Terms of Service

Last updated: May 28, 2026

By downloading, installing, or using Shelf ("the software"), you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, do not use Shelf. These terms apply to every Shelf surface: the desktop app (macOS, Windows, Linux), the mobile apps (Android, iOS), and the Shelf web surfaces.

1. What Shelf is

Shelf is an application that uses AI to generate single-file HTML applications that run locally on your device, and a Marketplace where other Shelf users publish bundles of such applications for you to install. All generated and installed apps, and any data you enter into them, are stored on your device unless you explicitly enable Cloud Sync.

2. Your API key and AI usage

To use Shelf's app-generation feature, you must supply your own API key from a compatible AI provider (such as DeepSeek). You are responsible for:

• The costs associated with your API usage.
• Complying with your AI provider's terms of service.
• The security of your API key.

Shelf does not proxy, log, or have access to your API calls.

3. License to use the software

We grant you a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to install and use Shelf on your devices for personal or professional use. You may not:

• Redistribute, sell, or sublicense the Shelf application itself.
• Reverse-engineer or modify the Shelf desktop application binary.
• Use Shelf to generate content that is illegal or violates third-party rights.

4. Your generated apps and the sandbox

You own the apps you generate with Shelf and the data stored within them. Shelf makes no claim to content generated through your use of the software.

Apps generated by you, apps you install from the Marketplace, and any other HTML rendered by Shelf run inside a strict sandbox on your device:

• Each app's data is stored in a per-app key/value scope inside Shelf's local database. Shelf does not read, transmit, or analyse the contents of these scopes.
• One app cannot read another app's data; the scope is isolated by an internal app ID.
• Apps cannot access your camera, microphone, contacts, location, photos, files outside their own scope, or any device permission. Shelf itself does not request these permissions.
• Apps cannot reach into Shelf's own storage, cookies, or authentication tokens.

You are responsible for the prompts you submit and the apps you generate from them. You agree not to use Shelf to generate, store, or process content that violates section 8 below or our Community Guidelines.

5. Marketplace, Community Guidelines, and creator accounts

The Shelf Marketplace lets creators publish bundles for other Shelf users to install. All content published to the Marketplace is governed by our Community Guidelines, which describe what content is allowed, how content is reviewed, how to report a bundle, and what happens after a report. By browsing, installing, or publishing on the Marketplace you agree to those guidelines.

If you publish to the Shelf Marketplace, you also agree to the Creator Agreement, and the following apply:

• Content review. Every bundle you submit passes through a four-layer security and content review pipeline (static scan, AI safety review, human review for paid and first-time submissions, and post-publish community flagging). Bundles that violate the Community Guidelines are rejected at review or removed after publish, and repeat or severe violations result in your account being banned.
• Public profile. Your username, and any display name, bio, links, and avatar you add, are public — shown on your creator page and on every bundle you publish. You are responsible for the content of these fields and the rights to any image you upload, and you grant Shelf a licence to display them in connection with the Marketplace.
• Username. Your username is your marketplace handle and the recorded author of your bundles. We may reclaim usernames that infringe trademarks, impersonate others, or are abusive.
• Account deletion. You may delete your account at any time from Settings → Profile. Deletion removes your public profile, avatar, cloud-synced apps, and published bundles, and frees your username.
• Records retained after deletion. Payment, payout, and purchase records that we are required to keep for tax and accounting purposes are retained for up to 7 years after deletion, as required by applicable law, and are then deleted.

6. No warranty

Shelf is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not guarantee that the software will be error-free, uninterrupted, or that generated apps will meet your requirements. Use at your own risk.

7. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Shelf's liability for any claim arising from your use of the software is limited to the amount you paid for the software in the twelve months preceding the claim (or £0 if you used the free tier).

We are not liable for any loss of data, loss of profits, or indirect damages arising from your use of Shelf.

8. Acceptable use

You agree not to use Shelf to generate, store, process, publish, or install content that is illegal, harmful, abusive, deceptive, or that infringes the rights of others. The full list of prohibited content, the review process, and the consequences for violation are set out in our Community Guidelines. We reserve the right to revoke your license, remove published content, and ban your account if you violate these terms or those guidelines.

9. Updates and changes

We may update these terms from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated date. Continued use of Shelf after changes are posted means you accept the updated terms.

10. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

11. Contact

Questions about these terms? Email us at hello@getshelf.app.