Spoons — Terms of Service

Effective date: April, 2nd, 2026
Version: 1.0


Contact: hello@getspoons.app

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of Spoons (the "App") and getspoons.app (the "Website"). By using the App or Website (together, the "Service"), you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

Estimated read time: 20 minutes. If you need this document in a different format (audio, simplified, or translated), email hello@getspoons.app and we’ll make it work.

Read This First (Quick Summary)

Spoons is a slider to track how much energy you have during the day. Not a to-do list. Not a journal. Just a tracker. Nothing else.

Built by an autistic adult, for autistic adults. Nothing about us without us.

What Spoons is NOT: Not a medical device. Not an AI coach.

Not a replacement for professional support (though we know

access barriers are real).

What you need to know:

Your logs: Live on your phone. Export anytime (CSV). Your data, your control.

Pricing:

Age: 13+ (under 13 not allowed)

Privacy: Offline-first. No ads. No data sales. Your logs stay on your device.

Design philosophy: No notifications. No streaks. No guilt mechanics. No “you missed a day.” The app doesn’t demand your attention—you open it when you want to.

Questions? hello@getspoons.app

A note on “we” vs “I”: Spoons is built and run by one person. These Terms use “we” because that’s legal convention, but in sections about personal commitments (like the diagnosis fund and business continuity), I use “I” because those are my promises. Same person either way.

1) What Spoons Is (and Isn't)

Spoons is an app to track your energy at any given time. Takes 8 seconds or less.

(The name “Spoons” is inspired by spoon theory, but in the app we use the word “energy.”)

What it does:

What it does NOT do:

Spoons does NOT:

Why this matters:

Tracking shows patterns and helps you adjust what you CAN control. It cannot fix jobs that won't accommodate you or environments designed for neurotypicals. These require systemic changes, not an app.

For emergencies:

Do not use Spoons for crisis situations.

If you’re in crisis right now, Spoons can’t help with that—and pretending it could would be irresponsible. Please contact emergency services immediately:

For a complete list of emergency numbers worldwide: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_numbers

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For non-emergency medical concerns, consult a qualified healthcare professional.

2) Eligibility

Minimum age: 13+ (under 13 not allowed)

United States: 13 years old minimum
European Union: Age varies by country (13–16+ depending on local laws)
Rest of world: 13 years old minimum

For ages 13–17:
Spoons is designed for autistic adults, but teens 13+ can use it. If you're under 18, we recommend discussing the app with a parent or trusted adult - they might find it helpful to understand how your energy works.

We recommend this because energy tracking is more useful when the adults in your life understand the sensory impact it can have, not because the app has risks.

Under 13:
May not use Spoons in most regions due to data protection laws (COPPA in US, GDPR in EU).

Parental Guidance: If you're a parent concerned about your child's use of Spoons, you can use Screen Time (iOS) or Digital Wellbeing (Android) parental controls to manage app access. Contact hello@getspoons.app if you need guidance on device-level restrictions.

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3) Privacy & Data Handling

Privacy-first and offline-first:

Your data rights:

Regional privacy rights:

European Union / United Kingdom users:

California (U.S.) users:

All regions:

A note on discretion: We understand that in some regions and situations, an autism-related app on your phone could create real risk—from stigma, from employers, from family. Spoons has no visible branding in your notification tray (because we don’t send notifications), no account that links to your identity, and no data that leaves your device. Your use of Spoons is between you and your phone. That’s by design, not by accident.

4) Accounts

Spoons has no accounts. There is nothing to sign up for, and nothing to log into. If you only use the app, we can’t identify you. If you email us or join the waitlist, we can identify you only by the email you provided.

Subscriptions & billing are handled entirely by Apple App Store or Google Play.

If optional online features are added in the future, they will also follow these Terms & Privacy Policy.

5) Subscriptions, Trials, and Billing

Billing is handled entirely by Apple or Google and subject to their policies.

30-day free trial:

Everyone gets a 30-day free trial. No payment information required to start. No exceptions.

After 30 days, you’ll be asked to subscribe. If you don’t, you simply lose access to logging new entries—but you can still export all your existing data. We will never hold your data hostage. (Especially since it's completely impossible to do so anyways)

Your 30-day trial starts when you download Spoons. After 30 days, the app asks you to subscribe. There's nothing to cancel during the trial — no subscription starts until you choose one.

Cancel anytime during trial = no charge.

Auto-renewal:

Paid subscriptions renew automatically (monthly or annual) until cancelled.

Cancel anytime in App Store / Google Play settings (not in the Spoons app).

Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period. You keep access until then.

Refunds:

Short version: Cancel anytime. Request refunds through Apple/Google. Email us at hello@getspoons.app if you need help—we’ll walk you through it.

Important: All billing goes through Apple or Google. They control refunds, not us.

What Apple & Google's policies generally allow:
✓ Accidental purchases (usually approved within 48 hours)
✓ Technical issues preventing app use (usually approved with documentation)
✓ Charged after you thought you cancelled (usually approved with proof)
✓ Changed your mind soon after purchase (sometimes approved, varies by region)

What usually does NOT qualify:
✗ "I forgot to cancel my trial" (you're responsible for managing subscriptions)
✗ "I didn't use it much" (non-use isn't grounds for refund)
✗ Changed mind after 90+ days

Time limits:
Apple: Request within 90 days of charge
Google: Request within 48 hours for fastest approval; longer requests are case-by-case

How to request a refund

For Apple App Store:

  1. Go to reportaproblem.apple.com
  2. Sign in with your Apple ID
  3. Find your Spoons charge
  4. Select "Request a refund"
  5. Choose reason (be honest and specific)
  6. Submit request
  7. Apple typically responds within 48 hours

For Google Play:

  1. Go to play.google.com/store/account/subscriptions
  2. Find Spoons subscription
  3. Click "Request a refund"
  4. Or use: support.google.com/googleplay/answer/2479637
  5. Google typically responds within 24–48 hours

What if they deny my refund?

Contact us at hello@getspoons.app with:

We'll:

We cannot override Apple/Google's decision, but we'll help you understand the process.

Common scenarios explained

"I forgot to cancel before trial ended and got charged"
Apple/Google usually deny these because trial terms were shown when you started.
Your responsibility: Set a reminder 2–3 days before trial ends.
Our recommendation: Cancel immediately after starting trial if unsure – you keep access for 30 days.

"The app doesn't work on my device"
Apple/Google often approve these if you contact them within 48 hours.
Action: Email hello@getspoons.app first so we can help troubleshoot or confirm it's a device compatibility issue.

"I was charged twice / charged wrong amount"
Apple/Google usually fix billing errors quickly.
Action: Request refund immediately + contact hello@getspoons.app so we can verify what should have happened.

"I subscribed but want to cancel within 24 hours"
Request refund through Apple/Google immediately (within 48 hours).
Better option: Cancel your subscription right now – you'll keep access until the end of your paid period, then it just won't renew.

Pro tip: Cancel immediately after subscribing

If you're unsure whether you'll keep using Spoons:
✓ Subscribe to support development
✓ Immediately cancel subscription (you keep access for the full period you paid for)
✓ Decide at the end whether to resubscribe

This prevents "forgot to cancel" charges.

6) Pricing & Fair-Price Promise

Base Pricing

United States: $7.99/month or $79.99/year

($7.99 × 12 = $95.88. Annual saves you $15.89 —

about 2 months free.)

We adjust pricing by region to ensure autism energy tracking is accessible globally:

- High-income markets: $7.99 USD equivalent in local currency

- Middle-income markets: Approximately 40-60% off base price

- Emerging markets: Approximately 65-75% off base price

All regions receive the same ~17% annual discount (approximately 2 months free).

Why Regional Pricing?

We believe autism energy tracking should be accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live. Regional pricing ensures that a subscription costs roughly the same percentage of income in India as it does in the United States—fair access based on local purchasing power, not arbitrary pricing.
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Your Exact Price

Before subscribing, your App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) will display your exact price in local currency. Prices may vary by:

- Local purchasing power (PPP adjustment)

- Currency exchange rates (managed by Apple/Google)

- Local taxes/VAT (set by governments)

Our base price will never increase. Your final price may change due to taxes/VAT or currency exchange rates (handled by Apple/Google), but we will not raise the underlying price we set. For any reason.

$7.99/month. $79.99/year. Forever.

We will never raise the base price. Not for new users. Not for existing users. Not ever.

This isn't a "grandfather clause" with complex rules. It's simpler than that:

- The price is $7.99/month

- It stays $7.99/month

- For everyone, forever

Why? Because autism energy tracking shouldn't get more expensive over time. Financial barriers are already too high.

What CAN change (outside our control):

- Taxes, VAT, or regulatory fees (set by governments)

- Currency exchange rates (handled by Apple/Google)

- App store fees (set by Apple/Google)

What will NEVER change:

- Our base price: $7.99/month or $79.99/year

This is legally binding.

How to Verify Your Price

Before your 30-day free trial ends or before subscribing:

1. Open App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android)

2. Go to Spoons subscription page

3. Your exact price in local currency will be shown before any charges

If Your Price Seems Wrong

Check your App Store/Google Play account region setting

- Apple/Google determine your region based on payment method location

- Contact hello@getspoons.app if you believe there's an error

Price Matching Across Regions

We do not offer "price matching" between regions. Regional pricing reflects local purchasing power. Everyone in your region pays the same fair price.

If You Move to a Different Country

If you change your App Store or Google Play account region, your subscription price may adjust to match your new region's pricing. This is handled by Apple/Google when your payment method region changes.

Your base rate in the new region is still locked — it reflects the local fair price, and the Fair-Price Promise still applies. We will never raise the base price in any region.

Your energy logs are unaffected. They stay on your device regardless of where you live.

Section 6b) Diagnosis Funding Commitment

40% of Spoons after-tax income is allocated to the Spoons Diagnosis Fund.

What "after-tax income" means:

This is how the 40% is calculated:

  1. Gross revenue (what subscribers pay)
  2. Minus app store fees (Apple/Google take ~30%)
  3. Minus operating costs (hosting, tools, email services, legal fees)
  4. Minus applicable income taxes
  5. = After-tax income
  6. 40% of this goes to the Spoons Diagnosis Fund

Taxes are paid first. The 40% comes from what actually remains after I've paid the government — not from pre-tax revenue.

Example:

If Spoons earns $150,000 gross revenue in a year:

The fund gets 40% of real, after-tax money — not 40% of a number that doesn't account for taxes.

A founder who goes broke funds zero diagnoses. A founder who survives funds 100,000+.

The 40% diagnosis funding allocation applies to after-tax income exceeding $48,000 annually ($4,000/month). Income at or below this floor is retained entirely for personal sustainability. Once after-tax income exceeds $48,000, the 40% applies to the amount above the floor.

The floor adjusts for inflation annually using the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI). This prevents the floor from eroding over the 15-year+ mission timeline.

Why $48,000: This represents $4,000/month — sufficient for housing, food, healthcare, and basic living expenses as a single adult in the United States. It is not comfortable. It is survivable. This floor is not meant to fund a lifestyle — it is meant to prevent financial collapse during the period when Spoons is most vulnerable and the mission most at risk.

At projected 2028+ income levels, the floor represents less than 7% of after-tax income. It exists only when needed and vanishes when it doesn’t.

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When this begins:

The Spoons Diagnosis Fund launches when Spoons reaches $15,000 in Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) sustained for 3 consecutive months. Target: January 2027.

If Spoons reaches this threshold earlier, the fund launches earlier. If growth is slower than projected, the launch delays until the threshold is met. The commitment does not weaken — the timeline adjusts to financial reality.

Between app launch (April 2026) and diagnosis fund launch, the 40% allocation above the sustainability floor is set aside monthly into a dedicated diagnosis fund account. This means:

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What the fund does:

The Spoons Diagnosis Fund pays for autism assessments for adults who cannot afford them. Funding flows through vetted partner organizations directly to licensed clinics — never to individuals. Full details at getspoons.app/fund.

What diagnosis recipients receive:

Diagnosis funding recipients receive a permanent access code granting lifetime access to Spoons at no cost. The code is valid on any device indefinitely.

Keep your code safe. If you lose it, contact the partner organization that provided it — they can help you recover it. Recovery is handled through the partner, not directly through Spoons.

Code revocation: Diagnosis access codes may be revoked in cases of confirmed fraud, including codes obtained through falsified documentation, codes generated or distributed outside the official partner process, or codes shared publicly in ways that compromise the system's integrity.

Revocation requires documented evidence reviewed by me personally — not automated, not algorithmic. If your code is revoked and you believe it was an error, contact hello@getspoons.app. I will review it directly.

Revocation does not affect your diagnosis. It affects app access only. A revoked code means the access was obtained improperly — not that your diagnosis is in question.

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If the partner organization that issued your code is no longer operating, contact hello@getspoons.app directly. We maintain backup records of all issued codes and will help you recover access. You will not lose lifetime access because a partner organization closed.

Eligibility: No purchase is required to apply for diagnosis funding. You do not need to use, download, or subscribe to Spoons. The fund is supported by subscribers but accessible to anyone who meets the partner organization's financial need criteria.

Hardship provision:

In cases of genuine financial hardship, this allocation may be temporarily reduced. The sustainability floor (above) handles the most common early-stage scenario — revenue that is real but not yet at scale. This provision covers emergencies beyond what the floor addresses.

Hardship includes:

If I invoke this provision:

This is not an escape hatch for convenience. It exists because chronic conditions and unpredictable circumstances are real — and a founder who goes broke cannot sustain any mission. I will not abuse this provision.

Accountability:

Starting with the first full calendar year after the diagnosis fund launches, I will publish annual transparency reports showing:

The math will be public. Anyone can verify I honored this commitment.

Diagnosis fund questions: fund@getspoons.app

Foundation transition:

Once the Spoons Diagnosis Fund operates through a 501(c)(3) foundation (target: 2032), this allocation becomes a formal grant from Spoons to the foundation. Donations to the foundation will be tax-deductible, which changes the tax calculation but not the 40% commitment.

Until the foundation exists, this operates as a binding personal commitment documented in these Terms.

Once the 501(c)(3) foundation is operational, the sustainability floor is reviewed. At foundation-level income, the floor is financially irrelevant but remains in these Terms as a structural safeguard. It costs nothing to keep and protects against scenarios nobody can predict a decade out.

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Survival:

This commitment survives ownership transitions. Per the Business Continuity section (Section 18), any successor operator must honor this allocation or the code is released to the community under AGPL-3.0.

If Spoons shuts down, remaining funds allocated but not yet distributed will be sent to existing partner organizations for diagnosis funding.

The commitment does not disappear.

7) Your Content & Exports

Ownership: Your data. Always. We never own your logs.

Where it lives: On your device only. If your phone's automatic backup is enabled (iCloud on iOS, Google Drive on Android), your device may include app data in those backups—that's controlled by your phone settings, not by Spoons.

Export rights:

You can export your data anytime. CSV format. No restrictions. No charges. Even after your trial ends.

We will never:

Why we're saying this:

Other apps lock your data behind paywalls or make exports difficult. We won't. This is YOUR data.

We strongly recommend:

If you're using Spoons data for important purposes (workplace accommodations, medical

records, disability claims), export your CSV monthly and store it safely. Device loss,

damage, or failure could erase all logs permanently.

Why this matters: If you're using Spoons data for accommodation requests, showing patterns over time can be powerful documentation when advocating for yourself.

when advocating for yourself.

This is not legal advice. Consult appropriate professionals for accommodation or medical documentation requirements.

If your employer, healthcare provider, or disability assessor needs context about what Spoons is and how it works, email hello@getspoons.app. We’ll provide a brief explanation letter at no charge. This isn’t medical documentation—it’s a description of the tool you used to generate your data.

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Be careful with exports:

CSV files contain timestamps and energy levels. Handle them carefully - they reveal patterns about your daily life (when you're home, when you're drained, your routine). Don't share with people you don't trust.

Support requests:

If you contact us for help and include screenshots, logs, or other information, you're giving us permission to use that information to:

This only applies to what YOU choose to send us. We don't automatically collect anything from your device.

Backup & Data Loss:

Your energy logs live only on your device unless you enable backup.

Your responsibility:

- Enable iCloud (iOS) or Google Drive (Android) backup in your device settings

- Regularly export CSV files as additional backup

- We cannot recover lost data - backups are your responsibility

Our responsibility:

- Provide reliable CSV export at all times

- Never restrict or throttle exports

- Maintain export format stability (future exports will always work with older ones—we won’t break your data format)

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8) Third-Party Services

We rely on third parties for some functions:

App distribution & billing:

Website & email:

Their terms and privacy policies apply to their services. See our Privacy Policy at getspoons.app/privacy for details.

9) Intellectual Property

Spoons, the Spoons name, logo, and getspoons.app are the property of Spoons LLC. These Terms grant you a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the app for its intended purpose.

You may not use the Spoons name, logo, or branding without written permission. You may not reverse-engineer, decompile, or attempt to extract source code or cryptographic keys from the app. You may not generate, distribute, or use diagnosis access codes not issued through the official partner process.

If Spoons is released under AGPL-3.0 (see Section 19: Business Continuity), the code license does not transfer rights to the Spoons name, logo, or domain. These remain protected regardless of code availability.

10) Service Changes

We may add, change, or remove features over time.

We know interface changes can disrupt your routine. When we update how the app looks or works, we'll describe the changes clearly before they take effect so nothing surprises you.

We aim to avoid breaking changes and will announce significant updates on our website (getspoons.app).

We won’t assume silence means agreement. But legally, continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of those changes. We’d rather you actively choose to stay.

11) Support, Availability, and Performance

Spoons is designed to be lightweight and reliable.

Performance:

Support:

We do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation, but we work hard to fix issues quickly.

We aim for high accessibility (WCAG 2.2 AA minimum, AAA where possible). If you need this document or any Spoons content in a different format, email hello@getspoons.app—see the note at the top of this page.

12) Warranties & Disclaimers

What we actually promise:

We promise to:

What we can't promise:

We can't guarantee:

What could go wrong (not our fault):

When things go wrong, we fix them fast. Email hello@getspoons.app and we'll help.

Legal disclaimer:

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind (express or implied), including warranties of merchantability (that it’s sellable), fitness for a particular purpose (that it works for your specific situation), non-infringement (that it doesn’t violate someone else’s rights), or accuracy (that every data point is perfectly correct).

However: Your local consumer protection laws may give you additional rights that can't be waived. If your country's laws grant you mandatory protections, those apply.

Bottom line: We take quality seriously. Spoons is designed to be reliable and simple. But no app is perfect. If something breaks, contact us and we'll fix it.

13) Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

We are NOT liable for:

Maximum liability: Our total liability is limited to the amounts you paid us in the 12 months prior to a claim (or $100 USD, whichever is greater).

Exceptions: Some jurisdictions don't allow certain limitations. If your local laws grant you additional mandatory rights, those rights are preserved.

14) Communications

Communications

We can’t contact app-only users because Spoons has no accounts and no push notifications. If you joined the waitlist or emailed support, we can contact you at that email.

How updates reach you:

If you joined the waitlist or contacted support:

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15) Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

Governing law:
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina, United States, without regard to conflict of law provisions.

International users:
Your local consumer protection laws apply where they grant you additional mandatory rights. If there's a conflict between these Terms and your local mandatory laws, your local laws prevail to the extent required.

Disputes:

Billing disputes: Handle through Apple App Store or Google Play dispute processes. We cannot access billing data.

Service disputes: Contact hello@getspoons.app first. We ask for good-faith resolution before any legal action. Most issues can be resolved in a single email.

Legal disputes: If good-faith resolution fails, disputes will be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Wake County, North Carolina. Both parties consent to jurisdiction in these courts.

Small claims: Nothing in this section prevents you from bringing claims in small claims court in your jurisdiction, if your claim qualifies.

16) Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time.

When we update:

Material changes include: pricing changes, data handling changes, subscription terms changes, or removal of core features. Non-material changes include: clarifications, formatting updates, or contact information updates.

Your options:

We won't assume silence means agreement. But legally, continued use after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. We'd rather you actively choose to stay.

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17) General Provisions

Severability: (if one part breaks, the rest still works): If any part of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the rest remains in full effect.

No waiver: Our failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver of that provision or any other provision.

Assignment:

You cannot transfer these Terms to anyone else.

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We may transfer our rights and obligations only in extreme circumstances (estate transfer, legal incapacity)—never through a voluntary sale. See Section 18 (Business Continuity) for the full commitment. Any successor must honor the Fair-Price Promise, the 40% diagnosis funding allocation, and all privacy commitments in full, or the code is immediately released to the community under AGPL-3.0.

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Entire agreement: These Terms + the Privacy Policy = the complete agreement between you and Spoons. They replace any prior agreements.

Force majeure: We're not liable for delays or failures caused by events beyond our reasonable control (natural disasters, wars, pandemics, government actions, internet outages, etc.).

Force majeure events include: natural disasters, wars, pandemics, government actions, internet backbone failures, or Apple/Google service outages lasting more than 24 hours (affecting subscription verification, app updates, or new downloads — your existing app and local data are unaffected by outages).

18) Contact

Questions about these Terms?
hello@getspoons.app

Privacy-related questions?
privacy@getspoons.app (or hello@getspoons.app)

Mailing address:
4030 Wake Forest Road Ste 349, Raleigh, NC 27609

19) Business Continuity

Never selling:
I will never sell Spoons to another company. This is a personal commitment, not a business strategy. (Full details in Privacy Policy Section 7)

If Spoons must shut down:

What we commit to:

- 90 days' advance notice (or maximum possible if legal circumstances require faster action)

- No new charges processed after shutdown announcement

- Monthly subscribers keep access through their final paid period

- Annual subscribers keep access through their final paid period

Refunds for annual subscribers:

We will request that Apple and Google facilitate refunds for affected annual subscribers. We cannot submit individual refund requests because we do not have access to subscriber identities—Apple and Google handle all billing data.

- Provide a pre-written refund request template for every affected annual subscriber to send to Apple/Google.

- Provide documentation to support your refund if you need to request directly

- Post step-by-step refund instructions on our website

- Respond to individual refund questions at hello@getspoons.app

We do not control Apple or Google's refund policies. We control our effort to advocate for you. That effort will be 100%.

Your Fair-Price Promise survives:
If I die or become unable to operate Spoons:

The full data handling procedures are in our Privacy Policy (Section 7).

Code released to the community:

If Spoons shuts down, the core app code will be released under the AGPL-3.0 license.

What this means:

- Anyone can view, modify, and distribute the code

- Anyone who distributes modified versions must also release their source code

- The autistic community can maintain and improve Spoons

- No company can take the code, make it proprietary, and lock it behind paywalls

Why AGPL? To prevent corporate capture.

What the license does NOT transfer:

- The Spoons name and logo (remain protected)

- The getspoons.app domain (will redirect to community fork if one exists)

If Apple or Google removes Spoons from their store:

If Spoons is removed from the App Store or Google Play (policy dispute, account issue, or any other reason):

- The app already installed on your device continues to work normally (it’s offline-first—it doesn’t need the store to function)

- Your energy logs are unaffected (they’re on your device, not connected to any store)

- Your active subscription continues until its current period ends

- We will post updates at getspoons.app about resolution or alternatives

- If removal becomes permanent, this triggers the same shutdown procedures described above

Being removed from an app store does not delete your data or break your app. It only prevents new downloads and subscription renewals.

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