Terms of Service
Last updated: October 2026. This is a draft and has not been reviewed by an attorney — treat it as a starting point, not a finished legal document.
1. What this service is
Backup Buddies matches two people who each agree to store an encrypted copy of the other's files on their own device. We provide the account system, the matching/pairing mechanism, and (when a direct connection isn't possible) a relay that helps your devices find each other. We do not store, back up, or have access to your file contents at any point — see How it works for the technical details.
2. Your data is stored at your own risk
Because your files live on your buddy's personal device — not on our servers, not in any redundant or professionally managed storage system — we cannot and do not guarantee that your data will be available, intact, or recoverable at any time. Your buddy's device can be lost, stolen, damaged, reformatted, or simply go offline permanently, and your pairing can end, at any time and without notice to us.
You are solely responsible for your own data. We strongly recommend this service be used as one layer of a broader backup strategy — never as your only copy of anything you cannot afford to lose. Backup Buddies, its operators, and your buddy are not liable for any loss, corruption, or unavailability of your data, however it happens.
3. No warranty
The service is provided "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind, express or implied — including, without limitation, warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, and non-infringement. We don't promise the service will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free, or that any defects will be corrected.
4. Limitation of liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Backup Buddies and its operators will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of data, profits, revenue, or goodwill, arising from your use of (or inability to use) the service — even if we've been advised of the possibility. Our total liability for any claim relating to the service is limited to the greater of (a) the amount you paid us in the 12 months before the claim, or (b) $50 USD.
5. Your responsibilities
- You must have the legal right to store and transmit everything you back up through the service.
- You won't use the service to store or transmit anything illegal, infringing, or that violates another person's rights.
- You're responsible for who you choose as a buddy — we facilitate the pairing, but we don't vet, verify, or guarantee the trustworthiness of any user.
- You're responsible for keeping your account credentials (and, if applicable, your own encryption keys) secure. We cannot recover encrypted data for you if you lose your keys.
6. Billing
Paid tiers, when available, will auto-renew on a recurring basis until canceled. You can cancel at any time; cancellation stops future charges but doesn't entitle you to a refund for the current billing period unless required by law. Fees are described at the time of purchase and are subject to change with notice.
7. Suspension and termination
We may suspend or terminate your account for violating these terms, for non-payment, or for activity that puts the service or other users at risk. You can close your account at any time. On termination, your buddy pairing ends and either party may lose access to data stored on the other's device — see section 2.
8. Changes to these terms
We may update these terms from time to time. Continued use of the service after a change means you accept the updated terms. We'll try to flag material changes when they happen.
9. Contact
Questions about these terms can be sent to the account owner.