Terms of use

The rules for using Fireplace, in plain language. Effective 4 October 2026.

Fireplace is run from the Netherlands. Questions about these terms: [email protected].

Using Fireplace

Fireplace is an invite-only encrypted chat beta. You must be at least 16 years old. An invite lets you create an account; it is not a promise of permanent access. Keep your username, password, devices and recovery key safe. There is no password reset by email, because we hold no email address for you.

Fireplace offers messaging, device linking, optional recovery, contact verification and safety tools as described in the app. Fireplace is a beta: features may change or end, and we will give reasonable notice where we can. Messages are not guaranteed to be delivered.

Behaving well

Do not use Fireplace to harass, threaten or abuse others, to send spam or malware, to share illegal content or content that sexualises children, to impersonate people, or to attack or overload the service. We may limit, suspend or end accounts that break these rules, in proportion to what happened and the evidence we have. If your account is limited or suspended, you can appeal at [email protected].

Your messages and your privacy

You keep any rights you have in what you write. You allow us only the handling needed to deliver and store encrypted messages, provide the features you use, and review what you or others choose to report or send us. We do not use your private conversations for advertising or to train AI. Our privacy policy explains how personal data is handled.

You can delete your account in Settings, or write to [email protected] if you cannot sign in. See the privacy policy for what remains.

The software

Fireplace's source code is published under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3. That licence is separate from these terms and these terms do not take away anything it gives you. Names, logos and third-party components may have their own conditions.

Cost, availability and responsibility

The beta is free. We aim to make Fireplace available worldwide, but availability may be limited by law, app store rules or capacity.

We look after the service with reasonable care. Because Fireplace is a free beta, it is provided as it is, to the extent the law allows. Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot lawfully be limited, including for fraud, or death or personal injury caused by negligence, or takes away consumer rights that cannot be waived.

Changes and law

We may update these terms. If a change affects your rights in a meaningful way, we will tell you before it applies, in the app or on this page, and you can stop using Fireplace and delete your account at any time.

Dutch law applies, without taking away the mandatory consumer protections, or the right to go to court, that you have where you live. If you have a complaint, write to [email protected] and we will try to resolve it.