The fine print, in plain words
The rules for talking back to your own thinking. Short where we can be, clear everywhere, and no surprises.
Last updated · 17 June 2026
These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your use of the ZUKA application and the Zuka App website (together, "ZUKA", "the app", "we", "us", "our"). By downloading, installing or using ZUKA, you agree to be bound by these Terms.
If you don't agree, please don't use the app. Your continued use is your ongoing acceptance of the version of these Terms in force at the time.
You must be at least 13 years old (or the minimum digital-consent age in your country, if higher) to use ZUKA. By using the app you confirm you meet this requirement and that you have the legal capacity to agree to these Terms.
ZUKA requires no account, email or password — so the responsibility for who uses the app rests with the holder of the device it's installed on.
We grant you a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, revocable licence to install and use ZUKA on devices you own or control, solely for your own note-taking and thinking.
This licence does not transfer any ownership of the app itself, and it ends automatically if you breach these Terms.
Everything you create in ZUKA — your threads, replies, reactions, labels, branches and merges — belongs entirely to you. Because ZUKA is local-first, your content stays on your device and we claim no ownership, licence or rights over it whatsoever.
We don't host it, read it, or use it to train anything. What you write is between you and your own thinking.
By using ZUKA, you agree that:
You agree not to:
ndani — Swahili for inside — is the on-device intelligence at the core of ZUKA. Its one focused job is to notice when two of your threads are converging on the same idea and offer you the merge.
ndani is a suggestion engine, not an organiser. It does not auto-organise, auto-edit, or act on your notes. Every reply, reaction, label, branch and merge is your decision. ndani's suggestions are generated automatically, are provided "as is", and may not always be accurate or complete — you should use your own judgement before accepting any merge.
ZUKA, the ndani engine, the ZUKA name, logo, design, taglines and all software that makes up the app are owned by us and protected by intellectual-property laws. The licence in Section 03 lets you use the app — it does not give you any rights in our brand or technology.
You may not use the ZUKA name or marks without our prior written permission.
ZUKA uses Google Firebase (Crashlytics and Analytics) for crash diagnostics and anonymous, aggregate usage — never to read your notes. Your use of these is also subject to Google's terms, and how we handle that data is described in our Privacy Policy.
If you download ZUKA from an app store (such as the Apple App Store or Google Play), your use is additionally subject to that store's terms. Those stores are not parties to these Terms and are not responsible for the app or its support.
The honest trade-off of local-first: you are responsible for your own backups. Because we hold no copy of your notes, there is nothing we can recover if your device is lost, reset or damaged, or if the app is deleted.
Uninstalling ZUKA deletes your notes permanently. We are not liable for any loss of data, however it occurs.
ZUKA is provided "as is" and "as available", without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
We don't warrant that ZUKA will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure against every threat, or that ndani's suggestions will be accurate, complete or suited to your needs. You use the app at your own discretion and risk.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, ZUKA and its makers will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages, or for any loss of data, profits or goodwill — including loss of notes resulting from device failure, deletion of the app, or missing backups.
Where liability cannot be excluded, our total aggregate liability to you is limited to the greater of the amount you paid for ZUKA in the twelve months before the claim, or USD $50. Some jurisdictions don't allow certain limitations, so parts of this section may not apply to you.
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless ZUKA and its makers from any claims, damages or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of your misuse of the app, your violation of these Terms, or your infringement of any third-party rights.
You can stop using ZUKA at any time by deleting the app — which also deletes your local notes. We may suspend or terminate your licence to use ZUKA if you breach these Terms or use the app unlawfully.
Sections that by their nature should survive termination — including ownership, disclaimers, limitation of liability and indemnity — will continue to apply.
As ZUKA evolves, we may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we'll update the "last updated" date above and, for material changes, highlight them inside the app. Continued use after an update means you accept the revised Terms.
Questions about these Terms? Reach us at apps@abubunamay.com and we'll respond.
A note you can argue with is worth more than a note you just store — and it's entirely yours.