Terms of Service

Last updated 17 October 2026

These are the terms for using Ember, the iPhone app and the service behind it. We've written them to be read, not skimmed. By downloading or using Ember you agree to them. If you don't, please don't use Ember.

1. What Ember is

Ember is a Christian faith companion. It sends you a morning verse with a short reflection, lets you chat with it any time, remembers what you share, and checks in gently on the areas you want to grow in.

Ember is an AI. Its replies are generated by a large language model. It is not a person. It is not a pastor, priest, counsellor, therapist, doctor, or lawyer, and nothing it says is pastoral, medical, legal, or financial advice. It can be wrong, and sometimes it will be. Use your judgement, test what it says against Scripture, and bring the important things to your church and the people who know you.

2. Who can use it

You must be at least 17 years old. You need an iPhone and an Apple ID. You are responsible for keeping your device secure; anyone with your unlocked phone can read your Ember conversations.

3. Subscription, trial, and billing

• Ember is a subscription: $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year, in US dollars, with local pricing set by Apple in other countries.
• New subscribers get a 7-day free trial. When the trial ends, your subscription starts and Apple charges your Apple ID, unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends.
• Subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each period until you cancel.
• All billing is handled by Apple through the App Store. We never see or store your payment details.
• To cancel: iPhone Settings → your name → Subscriptions → Ember → Cancel. You keep access until the end of the period you've paid for.
• Refunds are decided by Apple, not by us, under Apple's App Store rules. Request one at reportaproblem.apple.com.
• We may change prices. If we do, Apple will tell you in advance and ask you to agree before the new price applies.

4. Using Ember well

Please don't:

• use Ember to harass, threaten, or deceive anyone;
• try to extract Ember's prompts, reverse-engineer the service, or overload it;
• share someone else's private information with Ember without their permission;
• use Ember for anything illegal.

We can suspend or close accounts that break these rules. We'd rather just talk, so if something's off, email us first.

5. Crisis and safety

Before replying to any message, Ember runs an automated check for signs of self-harm, abuse, or danger. If it detects one, it responds with care and points you to real help: the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and 911 in the United States, or the equivalent where you live. This is a safety net, not a safety guarantee. If you are in danger, call emergency services. Do not rely on an app.

6. Your content and your data

What you write in Ember is yours. You give us permission to store it and send it to our AI provider so Ember can reply and remember; that's the whole service. We don't sell it, we don't use it for ads, and we don't publish it. You can delete all of it from inside the app (Settings → Delete everything). Our Privacy Policy covers the details and forms part of these terms.

7. Scripture and faith

Ember quotes the Bible with the reference every time, using the King James Version by default and short passages from the ESV and NIV where permitted. It aims to be broadly orthodox, Scripture-first, and non-denominational. It is not the official voice of any church, and we are not a church. Ember will not promise you money, health, or outcomes in exchange for faith, and we ask you to tell us if it ever does.

8. Our content

Ember's name, mark, design, and the text we wrote are ours. The app and the service are licensed to you for personal, non-commercial use while you have an active subscription or trial. Scripture is quoted under the terms of the respective publishers; the KJV is in the public domain.

9. Availability

We try to keep Ember running every day, including at 7 a.m. We're a small team and depend on Apple and our AI provider, so sometimes a message will be late or missing. We'll fix what we can, fast. We don't promise uninterrupted service.

10. No warranty, limited liability

Ember is provided "as is". To the extent the law allows, we disclaim all warranties, and our total liability to you for anything arising from Ember is limited to what you paid us in the twelve months before the claim. Nothing here limits liability that the law says can't be limited.

11. Ending things

You can stop using Ember at any time: cancel your subscription with Apple and, if you wish, delete your data in the app. We may end or change the service with reasonable notice; if we shut Ember down we'll give you a way to export or delete your data first.

12. Changes to these terms

If we change these terms in a way that matters, we'll tell you in the app before the change takes effect. Continuing to use Ember after that means you accept the new terms.

13. Apple

These terms are between you and us, not Apple. Apple has no obligation to support or maintain Ember and isn't responsible for any claim relating to it. Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of these terms and may enforce them against you.

14. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey, United States, and any dispute will be handled in the courts there, unless the law where you live gives you protections that can't be waived.

15. Contact

Questions about these terms: dalynbutler@gmail.com.