The agreement
These Terms of Service (“Terms”) are a contract between you and Germán Martínez (“HourBack”, “we”, “us”) covering the HourBack phone app and the website at hourback.app (together, the “Service”).
By downloading, opening or using the Service you accept these Terms. If you don't accept them, don't use the Service. Our Privacy Policy forms part of this agreement.
What HourBack does
HourBack is a self-improvement tool for reducing screen time. It lets you set a daily limit that steps down over time, block apps and categories you choose, on reaching your limit or on a schedule you define, and follow a guided program of habits, with levels, streaks and a weekly review.
Blocking is provided through Apple's Screen Time technologies (Family Controls, Device Activity and Managed Settings) and requires your permission. HourBack requires an iPhone running iOS 16.4 or later. It is not available for Android, iPad or the web.
Who can use it
You must be at least 13 years old, or older, if that's the minimum age in your country, and able to enter into a binding contract. If you are a minor, you may use the Service only with the involvement of a parent or guardian, who accepts these Terms on your behalf. You also need a valid Apple ID and must comply with Apple's own terms for the App Store.
Your license
We grant you a personal, limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use HourBack on Apple devices you own or control, in line with the App Store Terms of Service. We keep all rights we don't expressly grant.
You agree not to:
- copy, sell, sublicense, rent or otherwise distribute the Service;
- reverse-engineer, decompile or attempt to derive the source code, except where that restriction is prohibited by law;
- interfere with the Service, its blocking mechanisms, or another person's use of it;
- use the Service unlawfully, or to build a competing product from its content;
- remove or obscure any copyright, trademark or other proprietary notice.
Your content and your data
Anything you put into HourBack, your name, your plan, your habit history and any photo you set on a block screen, stays on your device and remains yours. We claim no ownership of it and, as explained in the Privacy Policy, we have no way to access it. You are responsible for that content, and for keeping a backup if it matters to you; uninstalling the app deletes it permanently.
Not professional advice
HourBack is a general wellbeing and productivity tool. Its content, including habit descriptions, explanations of why a habit works, levels and reviews, is for information and motivation only. It is not medical, psychological or other professional advice, is not a treatment for addiction or any health condition, and is no substitute for a qualified professional. If you are worried about your relationship with your phone, your sleep or your mental health, please speak to one.
Limits of blocking
HourBack is a self-control aid, not a security or parental-control product. Please use it with that in mind:
- Blocking depends on Apple's frameworks and on iOS behaving as expected. Timing is approximate, iOS re-evaluates limits and schedules periodically, so a block may start or lift a little after the moment you set.
- You can always undo it yourself: by revoking Screen Time permission, changing iOS settings, or deleting the app. Strict mode removes the in-app escape hatch, not your control of your own device.
- Blocking may prevent you from opening an app when you want to, including in an urgent moment. Do not rely on HourBack in any situation where being unable to open an app could be harmful, and do not block apps you may need in an emergency. Emergency calling on your phone is not affected by HourBack.
- We cannot guarantee any particular reduction in your screen time. Results depend on you.
Availability and changes
We may add, change, suspend or discontinue features, or the Service as a whole, at any time. We will try to give reasonable notice of significant changes, and if we discontinue a paid feature you have subscribed to, we will act fairly and in line with applicable consumer law. App updates may be required for the Service to keep working.
Termination
You can end this agreement at any time by cancelling any subscription and deleting the app. We may suspend or end your access if you materially breach these Terms or use the Service unlawfully. Sections that by their nature should survive termination, including the license restrictions, disclaimers, liability limits and governing law, will do so.
Disclaimer
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Service is provided “as is” and “as available”, without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy and non-infringement. We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, timely, error-free, or that it will block every app in every circumstance. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain exclusions, so parts of this section may not apply to you.
Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, data, opportunity or goodwill, arising out of or relating to your use of the Service, including any consequence of an app being blocked or failing to be blocked.
Our total liability for all claims relating to the Service is limited to the greater of the amount you paid us for the Service in the twelve months before the claim, or USD 50. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot lawfully be limited, including for death or personal injury caused by negligence, or for fraud. If you are a consumer, your mandatory statutory rights are unaffected.
Apple
These Terms are between you and us, not with Apple, and Apple is not responsible for the Service or its content. Apple has no obligation to provide support or maintenance for HourBack. If the app fails to conform to any applicable warranty, you may notify Apple, and Apple may refund the purchase price; to the maximum extent permitted by law, Apple has no other warranty obligation. Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of these Terms and may enforce them against you. You confirm you are not located in a country subject to a US Government embargo or designated as terrorist-supporting, and that you are not on any US Government list of prohibited or restricted parties.
Governing law
These Terms are governed by the laws of Spain, without regard to its conflict-of-law rules, and disputes will be brought before the competent courts of Spain. If you are a consumer resident elsewhere in the EU, EEA or UK, you keep the protection of the mandatory laws of your country of residence and may also bring proceedings in your local courts.
General
These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, are the whole agreement between us about the Service. If a provision is found unenforceable, the rest stays in force. Our not enforcing a right isn't a waiver of it. You may not assign this agreement; we may assign it in connection with a merger, acquisition or sale of assets. We may update these Terms, the “last updated” date above will change, and continuing to use the Service after an update means you accept it.
Contact
Questions about these Terms? Write to hello@hourback.app and we'll answer.