Privacy Policy

This policy describes how Scriby handles your data on macOS, including Drafts, Snippets, template variables, Import/Export files, and local backups.

Last updated: June 21, 2026

Local-only app data

Scriby does not provide a Scriby account, cloud sync, hosted storage, or server-side backup. Drafts, Snippets, template settings, search tag ordering, local backup snapshots, and preferences are kept on your Mac unless you choose to export a JSON backup, create a local snapshot, restore from a local snapshot, or import one yourself. Scriby Pro purchase status is handled by Apple StoreKit and is not stored in Scriby data files.

Scriby does not upload Drafts or Snippets to a Scriby service, does not sync data between devices, and does not monitor your clipboard in the background. The Agent CLI is local; it talks to the running app over a Unix socket, does not open a localhost port or read Scriby's data file directly, and does not open the Panel by default. scribyctl status can report lock state without Pro; Draft, Snippet, tag, search, fill, HTML stdout, and write commands require Scriby Pro. Only explicit scribyctl draft --interactive or scribyctl snippet <id> --interactive may open a transient local Variables overlay to return filled text or HTML to stdout.

What Scriby stores locally

Scriby stores app data in a local JSON file at ~/Library/Application Support/Scriby/data.json and stores preferences in macOS UserDefaults. Scriby does not add a separate app-specific encryption layer; local protection depends on your macOS account, disk encryption such as FileVault, backups, and file permissions.

• Your current Draft text.
• Your saved Snippets, including Snippet tags and local deletion markers.
• Your current in-progress Snippet edit when one is open.
• Template placeholders when you type them as part of Draft or Snippet body text.
• templateSettings, including variable menu order, custom default values, built-in visibility, and built-in date/time formats.
• Pinned search-tag ordering in the Snippets search picker, stored locally as pinnedTagKeys.
• Local preferences such as Launch at Login, onboarding completion, your global shortcut, expanded Snippets sort direction, and backup folder settings.
• A local cache of the last verified Scriby Pro entitlement, used only to keep Pro available during offline startup.

Backups

• Scriby v1 keeps Draft text, Snippets, Snippet tags, template settings, backup snapshots, and preferences local to your Mac.
• You can manually back up or move your data with Scriby's Import... and Export... actions, or choose a local backup folder for scriby-backup-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.json snapshots. These actions preserve literal template placeholders instead of filling them.
• Backup... opens local snapshot controls. Manual Back Up Now and Restore from a chosen backup file remain free. Recent snapshot rows and Automatic backups are Scriby Pro features. Automatic backups are off by default; when you turn them on, Scriby asks you to choose a local folder first if none is set, creates at most one local snapshot per day, and keeps the newest 30 Scriby backup files in your chosen folder.
• Restore from backup asks before replacing current local data and attempts a current-state snapshot first.

Clipboard and system integration

• Scriby writes text to the macOS clipboard only after an explicit Copy action.
• Scriby does not watch the clipboard, keep a clipboard log, or paste into another app by itself.
• Template filling and rendering happen locally during explicit Copy actions, explicit Agent CLI --fill stdout output, or explicit interactive Agent CLI return output. Values entered for a Copy payload, CLI fill command, or interactive CLI overlay are not separately stored.
• Markdown image previews in saved Snippets may request user-authored https:// image URLs to show a preview. These images are not stored in Scriby's local JSON data, and Scriby does not send local Drafts or Snippets to a Scriby service.
• Custom variable default values and built-in date/time formats configured in Manage Variables... are stored locally as part of templateSettings.
• Snippet tags are metadata and are not included in copied text.
• Launch at Login uses macOS system services and is controlled by your local preference.
• The Scriby Pro purchase and restore flow uses Apple StoreKit. Scriby does not receive or store payment card details.
• The Agent CLI works only while Scriby is running. scribyctl status can report lock state without Pro; query, fill, HTML stdout, and explicit Draft, Snippet, and tag-management write commands require Scriby Pro. Write commands mutate local Scriby data through the running app and then flush it to disk. Its explicit --fill commands write template-filled text to stdout only, and explicit --html writes escaped Markdown-derived HTML to stdout only. Optional --interactive can open a transient local overlay for values but still does not store them. The CLI does not copy, paste, import, export, create backups, sync, upload data, open local files, or read Scriby's data file directly.
• The Support and Privacy Policy menu items open hosted pages in your browser.

macOS permissions

• Scriby's Apple privacy manifest declares no collected data and no tracking. The only declared accessed API category is UserDefaults, used for local preferences.
• Scriby's core workflow does not request Accessibility, Screen Recording, Contacts, Location, Microphone, Camera, Photos, or Calendar permissions.
• Import and Export use standard macOS file panels. Import, Export, local backup folder selection, and Restore from backup Choose use macOS file panels, so you choose the folders and JSON files Scriby can read or write.

Analytics and advertising

• Scriby does not include third-party analytics SDKs.
• Scriby does not include advertising SDKs.
• Scriby does not include third-party purchase SDKs; Pro purchase and restore use Apple StoreKit.

Data sharing

• Scriby does not sell your personal data.
• Scriby does not send your Draft text, in-progress Snippet edits, saved Snippets, Snippet tags, template placeholders, Copy-time template values, template settings, or search tag ordering to third-party services.
• Import, Export, and backup JSON files do not include Scriby Pro authorization.

Contact

For privacy or support questions, email [email protected].