Terms of use and app licence · Tao Browser by Hostao®

Terms of use and app licence

Version 1.3 · Effective 24 October 2026 · Last updated 24 October 2026

In plain words. Tao Browser is a free beta. Use it, but keep your own backups and don't rely on it for anything critical yet. The names and logos are ours. We give no warranties beyond what the law requires. Your local consumer rights still apply.

These terms are an agreement between you and Hostao L.L.C, a Wyoming (USA) limited liability company (“Hostao”, “we”, “us”). They cover the website tao.hostao.com (the “Site”) and the Tao Browser apps for macOS, iPhone and iPad (iOS/iPadOS) and Android (together, the “App”). By using the Site or downloading, installing or using the App, you agree to them. If you use the App for a company, you confirm you can accept these terms on its behalf. If you don't agree, please don't use the Site or the App.

1. App licence

The App is free. Subject to these terms, Hostao grants you a personal, worldwide, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence to download, install and use official builds of the App, published on the Site, the Apple App Store or Google Play, on devices you own or control, for personal or business purposes.

You may not: remove or change copyright, trademark or licence notices; sell or rent the official builds; distribute modified builds under the Tao Browser or Hostao names or logos; or use the App to break the law or anyone's rights. You may reverse engineer the App only to the extent that applicable law allows it despite this restriction.

Source code. The App is proprietary software. Its source code is not published and no licence to it is granted by these terms. Third-party open-source components included in the App remain under their own licences, listed on our third-party notices page; nothing in these terms limits your rights under those licences.

Apps from the Apple App Store

If you got the App from the Apple App Store, your licence to use it is Apple's Licensed Application End User License Agreement (the “Standard EULA”). These terms apply in addition, as far as they don't conflict with it. You and Hostao agree that: these terms are between you and Hostao only, not Apple; Hostao, not Apple, is solely responsible for the App, its maintenance and support, and any product claims (including product liability, failure to meet legal or regulatory requirements, and consumer protection claims); if the App fails to meet an applicable warranty, you may notify Apple and Apple will refund the purchase price (the App is free), and Apple has no other warranty obligation; Hostao, not Apple, is responsible for investigating, defending and settling any claim that the App infringes someone's intellectual property; you must comply with applicable third-party terms (for example your mobile carrier's) when using the App; and Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of these terms and may enforce them against you.

Apps from Google Play

If you got the App from Google Play, the Google Play Terms of Service also apply to your download. Google is not responsible for the App.

2. Beta and early releases

The Mac App is in beta, and the iPhone, iPad and Android apps are early releases. They may have bugs, lose data or change without notice, and features may be added or removed. Keep your own backups of anything important, including passwords. There is no account. If you switch on iCloud sync on iPhone or iPad (where available), it uses your own iCloud account, which we cannot access. Data on your devices is your responsibility. We may stop offering the App or any version of it at any time.

3. Your data

The App stores your data on your device and does not send it to us (except in-app feedback, and only when you choose to send it). Our privacy policy explains what the App and the Site do with personal data. It forms part of these terms.

4. Third-party services

The App lets you visit websites and use services that we don't control, including search engines and, if you choose, an AI provider through your own API key. Your use of those services is governed by their terms, and you are responsible for any fees they charge (for example, for API usage). We are not responsible for third-party content or services. AI answers can be wrong; check anything important before you rely on it.

5. Acceptable use

Don't use the Site or the App to break the law, infringe anyone's rights, attack or overload our systems or anyone else's, get around security measures, or send spam. Don't use automated tools to abuse our forms. Our acceptable use policy gives more detail and forms part of these terms.

6. Trademarks

“Tao Browser”, “Hostao” and the Hostao logo are trademarks of Hostao L.L.C. Hostao® and the Hostao “H” logo are registered trademarks of Hostao L.L.C (registered in India). These terms and any open-source licence do not give you rights to use them, except to refer truthfully to the App. If you distribute a modified version of the App, you must give it a different name and icon and must not suggest that Hostao makes or endorses it. Unmodified official builds may be shared with the name and logo intact. Arc is a trademark of The Browser Company of New York, Inc. Tao Browser is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Browser Company. Other names belong to their owners.

7. Third-party notices

The full list of open-source components and their licence texts is on our open-source and third-party notices page. In short:

If the App includes other third-party components in the future, we will list them and their licences on that page and in the App.

8. The Site

The content of the Site, including text, screenshots and design, belongs to Hostao. You may share links to it and use the press kit to write about Tao Browser. If you believe something on the Site infringes your copyright, email support@hostao.com with details of the work, where it appears on the Site and your contact information.

9. Disclaimers

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits any guarantee, right or remedy that cannot be excluded or limited under the law that applies to you, including consumer protection law in your country.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE SITE AND THE APP ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”, WITH ALL FAULTS, AND HOSTAO DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS AND CONDITIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT PROMISE THAT THE SITE OR THE APP WILL MEET YOUR NEEDS, OR WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE OR ERROR-FREE.

10. Limitation of liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, HOSTAO, ITS AFFILIATES AND ITS SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, DATA, GOODWILL OR BUSINESS, ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SITE OR THE APP, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS RELATING TO THE SITE AND THE APP IS LIMITED TO ONE HUNDRED US DOLLARS (USD 100). YOUR SOLE REMEDY IF YOU ARE DISSATISFIED IS TO STOP USING THE SITE AND THE APP.

These limits do not apply to liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or to any other liability that cannot be limited by law. If you are a consumer in the EEA or the UK, we are responsible for foreseeable loss caused by our breach of these terms or our negligence, and the cap above does not apply to that.

11. Changes and termination

We may update these terms. We will publish the new version here with a new date, and changes will not apply retroactively. If you keep using the Site or the App after a change takes effect, the new terms apply. You can stop using the App at any time by deleting it. If you seriously break these terms, your licence to use the App ends.

12. Governing law and disputes

Hostao L.L.C is a Wyoming (USA) limited liability company. These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Wyoming, United States of America, and applicable US federal law, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules.

Talk to us first. Before starting any formal claim, email support@hostao.com with a short description, and give us 30 days to try to resolve it in good faith.

Courts. If we can't resolve it, disputes will be decided by the state or federal courts located in Wyoming, and you and we consent to their jurisdiction. Either of us may instead bring an individual claim in a small-claims court where it qualifies. Either of us may ask any competent court for urgent relief to protect intellectual property.

Consumers outside the USA. If you are a consumer, nothing in this section takes away the protection of the mandatory laws of the country where you live, or your right to bring proceedings in your local courts where that law allows it. Users in India keep their rights under Indian law, including under the DPDP Act.

13. General

These terms and the privacy policy are the entire agreement between you and us about the Site and the App. If any part is found unenforceable, the rest stays in effect. If we don't enforce a right, we have not waived it. You may not transfer your rights under these terms without our consent; we may transfer ours to a company that takes over the App. We aren't liable for delays caused by events outside our reasonable control. Communications between us may be electronic, and electronic notices count as written notices.

Export and sanctions. The App is subject to US export control and sanctions laws. You may not download or use it if you are located in, or ordinarily resident in, a country or region under a comprehensive US embargo, or if you are on a US government list of prohibited or restricted parties.

14. Contact

Hostao L.L.C, a Wyoming (USA) limited liability company · support@hostao.com · all addresses on the contact page

Prepared from DocPro template doc97 (Terms and Conditions of Service, Website / Mobile App User Agreement) and adapted for a free beta browser and its website.