Last updated: 13 October 2026
IdeaM is a professional outlining application made by SecondBrainWare LLC, a Washington limited liability company ("SecondBrainWare", "we", "us"). This policy explains what information we handle when you use IdeaM on the web, on Mac, and on iPhone and iPad, where it goes, and the choices you have. It forms part of our Terms of Service.
In short: your outlines are stored on your own device by default. We do keep a small amount of account and service information on our servers — described below — so that sign-in, the beta, usage limits and support work.
Your outlines, documents and settings are stored locally. In the Mac app, outlines are saved as .idm files in a folder you choose. On iPhone and iPad they are stored inside the app's private storage. In a web browser they are stored inside that browser on that device. We do not keep a copy of your outlines on our servers.
Your content leaves your device only when you use a feature that needs it to — an AI request, a transcription, or publishing a share link — as described in the sections below. Any AI keys you add for your own provider accounts are stored on your device.
When you apply for the beta, create an account or contact us, we keep the following:
These records are kept in our database, operated for us by Upstash through our hosting provider, Vercel. Access is limited to our own team, through a signed-in administration portal, to run the beta, answer support requests and fix problems.
When you use an AI feature, the content needed for that request is sent to an AI provider to produce the result. This happens only when you invoke an AI feature. Requests may pass through our servers on the way to the provider; we do not store their content. Which provider is used depends on your settings:
Used for: AI text generation, expansion, outline creation, source extraction, questions about your outlines, and the help chat
Data sent: The outline text, node names and prompt for the specific AI operation you started, or your help-chat question.
Data retained: Google processes the data to generate a response, under Google's AI terms. Requests run either on our account, within your usage allowance, or on your own Google key if you have added one.
Used for: AI text features, when you choose one of these providers in Settings
Data sent: The same request content as above, sent to the provider you selected, under your own account with them.
Data retained: Governed by your agreement with that provider.
Used for: Podcast audio (text-to-speech)
Data sent: The podcast script text to be voiced.
Data retained: OpenAI processes audio requests under its API terms.
Used for: Audio transcription with speaker detection, on your own AssemblyAI key
Data sent: Audio recordings you choose to transcribe.
Data retained: AssemblyAI processes recordings under its API terms.
Used for: AI features run by a local model on your own computer
When you use a local model (such as Gemma through Ollama), the request is processed on your device and is not sent to an AI provider.
These companies process information on our behalf to run the Service:
Paid plans are not on sale yet. When they are, payments will be handled by a payment processor and this policy will be updated to name it before anyone is charged.
When you sign in, Clerk sets cookies that keep you signed in. IdeaM also uses your device's local storage to save your outlines and settings. We do not use advertising cookies.
IdeaM asks for microphone access only when you dictate or record audio. Dictation uses your device's or browser's built-in speech recognition, which may be processed by that platform's provider (for example Apple or Google). Recordings are sent to AssemblyAI only when you choose to transcribe them. You can revoke microphone access at any time in your device settings.
Before you use an AI feature for the first time, IdeaM shows a consent dialog explaining which services will process your data. You can decline and keep using all non-AI features. Consent can be withdrawn at any time in Settings, which turns AI features off until you grant it again. Features that connect to your own email or social accounts are off until you turn them on.
We keep server-side records while your account is active or while we need them for the purpose they were collected for. You can delete your account at any time from Settings in the app. That removes your sign-in account, your beta application, your feedback and your bug reports from our servers. We keep the record of your agreement to our Terms, as the Terms describe. Unpublish any share links you want removed before deleting your account, or ask us to remove them.
Settings → Privacy & Data lets you export everything stored on your device in one file, or delete it from that device. To ask for a copy of the information we hold about you, or to have it corrected or deleted, email us at the address below.
IdeaM is not directed at children under 13, and you must be at least 13 to use it. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
We may update this policy as the Service and the law change. When we do, we post the new version on this page and change the "Last updated" date above. When a change materially affects how we handle your information, we will also tell you in the app or by email.
Questions about this privacy policy, or about the data we hold, can be sent to support@2ndbrainware.com or posted to us at the address below. We read every message.