can be toggled on or off at any time.
What is collected when analytics are enabled:
- App lifecycle events (app opened, session ended)
- Feature usage events (transcription started/stopped, verse detected, verse displayed, search performed, sermon notes generated, output enabled/disabled, theme changed, setting changed, license activated)
- Device metadata: randomly generated device ID (not tied to your identity), platform (macOS/Windows), app version, license tier, primary Bible translation
What is never collected:
- Sermon content or transcript text
- Audio recordings
- Bible verses viewed or searched
- Personal information (name, email, address, phone number)
- IP addresses (our analytics service is configured without IP collection)
- Precise location data
- Any content you create within the app
The device ID is a randomly generated UUID created at installation. It is not derived from hardware identifiers and cannot be used to identify you personally.
1.4 Automatic Update Checks
Pewbeam checks for software updates on startup by contacting our update server. This request includes your current app version and operating system/architecture. No personal information is transmitted during update checks.
2. How We Use Information
| Purpose | Data Used |
|---|---|
| Provide transcription service | Audio stream (via third-party service) |
| Generate sermon notes | Transcript text (via third-party AI service) |
| Activate and validate licenses | License key, device fingerprint |
| Improve the Software (if analytics enabled) | Anonymous usage events |
| Deliver software updates | App version, OS info |
We do not use your data for advertising, profiling, or selling to third parties.
3. How We Store Information
3.1 Local Storage
All sermon transcripts, notes, themes, and settings are stored locally on your device:
- macOS:
~/Library/Application Support/Pewbeam/ - Windows:
%APPDATA%/Pewbeam/
This data remains on your device unless you explicitly export it. We do not have access to locally stored data.
3.2 License Data
License activation data is stored locally on your device in an encrypted format. The license key, tier, and activation status are also stored on our licensing service's servers for license management purposes.
3.3 Analytics Data
If analytics are enabled, event data is stored on our analytics provider's servers. You can disable analytics at any time, which stops all future data collection. To request deletion of previously collected analytics data, contact us at [email protected].
4. How We Share Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties.
We share data only with the following third-party service providers, solely for the purposes described in this policy:
| Service Provider | Data Shared | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Speech-to-text provider | Audio stream | Real-time speech-to-text transcription |
| AI service provider | Transcript text | AI sermon note generation |
| Licensing provider | License key, device fingerprint | License activation and validation |
| Analytics provider | Anonymous usage events (if opted in) | Product analytics and improvement |
We may also disclose information if required to do so by law, court order, or governmental request.
5. Data Retention
| Data Type | Retention Period | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Sermon transcripts | Until you delete them | Your device |
| Sermon notes | Until you delete them | Your device |
| Custom themes | Until you delete them | Your device |
| App settings | Until you uninstall Pewbeam | Your device |
| Audio streams | Not retained after processing | Third-party provider (transient) |
| Transcript text for sermon notes | Not retained after processing | Third-party provider (transient) |
| License data | Duration of license + 30 days | Licensing provider servers |
| Analytics events (if opted in) | Per provider retention policy | Analytics provider servers |
6. Your Rights and Choices
6.1 Analytics Opt-Out
Usage analytics are disabled by default. You can enable or disable analytics at any time in Settings > Help > Usage Analytics. Disabling analytics immediately stops all data collection.
6.2 Data Deletion
- Transcripts and notes: Delete individual transcripts from the Transcript History panel, or use bulk delete.
- Custom themes: Delete themes from the Theme Designer.
- All local data: Uninstalling Pewbeam removes all locally stored data.
- Analytics data: Contact us at [email protected] to request deletion.
- License data: Deactivate your license within the app. Contact us to request deletion from our licensing provider.
6.3 Data Portability
You can export your data from Pewbeam at any time:
- Transcripts — Export as PDF, DOCX, or Markdown
- Sermon notes — Export as PDF, DOCX, or Markdown
- Custom themes — Export as JSON (individual or all themes)
6.4 Access Rights
Since we do not store your sermon content, transcripts, or personal information on our servers, there is no server-side data to access. All your content is stored locally and accessible through the app at all times.
If you have enabled analytics and wish to access the anonymous event data associated with your device ID, contact us at [email protected].
7. Children's Privacy
Pewbeam is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at [email protected].
8. Security
We implement reasonable security measures to protect data processed through our services:
- Local data encryption: License data stored on your device is encrypted using AES-256-GCM
- Transport encryption: All data transmitted to third-party services uses HTTPS/TLS encryption
- Content Security Policy: The app enforces a strict CSP to prevent unauthorized data exfiltration
- No server-side storage: By design, we do not maintain servers that store your sermon content
However, no method of electronic storage or transmission is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.
9. International Data Transfers
If you use Pewbeam outside the country where our third-party service providers are located, your data may be transferred to and processed in other countries. Our service providers are based in or hosted in the United States.
10. Bible Text and Copyright
Pewbeam displays Bible text from six translations, stored locally on your device. We do not track or monitor which Bible verses you view, search for, or display. See the Terms of Service for full copyright notices.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you through the Software or by other reasonable means. Your continued use of Pewbeam after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your data, contact us at:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: pewbeam.com
- Legal Entity: Pewbeam Technologies Limited
Summary
For quick reference, here's what Pewbeam does and does not do with your data:
| Yes | No | |
|---|---|---|
| Stores sermon transcripts on your device | ✓ | |
| Sends transcripts to our servers | ✕ | |
| Streams audio to a third-party service for transcription | ✓ | |
| Stores audio after transcription | ✕ | |
| Sends transcript text to a third-party AI service for sermon notes | ✓ | |
| Stores sermon content on our servers | ✕ | |
| Collects anonymous analytics (opt-in only) | ✓ | |
| Collects personal information | ✕ | |
| Sells data to third parties | ✕ | |
| Tracks which Bible verses you read | ✕ | |
| Uses your data for advertising | ✕ | |
| Allows you to delete all your data | ✓ | |
| Allows you to export your data | ✓ |
