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Terms of Service
Effective Date: July 8, 2026
Last Updated: June 8, 2026
Welcome to Curl Budget. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of
the Curl Budget LLC ("Curl Budget") mobile applications, web application, and related
services (collectively, the "Service"). By accessing or using the Service, you agree to be
bound by these Terms and our
Privacy Policy.
Important: These Terms include an arbitration agreement (Section 14)
that affects your legal rights. Please read these Terms carefully before using the
Service.
If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Service.
1. Acceptance of Terms
By creating an account, downloading the app, or using any part of the Service, you:
-
Confirm you are at least 18 years of age (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction)
- Agree to comply with these Terms and all applicable laws
- Have the authority to enter into these Terms
-
Consent to the collection and use of your information as described in our
Privacy Policy
If you are using the Service on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have
authority to bind that organization to these Terms.
2. Description of Service
Curl Budget is a personal finance management application that helps you:
- Import and organize financial transactions from connected bank accounts
- Categorize spending and create custom budgets
- Track spending patterns and receive insights
- Collaborate with others through shared workspaces
- Export and analyze your financial data
- Model retirement scenarios using simulation-based projections
Curl Budget is NOT:
- A financial advisor or investment service
- A bank or licensed financial institution
- A tax preparation service
- A credit reporting agency
Curl Budget provides tools for personal financial tracking and awareness. We do not
provide financial, investment, tax, or legal advice.
3. Account Registration and Security
3.1 Account Creation
To use Curl Budget, you must:
- Provide a valid email address
- Complete the authentication process via magic link
- Accept these Terms and our Privacy Policy
3.2 Account Security
You are responsible for:
- Maintaining the security of your email account used for authentication
- All activities that occur under your account
-
Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized access at
security
- Not sharing magic links or authentication credentials with others
3.3 Account Termination
You may close your account at any time through the app settings. We may suspend or
terminate your account if:
- You violate these Terms
- Your account is used for illegal activities
- Required by law or regulatory authority
- Your account has been inactive for an extended period
Upon termination, your data will be handled according to our
Privacy Policy and Data Retention Policy. You may
request immediate deletion of your data.
4. Bank Account Connections via Plaid
4.1 Plaid Integration
Curl Budget uses Plaid to connect to your financial institutions. When you connect a bank
account:
- You authorize Plaid to access your bank account data on your behalf
- Plaid's own Terms of Service and Privacy Policy apply in addition to ours
- You grant Curl Budget permission to retrieve your transaction data through Plaid
- You understand that Curl Budget does not store your bank login credentials
4.2 Authorization and Consent
By connecting a bank account, you:
- Authorize Curl Budget to retrieve and store your transaction data
- Consent to ongoing data synchronization while the connection is active
- Understand you can revoke access at any time by disconnecting the account
- Acknowledge that disconnecting may limit Service functionality
4.3 Your Responsibilities
You are responsible for:
- Ensuring the accuracy of bank connections and transaction data
- Reviewing imported transactions for errors or duplicates
- Maintaining valid credentials with your financial institution
- Complying with your bank's terms of service
4.4 Service Limitations
We cannot guarantee:
- Uninterrupted connection to all financial institutions
- Availability of real-time transaction data
- Accuracy of data provided by Plaid or financial institutions
- Support for all banks and credit unions
5. AI-Powered Features (Optional)
5.1 AI Transaction Categorization
Curl Budget offers optional AI-powered transaction categorization. This feature:
- Requires explicit opt-in consent
- Sends anonymized transaction data to third-party AI providers (OpenAI, Anthropic)
- Can be disabled at any time in Settings
- Is subject to the AI provider's terms of service and privacy policy
5.2 AI Limitations
AI categorization suggestions:
- Are provided for convenience and may contain errors
- Should be reviewed and corrected as needed
- Do not constitute financial advice or recommendations
- May improve over time but are not guaranteed to be accurate
5.3 Your Control
You may:
- Opt-in or opt-out of AI categorization at any time
- Override any AI-suggested categories
- Use rule-based categorization instead of AI
6. User Conduct and Prohibited Uses
6.1 Acceptable Use
You agree to use the Service only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms.
6.2 Prohibited Activities
You may NOT:
- Use the Service for any illegal purpose or in violation of any laws
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems or other users' accounts
- Interfere with or disrupt the Service or servers
- Use automated tools (bots, scrapers) to access the Service without permission
- Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any part of the Service
- Upload malicious code, viruses, or harmful software
- Impersonate another person or entity
- Harass, abuse, or harm other users
- Collect or store personal information about other users without consent
- Use the Service to spam, phish, or conduct fraudulent activities
- Resell or commercialize the Service without authorization
6.3 Consequences of Violations
Violations may result in:
- Immediate account suspension or termination
- Legal action and cooperation with law enforcement
- Liability for damages caused by violations
7. Data Ownership and Usage Rights
7.1 Your Data
You retain ownership of all data you provide to Curl Budget, including:
- Transaction data (imported or manually entered)
- Categories, budgets, and tags you create
- Notes and custom fields
- Workspace configurations
7.2 License to Use Your Data
By using the Service, you grant Curl Budget a limited, non-exclusive license to:
- Store, process, and display your data to provide the Service
- Create aggregated, anonymized analytics to improve the Service
- Back up your data for disaster recovery
This license terminates when you delete your account, subject to retention periods
described in our Privacy Policy.
7.3 Aggregated Data
We may use aggregated, anonymized data (not personally identifiable) for:
- Service improvement and feature development
- Industry research and insights
- Marketing and promotional purposes
7.4 Data Portability
You may export your data at any time in machine-readable formats (JSON, CSV) through the
app.
8. Intellectual Property
8.1 Curl Budget Ownership
Curl Budget and its licensors own all rights to:
- The Service, including software, design, and features
- Trademarks, logos, and brand elements
- Documentation and content we create
- Algorithms, processes, and methodologies
8.2 Limited License to You
We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the Service for
personal, non-commercial purposes in accordance with these Terms.
8.3 Restrictions
You may not:
- Copy, modify, or create derivative works of the Service
- Use our trademarks without written permission
- Remove copyright notices or proprietary markings
8.4 Feedback
You may, but have no obligation to, provide Curl Budget with feedback, suggestions, ideas,
or comments relating to the Service ("Feedback"). You hereby assign all right, title, and
interest in and to all Feedback to Curl Budget. Curl Budget may use, implement, and
exploit all Feedback in any manner without restriction and without obligation to you,
including without any obligation of confidentiality, attribution, accounting,
compensation, or other duty to account.
9. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability
9.1 No Financial Advice
IMPORTANT: Curl Budget provides tools for tracking and organizing
financial information. We do NOT provide financial, investment, tax, legal, or
accounting advice. All decisions based on data from the Service are your sole
responsibility. Consult qualified professionals for financial advice.
9.1.1 Retirement Planning Projections
IMPORTANT: If you use Curl Budget's retirement planning features,
please be aware of the following:
-
Simulation results — including success probabilities, financial independence targets,
and savings estimates — are
mathematical models based on user-provided assumptions, not
predictions of future outcomes
-
Results
may not account for factors including, but not limited to, taxes,
Required Minimum Distributions, estate planning, health events, long-term care costs,
Social Security policy changes, changes in tax law, divorce or other major life
events, job loss, housing cost changes, or other significant real-world factors
-
Past market performance does not guarantee future results; simulated returns are
hypothetical and based on historical averages
-
A high success probability does not mean retirement is guaranteed — it reflects one
model's output given specific assumptions
-
Curl Budget is not a registered investment advisor, fiduciary, or
financial planner, and does not provide personalized financial advice
-
You should consult qualified financial professionals before making retirement
decisions based on any information from the Service
9.2 "AS IS" Service
THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
-
Warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement
- Warranties regarding accuracy, reliability, or availability of the Service
- Warranties that the Service will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free
- Warranties regarding data from Plaid or financial institutions
9.3 Data Accuracy
We do not guarantee:
- Accuracy of transaction data imported from financial institutions
- Accuracy of AI categorization suggestions
- Accuracy of spending calculations or budget projections
- Correctness of any financial insights or analysis
-
Accuracy of retirement projections, success probabilities, or savings estimates derived
from simulation models
You are responsible for verifying the accuracy of all data and making independent
financial decisions.
9.4 Third-Party Services
We are not responsible for:
- Plaid's services, availability, or data accuracy
- AI provider services, responses, or errors
- Your financial institution's systems or policies
- Third-party integrations or services
9.5 Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CURL BUDGET AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS,
EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:
- Indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
- Loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities
- Financial losses resulting from Service use or unavailability
- Damages resulting from unauthorized access to your account
- Damages resulting from reliance on Service data or features
IN NO EVENT SHALL OUR TOTAL LIABILITY EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO CURL BUDGET IN THE
12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR $100 IF NO FEES WERE PAID.
9.6 Jurisdictional Limitations
Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on implied warranties or liability for
incidental/consequential damages. In such jurisdictions, these limitations may not apply
to you, and liability shall be limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.
10. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Curl Budget and its officers, directors,
employees, and agents from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses
(including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:
- Your use or misuse of the Service
- Your violation of these Terms
- Your violation of any law or third-party rights
- Your data or content submitted through the Service
- Disputes between you and other users
11. Service Availability and Modifications
11.1 Service Availability
We strive to provide reliable Service but do not guarantee:
- Uninterrupted or error-free operation
- Specific uptime percentages
- Availability during maintenance or emergencies
11.2 Service Modifications
We reserve the right to:
- Modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Service
- Change features, functionality, or limits
- Implement usage limits or restrictions
We will provide reasonable notice of material changes when possible, but are not obligated
to do so.
11.3 Maintenance
We may perform scheduled or emergency maintenance that temporarily interrupts Service. We
will attempt to minimize disruption and provide notice when feasible.
12. Subscriptions and Payment Terms
12.1 Subscription Plans
Curl Budget offers subscription plans that provide full access to all features. Current
plans include monthly and annual options. Pricing is displayed in the app and may vary by
region.
12.2 Free Trial
New users may be eligible for a free trial period. During the trial, you have full access
to all features. If you do not cancel before the trial ends, your subscription will
automatically begin and you will be charged.
12.3 Subscription Purchases
Subscriptions are purchased and billed through one of the following channels, depending on
how you signed up:
-
Apple App Store (iOS). By subscribing, you also agree to
Apple's Licensed Application End User License Agreement. Payment is charged to your Apple ID, and subscriptions are managed in your Apple ID
Account Settings.
-
Google Play Store (Android). Payment is charged to your Google Play
account, and subscriptions are managed in your Google Play subscription settings.
-
Web (curlbudget.com). Web purchases are processed by our payment
provider on our behalf. Payment is charged to the payment method you provide at
checkout. To manage or cancel a web subscription, contact us at
support.
Regardless of channel:
-
Subscriptions automatically renew at the end of each billing period unless canceled
before renewal in accordance with the rules of the channel you signed up through
-
Your account will be charged for renewal at or shortly before the end of the current
period
-
Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when you start a paid
subscription
12.4 Subscription Access and Active Subscriber Status
An active subscription provides access to the Service's features as described in the app
and on our website at the time of purchase. Features, usage limits, and functionality may
change over time. We reserve the right to modify, add, or remove features at our
discretion. Current feature availability is displayed within the app.
Active Subscriber. You are an "Active Subscriber" while your subscription
is in good standing — that is, while billing is continuous through your platform (Apple
App Store, Google Play Store, or other authorized channel), including any retry or grace
period the platform applies to a failed renewal payment. A subscription that has been
canceled, refunded, or has lapsed beyond the platform's grace period is no longer active.
Resubscribing after a lapse begins a new subscription period.
12.5 Expired Subscriptions
If your subscription expires or is canceled, access to the Service will be restricted or
terminated. Data retention and deletion are governed by our
Privacy Policy.
12.6 Refunds
Refund requests are handled by the channel you subscribed through:
-
Apple App Store: submit requests through Apple at
reportaproblem.apple.com. Curl Budget
does not process refunds directly for App Store purchases.
-
Google Play Store: submit requests through Google Play. Curl Budget
does not process refunds directly for Google Play purchases.
-
Web: contact us at support to
request a refund of a web purchase.
12.7 Price Changes and Subscriber Rate Lock
We may publish updated subscription prices at any time. New prices apply to new
subscribers immediately and to renewing subscribers under the conditions described below.
Subscriber Rate Lock. If you are an Active Subscriber (as defined in
Section 12.4), your subscription will continue to renew at the price you most recently
agreed to for your current plan. We will not raise the renewal price on an Active
Subscriber, even if our list prices change for new subscribers.
The Subscriber Rate Lock does not apply, and a renewal may be priced at the then-current
rate, in any of the following circumstances:
-
Your subscription lapses or is canceled and you later subscribe again. Resubscribing
after a lapse is treated as a new subscription at then-current pricing.
-
A failed renewal payment is not resolved within the grace period provided by your
platform (for example, Apple's billing-retry window). Recovery within the grace period
preserves your locked rate; recovery beyond the grace period is treated as a new
subscription.
-
You change your plan tier or billing cycle (for example, from monthly to annual, or to a
different family plan). The new plan is priced at the then-current rate for that plan.
Plan Discontinuation. If we discontinue the plan you originally
subscribed to, we will migrate you to the most-comparable available plan and will honor
your existing locked rate where reasonably possible. If we are unable to honor your locked
rate on the replacement plan, we will give you the option either to continue on the new
plan at the new rate or receive a refund of the unused, prepaid portion of your
then-current subscription term. We will provide notice before any such migration.
12.8 Promotional Pricing
Promotional pricing, discounts, introductory rates, or other special offers have no cash
value, are non-transferable, and cannot be exchanged for credit or refund. If the Service
is modified, suspended, or terminated, you are not entitled to compensation for any
remaining promotional period or the difference between promotional and standard pricing.
Promotional terms may be modified or discontinued at any time without notice.
13. Privacy and Data Protection
Your privacy is important to us. Our collection, use, and protection of your personal
information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is
incorporated into these Terms by reference.
Key points:
- We encrypt your data at rest and in transit
- We do not sell your personal information
- You have rights to access, correct, and delete your data
- We comply with CCPA, GDPR, and applicable privacy laws
Please review our Privacy Policy for complete details.
14. Dispute Resolution and Arbitration
14.1 Informal Resolution
Before initiating arbitration or legal action, you agree to first contact us at
legal to attempt to resolve the dispute informally. We
will attempt to resolve disputes within 30 days.
14.2 Binding Arbitration
If informal resolution fails, you agree that disputes will be resolved through binding
arbitration rather than in court, except as noted below.
Arbitration terms:
- Administrator: American Arbitration Association (AAA) or JAMS
-
Rules: AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules or JAMS Streamlined Arbitration
Rules
-
Location: Remote/online arbitration, or if in-person is required, King
County, Washington
- Fees: We will pay arbitration fees for claims under $10,000
-
Award: Arbitrator's decision is final and binding, with limited appeal
rights
14.3 Exceptions to Arbitration
You may bring claims in small claims court if they qualify. Either party may seek
injunctive relief in court for intellectual property disputes.
14.4 Opt-Out Right
You may opt out of arbitration by emailing
legal within 30 days of first accepting these Terms.
Your opt-out must include your name, email, and clear statement that you opt out of
arbitration.
15. Governing Law and Venue
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Washington, United States, without
regard to conflict of law principles.
For disputes not subject to arbitration, you agree to exclusive jurisdiction and venue in
the state and federal courts located in King County, Washington.
16. General Provisions
16.1 Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you
and Curl Budget regarding the Service.
16.2 Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining
provisions will remain in full effect, and the invalid provision will be modified to the
minimum extent necessary to make it valid.
16.3 Waiver
Our failure to enforce any provision does not constitute a waiver of that provision or our
right to enforce it later.
16.4 Assignment
You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your account without our written consent. We
may assign these Terms without restriction.
16.5 Force Majeure
We are not liable for delays or failures in performance due to causes beyond our
reasonable control, including natural disasters, war, terrorism, labor disputes, or
internet/infrastructure failures.
16.6 Notices
We may provide notices to you via email, in-app messages, or by posting on our website.
Notices to us must be sent to legal.
16.7 Export Controls
The Service may be subject to U.S. export control laws. You agree to comply with all
applicable export and import laws and regulations.
16.8 Survival
Provisions that by their nature should survive termination (including ownership,
disclaimers, limitations of liability, indemnification, and dispute resolution) will
survive termination of these Terms.
17. Changes to These Terms
We may modify these Terms at any time. When we make material changes:
- We will notify you via email at least 30 days before changes take effect
- We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this document
- We will provide a summary of material changes
Your continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the
new Terms. If you do not agree to the changes, you must stop using the Service and may
delete your account.
For non-material changes (clarifications, corrections, formatting), we may update these
Terms without separate notice.