Terms of Use
Last updated: June 19, 2026
By downloading or using Tephra, you agree to these terms. Please read them carefully. If you do not agree, do not use the app.
Description of Service
Tephra is a voice-note application that records spoken audio, transcribes it on-device, and formats the resulting text using artificial intelligence. The app helps you capture thoughts quickly and organizes them into clean, structured notes.
AI-Generated Content
Notes processed by Tephra are formatted using AI, including the generation of titles, tags, and text cleanup. AI output is inherently imperfect.
Tephra makes no guarantee of the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any AI-generated titles, tags, or formatting. Always review your notes for correctness.
Subscriptions
Tephra requires an active subscription, a one-time Lifetime purchase, or a BYOK API key configuration to record and process notes. Recording is not available without one of these. If your subscription expires, you can still view and manage existing notes, but new recordings will be blocked until you resubscribe (a Lifetime purchase does not expire). A 7-day free trial is available for new subscribers.
The Pro subscription is billed through Apple's App Store and is available as a monthly or annual plan, both with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. It auto-renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. You can manage or cancel your subscription in iOS Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Refunds are handled by Apple in accordance with their policies.
Pro is also available as a one-time Lifetime purchase — a non-renewing, non-consumable in-app purchase that grants Pro access without a recurring subscription and does not expire.
AI formatting runs either through Tephra's hosted service or, with Bring Your Own Key, your own AI provider account. We may modify, suspend, or discontinue the hosted service at any time; if we do, you can continue using all AI formatting features by configuring your own API key. Access to the hosted AI service — including under a Lifetime purchase — is provided on a fair-use basis, and we may apply reasonable rate limits to prevent abuse or to protect the service.
Bring Your Own Key (BYOK)
Tephra allows users to connect their own API key from supported AI providers (OpenAI, Google Gemini, Anthropic, or Groq) as an alternative to the Pro subscription.
- You are solely responsible for any API costs incurred through your provider.
- You must comply with your chosen provider's terms of service and usage policies.
- Your API key is stored securely in the device's Keychain and is never transmitted to our servers.
Acceptable Use
You agree not to use Tephra for any unlawful purpose or in any way that could damage, disable, or impair the app or its services. You are responsible for all content you create, record, and store using the app.
No Warranty
Tephra is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis, without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.
We do not warrant that the app will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of harmful components, or that defects will be corrected.
Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall Tephra or its developers be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits, data, use, or goodwill, arising out of or in connection with your use of the app.
Our total liability for any claims arising under these terms shall not exceed the amount you paid for the app or subscription in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim.
Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits our liability where it would be unlawful to do so. In particular, nothing limits or excludes our liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, for intent or gross negligence, under the German Product Liability Act (Produkthaftungsgesetz), or for any other liability that cannot be limited or excluded under applicable mandatory law. If you are a consumer, your mandatory statutory rights — including statutory warranty rights — remain unaffected by these Terms.
Governing Law
These Terms of Use shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising from these terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Germany.
Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms of Use from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Your continued use of Tephra after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.
Contact Us
If you have questions about these Terms of Use, please reach out.
Email us at
hello@tephra.app