Privacy Policy
kindling is built on a simple principle: your writing belongs to you. This policy reflects that, and we think you'll find it refreshingly short.
Last updated: September 10, 2026
kindling Desktop Application
The kindling desktop application:
- Does not automatically upload your manuscripts or reference library
- Does not include analytics, telemetry, or usage tracking
- Does not require an account or registration
- Works offline for writing, imports, exports, and editorial review
- Stores all project data locally on your computer as SQLite database files
- Uses the internet for automatic updates and when you submit optional feedback
Your manuscripts and references are stored locally, with no kindling cloud sync or remote project database. Editorial review uses local files; you choose how to transfer them to another person. kindling does not use AI to analyze or interact with your writing.
Network access. The app checks for updates and downloads available releases. Choosing Help → Send Feedback… opens a form; submitting it sends your feedback to the kindling team. These features do not automatically attach your manuscript. See Feedback Collection below for the information included with a submission.
The Website (kindlingwriter.com)
The website is a static site. Here's what we collect:
Email newsletter. If you voluntarily subscribe to our mailing list, we store your email address through our newsletter provider for the sole purpose of sending you updates about kindling. You can unsubscribe at any time from any email.
Website analytics. This website uses Google Analytics 4 to understand which pages people visit, how they arrive, and which downloads they choose. Google Analytics sets cookies in your browser and shares that data with Google. It runs on these marketing pages and on the documentation.
This applies to the website only. The kindling desktop application contains no analytics, telemetry, or usage tracking. Its update and feedback requests are separate from website analytics.
Hosting logs. Our hosting provider may collect standard server logs (IP address, browser type, pages visited). We don't use these for tracking or profiling.
No advertising. We don't use advertising cookies, tracking pixels, or fingerprinting, and we don't sell or share your data with advertisers. If you'd rather not be counted, Google's opt-out browser add-on or any standard content blocker will stop Google Analytics from loading.
Third-Party Services
The desktop app connects to update hosting and the feedback service for the purposes described above. It does not send usage data to analytics platforms, crash reporting services, or advertising networks.
Imported projects, exports, and editorial packages are processed on your local machine. If you share an exported file through another service, that service handles the transfer under its own terms.
Open Source
kindling is open source under the MIT license. The source code is available on GitHub, so you can verify every claim on this page yourself. There is nothing hidden.
Data You Control
Since all your data lives on your computer, you have complete control:
- Access: Open your project files anytime, with or without kindling.
- Export: Export your work to DOCX or Markdown at any point.
- Delete: Delete your project files and they're gone. There's no cloud copy, no backup we hold, nothing to request deletion of.
- Portability: Your data is stored in standard formats. You are never locked in.
Children's Privacy
No account or personal information is required to write in kindling. Optional feedback submissions are handled as described below; avoid including personal information in your message.
Feedback Collection
When you submit feedback through our website or desktop application, we collect:
- The type of feedback (bug report, feature request, or rating)
- Your message content
- Your operating system and app version (to help diagnose issues)
- Your browser language/locale
- Your email address (only if you voluntarily provide it)
We do not collect:
- Your IP address (used only transiently for rate limiting, never stored)
- Your name or identity
- Automatically attached manuscript or reference content; anything you paste into your message is sent with it
- Usage analytics or tracking data
Feedback data is stored for 12 months and then automatically deleted. All feedback is anonymous unless you choose to provide your email address.
Future Changes
If kindling introduces new ways to transmit or store project data, this policy will be updated before those features ship. Your manuscripts remain local unless you choose to share them.
Contact
Questions about this policy? Reach out through GitHub Issues or find us on Discord.
Your words, your data, forever.