Photality — Privacy Policy

Last updated: June 29, 2026

Photality is a free macOS application that controls your astronomy camera. We designed it to keep your data on your Mac. This policy explains the limited cases where information leaves your machine.

What stays on your Mac (everything that matters)

Your images and captured files are written only to the output folder you choose. We never see, copy, or upload them.
Your eclipse/location settings (coordinates, contact times, capture plan) stay on your Mac. You enter your observing coordinates yourself — Photality does not use Location Services and requests no system permissions at all.
Crash reports are stored locally by macOS (~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports). If the app detects an unclean shutdown it can reveal the report in Finder so you can choose to send it to us; nothing is uploaded automatically and we collect no crash data on our own.
No analytics or telemetry. The app contains no analytics SDKs and does not track your usage.
No license check. Photality is free — it has no license key and never contacts a licensing server.

The only data that leaves your Mac

Software updates (Sparkle). The app periodically checks an update feed for new versions and downloads them over HTTPS. System-profiling is not enabled, so no information about your Mac is sent with the update check.

If you leave a tip

Tipping is optional. If you choose to tip, the payment is handled by Ko-fi under Ko-fi's privacy policy — we never see your payment details. You can use Photality fully without ever tipping or providing any information.

Data we do not collect

We do not collect your images, the location you enter for eclipse planning, your email, contacts, browsing, or any behavioral/analytics data.

Children

Photality is not directed to children.

Changes

We may update this policy; the "Last updated" date will change.

Contact

Privacy questions: support@photality.net.