How is GoldenRetriever different from transcript-based search tools?

GoldenRetriever uses multimodal AI to understand the original video and audio directly. It processes visual content natively — slides shown on screen, product demos, whiteboard sessions — and the full audio signal, not just a text transcript. This means it understands context that transcription loses.

Where is my data stored?

Your original files stay on your Mac — they are never copied to GoldenRetriever's servers. To run AI features, the relevant content of your files is sent directly from your Mac to your chosen AI provider's API (Google Gemini by default) using your own API key. The vector index runs locally as a bundled Qdrant binary. Account and billing data sit on an EU-resident backend in Hetzner Nuremberg.

What file types does GoldenRetriever support?

GoldenRetriever indexes videos, audio files, PDFs, Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, Pages, Keynote, Numbers, RTF and HTML documents, images, and plain text files. Every format your team uses, indexed and searchable alongside your media.

Is GoldenRetriever free?

Yes. The free tier supports up to 100 files with the full AI video and audio pipeline, semantic search, and AI Q&A with source attribution. No credit card required. A Gemini API key is required for AI features.

Which AI models does GoldenRetriever use?

GoldenRetriever uses Gemini multimodal embeddings for indexing. For Q&A, you can choose your preferred model: Gemini, OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama, or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint.

Terms of Service

Name: GoldenRetriever
Author: GoldenRetriever

Last updated: May 12, 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By downloading, installing, or using GoldenRetriever (the “App”), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, do not use the App. These Terms apply to all subscription tiers: Free, Pro, Business, and Enterprise. If you are using a Beta build, the Beta Software Agreement presented during onboarding supplements (and where it conflicts, prevails over) these Terms.

2. Description of the Service

GoldenRetriever is a native macOS desktop application produced by Do Your Bit Ltd (Company No. 813003). It indexes local files (PDFs, documents, images, audio, video, iWork, Office, and other supported formats), generates AI-powered embedding vectors using Google's Gemini API on your own API key, and stores those vectors locally on your Mac in a bundled Qdrant instance. It provides semantic search and AI question-answering. Q&A defaults to Google's Gemini and can be reconfigured to use OpenAI, Anthropic, a local Ollama model, or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint of your choice. Our billing backend is a Symfony API hosted on Hetzner Cloud in Nuremberg, Germany.

3. Account Registration

To access paid features, you must create an account with a valid email address. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your credentials and for all activity under your account. Notify us immediately of any unauthorised access.

4. Subscription Tiers & Billing

Tier	Monthly	Annual	Headline limits
Free	$0	$0	3 folders, up to 100 files, 10 GB storage
Pro	$99/month	$990/year	Up to 500 files, 100 GB storage
Business	$249/month	$2,490/year	Up to 2,000 files, 500 GB storage
Enterprise	$499/seat/month	$4,990/seat/year	Unlimited storage; per-seat billing; talk to us

Limits enforced in shipping builds may differ during the Beta programme — see the in-app limit messages for the binding values. All payments are processed through Stripe. Paid subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled. You may cancel at any time through your account settings; cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period. Subscription fees are non-refundable except where required by law.

We may change subscription prices with at least 30 days' written notice. Changes take effect at the start of your next billing cycle. The Beta-window “founding member” pricing locks in your per-seat rate for as long as your subscription remains continuously active, subject to the binding terms presented at checkout.

5. Your AI Provider Account

AI features require an API key from a supported provider. You are responsible for obtaining, securing, and paying for that provider account directly. The Company does not act as a reseller for AI compute and never receives charges incurred on your provider account. You are responsible for complying with the terms of any AI provider you configure.

6. Acceptable Use

You agree not to use the App to:

Violate any applicable law or regulation
Index, upload, or transmit illegal content, including CSAM
Upload malware or conduct security attacks
Infringe third-party intellectual property rights
Harass, threaten, or incite violence against any person
Reverse-engineer, decompile, or derive the source code of the App
Resell or transfer access without authorisation
Use the App to develop competing products

We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate this policy and report illegal activity to law enforcement.

7. Your Content

You retain all intellectual property rights to files you index or process through the App. Your original files are never copied or uploaded to our servers. By using the App, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to process metadata about your usage solely to provide the service. You represent that you own or have permission to use all content you index, and that it complies with applicable laws and with the terms of your chosen AI provider.

8. Our Intellectual Property

GoldenRetriever, including all software, design, and branding, is our property and protected by intellectual property laws. We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the App in accordance with these Terms.

9. Service Availability

The App is provided on an “as available” basis for Free, Pro, and Business tiers. We do not guarantee continuous availability or specific performance. Enterprise tier subscribers receive a Service Level Agreement with uptime guarantees as negotiated separately. The App relies on third-party AI providers; availability of AI features depends on those providers.

10. Limitation of Liability

The App processes your content “as is.” We do not guarantee the accuracy of embedding generation or AI-generated answers from any provider you configure. You should not rely on AI outputs for legal, medical, or financial decisions without independent verification.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, we shall not be liable for indirect, consequential, or incidental damages. Our total liability for direct damages is limited to the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim. For Free tier users, our liability is limited to $0.

11. Disclaimer of Warranties

The App is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including warranties of fitness for a particular purpose, merchantability, accuracy, or uninterrupted service.

12. Termination

You may stop using the App at any time. For paid tiers, cancel through account settings. We may suspend or terminate your account if you breach these Terms, engage in illegal activity, or pose a security risk. Upon termination, your access ceases immediately and your data is deleted per our Privacy Policy.

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. You agree that legal proceedings shall be brought exclusively in the courts of England and Wales. If you access the App from outside this jurisdiction, you are responsible for complying with local laws.

14. Dispute Resolution

Before initiating formal proceedings, you agree to attempt to resolve disputes informally by contacting us. We will work with you in good faith to resolve the matter within 30 days.

15. Changes to These Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. Material changes take effect 30 days after notice via email or in-app notification. Continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance. If you disagree, you may cancel your subscription before the effective date.

16. GDPR & Privacy

If you are in the EU/EEA, your use is subject to the GDPR. If you are in California, the CCPA applies. Please review our Privacy Policy for full details on data collection, processing, your rights, and how to exercise them.

17. Contact

For questions about these Terms, contact us at [email protected].