Privacy & Security

FloWords is designed with privacy as a core principle. Your voice data stays on your Mac unless you explicitly choose to use cloud services.

Privacy Philosophy

Local First

All transcription can run 100% locally using Whisper models on your Mac.

No Telemetry

We don’t collect usage data, analytics, or track your behavior.

Your Data, Your Control

You decide what stays local and what (if anything) uses cloud services.

Secure Storage

Any stored data uses macOS encryption and secure storage.

What Stays on Your Mac

With default settings using local models:

Data	Location	Sent Externally?
Audio Recording	Memory only	❌ Never
Transcription	Local storage	❌ Never
Model Files	Application Support	❌ Never
Settings	Preferences	❌ Never
History	Local database	❌ Never
Dictionary	Local file	❌ Never

When Data Leaves Your Mac

Some optional features require external services:

Cloud Transcription

If you use cloud transcription providers:

Provider	Data Sent	Purpose
OpenAI	Audio	Transcription
Groq	Audio	Transcription
Deepgram	Audio	Transcription
Others	Audio	Transcription

To avoid: Use local Whisper or Parakeet models exclusively.

AI Enhancement

If you use cloud AI enhancement:

Provider	Data Sent	Purpose
OpenAI	Text + Context	Enhancement
Anthropic	Text + Context	Enhancement

To avoid: Use Ollama for local AI enhancement.

License Validation

Data Sent	Purpose	Frequency
License key	Validation	At startup
Device ID	Activation tracking	One time

Privacy Controls

Disable All Cloud Features

Use local Whisper model for transcription
Use Ollama for AI enhancement (or disable enhancement)
FloWords operates 100% offline

Go to Settings > Enhancement
Toggle Screen Context OFF
No screen content is ever captured

Clipboard Privacy

Go to Settings > Enhancement
Toggle Clipboard Context OFF
Clipboard content is never included

Data Storage

What FloWords Stores

Data	Stored?	Location	Encrypted?
Transcription history	Optional	Local DB	Yes
Settings/Preferences	Yes	UserDefaults	macOS
Custom dictionary	Yes	Local file	No*
Model files	Yes	App Support	No*

*These are user-accessible files that don’t contain sensitive information.

Where Data is Stored

~/Library/Application Support/com.AlchemyAI.FloWords/
├── default.store          # SwiftData database (encrypted)
├── dictionary/            # Custom dictionary
└── models/               # Downloaded AI models

~/Library/Preferences/
└── com.AlchemyAI.FloWords.plist  # Settings

Clearing All Data

To completely remove all FloWords data:

Quit FloWords
Delete application from /Applications

Remove the folders:

rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/com.AlchemyAI.FloWords
rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.AlchemyAI.FloWords.plist

Empty Trash

Permissions

FloWords requests only necessary permissions:

Microphone (Required)

Purpose: Record your voice for transcription
Usage: Only when you explicitly start recording
Storage: Audio never saved to disk
Revocation: Deny in System Settings to disable

Accessibility (Recommended)

Purpose: Global hotkeys and auto-paste
Usage: Detect trigger keys, simulate typing
Storage: No data stored
Revocation: Disables global hotkeys and auto-paste

Screen Recording (Optional)

Purpose: Screen context for AI enhancement
Usage: Only when context is enabled
Storage: Never stored, only sent to AI if cloud provider used
Revocation: Deny to disable screen context

Security Measures

API Key Storage

Your API keys are stored securely:

Location: macOS Keychain
Encryption: AES-256
Access: FloWords only

License Key Protection

Stored: Secure local storage
Validated: Server-side verification
Protected: Cannot be copied to other devices easily

Network Security

All connections: HTTPS/TLS encrypted
Certificate pinning: Where applicable
Minimal data: Only what’s necessary

Privacy-Focused Setup

Maximum Privacy Configuration

Transcription
- Use local Whisper model only
- Disable all cloud providers
Enhancement
- Install Ollama on your Mac
- Use local LLM (Llama, Mistral)
- Disable screen/clipboard context
History
- Disable history saving, or
- Enable with short retention
Network
- App works fully offline
- License validation is the only connection

Balanced Privacy Configuration

Transcription
- Use local Whisper as primary
- Optional cloud fallback
Enhancement
- Cloud AI for non-sensitive content
- Ollama for sensitive work
Context
- Enable for non-sensitive apps
- Disable for sensitive apps in Settings
History
- Keep for convenience
- Regular cleanup

Comparison with Alternatives

Feature	FloWords	Cloud-Only Apps	Built-in Dictation
Local Processing	✅ Yes	❌ No	⚠️ Limited
Audio Stays Local	✅ Yes	❌ No	⚠️ Unclear
No Telemetry	✅ Yes	❌ Often tracked	⚠️ Apple data
Works Offline	✅ Yes	❌ No	⚠️ Limited
Open Models	✅ Whisper	❌ Proprietary	❌ Apple only

Frequently Asked Questions

Does FloWords listen when I’m not recording?

No. FloWords only accesses your microphone when you press your trigger key. There is no background listening.

Is my transcription sent anywhere?

Only if you choose cloud services. With local models, transcription never leaves your Mac.

Can FloWords see my screen?

Only if you enable screen context AND grant permission. This is optional and can be disabled.

What does the license validation send?

Only your license key and a device identifier. No transcription data, no personal information.

Can I use FloWords on an air-gapped Mac?

Yes! After initial download and license activation, FloWords works entirely offline with local models.

Reporting Security Issues

If you discover a security vulnerability:

Don’t post publicly
Email: security@flowords.app
Include details and steps to reproduce
We’ll respond within 48 hours

Next Steps

Configure Local Models for offline transcription
Set Up Ollama for local AI enhancement
Review All Settings for complete control