Underlay is made by LoudOwls. This policy explains what the app does with your data. In short: everything stays on your Mac, unless you choose to send a transcript to an AI service with your own API key. We (LoudOwls) never receive any of your data.
Camera
Underlay uses your camera to show it behind your windows, in the camera bubble and, if you turn it on, as the “Underlay Camera” virtual camera that other apps on your Mac can use. Video is never uploaded or shared by Underlay.
Microphone & screen recording
If you use the built-in recorder, your screen (and, if you choose, your microphone and computer audio, including the other people on a call) is recorded to a file in your Movies folder on your Mac. Recordings are never uploaded. Please let people know when you record a call — some places require everyone’s consent.
Transcripts and captions
Transcripts and captions are made on your Mac by Apple’s on-device speech recognition. The audio never leaves your Mac. Transcripts are kept in Underlay’s own storage on your Mac so they don’t have to be made again.
AI summaries
Summaries are made on your Mac by Apple Intelligence when it’s available. If you choose Claude (Anthropic) or OpenAI in Settings and enter your own API key, then — only when you press Summarize, and only after you confirm — the transcript text (not the audio or video) is sent directly from your Mac to that company, under its terms and privacy policy, using your key. LoudOwls never sees the transcript, the summary or your key. Your keys are stored in your Mac’s Keychain.
Keystroke overlay
If you turn on the keystroke overlay, Underlay reads the keys you press only to draw them on your screen. Keystrokes are never stored, logged or transmitted. macOS does not deliver keystrokes typed into password fields.
Photos, videos and LUTs you choose
If you pick a photo or video as your background, or import a LUT, the app only reads that file to use it.
Data we collect
None. Underlay contains no analytics, no tracking, no advertising and no third-party SDKs. The only network connections it makes are the AI-summary requests described above, which you start yourself.
Data stored on your Mac
Your preferences, scenes, transcripts and imported LUTs are stored locally on your Mac. Deleting the app removes them.
Purchases
Purchases are processed by Apple through the App Store. We never receive your payment details.
Contact
Questions? Contact us via https://www.loudowls.com/products/underlay/support