Privacy Policy

Last updated: March 2026

Summary

SaneBar does not upload your menu bar contents or personal files to SaneApps servers. Your menu bar setup and preferences stay on your Mac. The app only uses limited network requests for updates, direct-license checks, and a few simple anonymous counts.

Data Collection

The SaneBar app does not collect:

Personal information
Your menu bar configuration or preferences on SaneApps servers
Crash reports
Your files, documents, or other app content

Local Storage

SaneBar stores the following data locally on your Mac:

Preferences: Standard macOS UserDefaults
Icon layout: Your menu bar icon arrangement and visibility settings

This data never leaves your computer.

Permissions

SaneBar requires:

Accessibility: To manage menu bar icon visibility and ordering
Touch ID: Optional, for locking sensitive icons behind biometric authentication

SaneBar does not require Screen Recording permission for normal use. Its core functionality uses Accessibility only.

These permissions are used solely for the app's core functionality. SaneBar does not inspect other apps' window contents, Zoom video frames, or network traffic, and no data from these permissions is transmitted.

Network Access

SaneBar accesses the network for update checks via Sparkle (can be disabled in Settings) and privacy-preserving aggregate counts such as app version, build, launch status, and update status. Legacy paid installs may also perform a one-time license validation. No menu bar contents or personal files are transmitted.

Third-Party Services

SaneBar uses:

Sparkle: For checking app updates. Only checks for updates from sanebar.com. No personal content is transmitted.
SaneApps distribution service: Receives privacy-preserving aggregate counts such as app version, build, launch status, and update status. These counts are not tied to an account and do not include your menu bar contents. The app functions fully if this service is unreachable.
Cloudflare Web Analytics (website only): The sanebar.com website may use cookie-free aggregate traffic stats, such as page views and referrers. This applies to the website only, not the app.

What These Aggregate Counts Include

When SaneBar sends privacy-preserving aggregate app counts, they may include:

app name and event name
app version and build
macOS version
distribution channel (`direct` or `app_store`)
license tier (a legacy field — every current build is fully unlocked, so this no longer distinguishes users)
update lifecycle events such as update available or update install started (legacy purchase events no longer occur now that SaneBar is free)
update target version/build when Sparkle finds or starts installing an update

These counts do not include your name, email, license key, IP address in SaneApps analytics storage, icon names, screenshots, files, clipboard contents, browser history, app-internal clicked URLs, or data for sale to advertisers or data brokers.

Transparent Source

SaneBar's source is public and auditable under the MIT License. Review it at github.com/sane-apps/SaneBar.

Contact

Questions about privacy? Open an issue on GitHub.