TextBay is built so that your data stays yours. Your contacts, messages and settings are stored locally. Messaging uses your own Twilio account; account and license requests, plus support messages you choose to send, also reach our service. This page is the plain-words version; the formal one is the TextBay Privacy Policy.
What stays on your PC #
A folder called TextBay inside your Windows user folder holds your contacts and lists, your sending history (including the text of what you sent), your saved messages, your block list, your settings and license key, and daily backup copies of the database. Your Twilio Auth Token is stored encrypted for your Windows account; the Account SID is stored as plain text, which is fine because the SID alone cannot authorize anything.
Uninstalling the app deliberately keeps that folder, so a reinstall picks up where you left off. To remove the app’s contacts, messages and settings, use Start fresh under Settings. Local free-message usage accounting can remain after a reset or reinstall; resetting does not renew the free allowance.
What goes to Twilio #
Sending and receiving is a direct, encrypted conversation between your PC and Twilio’s API: recipient numbers, message text and media links go out, delivery statuses and replies come back. That is the product working, and it happens under your own Twilio account and Twilio’s privacy policy. Replies shown in the inbox are fetched fresh from Twilio and are not written to disk by the app.
What ever reaches us #
- License checks: your key, the name of your PC (for the device limit) and the app version. Never contacts, numbers or message text.
- Support messages you choose to send: what you typed plus the technical snapshot described on the Support page.
That is the whole list. No telemetry, no usage statistics, no ads, no automatic error reporting, and no update check (the Microsoft Store handles updates).
The people you message #
Your sending lists are personal data about other people, held on your computer and under your control. Messaging people who agreed to hear from you, and honouring their opt-outs, is your part as the sender. TextBay helps with the mechanics: STOP replies are blocked automatically on Twilio’s side and on yours, and every run honours the block list. See Handle opt-outs.