Effective Date: March 12, 2026
PLEASE READ THESE TERMS OF SERVICE CAREFULLY. BY ACCESSING OR USING THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY UNIX SHELLS ("COMPANY," "WE," "US," OR "OUR"), YOU ("USER," "YOU," OR "YOUR") ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS OF SERVICE ("TERMS" OR "AGREEMENT"). IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS, YOU MUST NOT ACCESS OR USE THE SERVICES.
THESE TERMS CONTAIN A MANDATORY INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION PROVISION AND CLASS ACTION/JURY TRIAL WAIVER PROVISION IN SECTION 14 THAT REQUIRES THE USE OF ARBITRATION ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS TO RESOLVE DISPUTES. BY ACCEPTING THESE TERMS, YOU AGREE THAT YOU AND THE COMPANY ARE EACH WAIVING THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY OR TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION.
"Services" means the latch terminal multiplexer software, the latch relay SSH relay service, the Unix Shells managed shell VMs, the Unix Shells web terminal, the Unix Shells mobile application, the Unix Shells website located at unixshells.com, and any related software, tools, documentation, APIs, and infrastructure provided by the Company.
"Relay Service" means the paid SSH relay service operated by the Company that enables Users to access their machines remotely through persistent QUIC connections without requiring a public IP address, port forwarding, or VPN configuration.
"Shell Service" means the paid managed Linux virtual machine service operated by the Company that provides Users with pre-configured Ubuntu VMs accessible via SSH, web terminal, and mobile application. Each shell is an isolated KVM virtual machine.
"Web Terminal" means the browser-based terminal interface at unixshells.com that allows authenticated Users to access their shells and relay devices. Authentication is performed via the OPAQUE protocol, where the User's password never leaves the browser.
"Account" means the User's registered account with the Company, including all associated devices, credentials, SSH keys, configuration data, and subscription information.
"Content" means any data, text, files, commands, terminal sessions, or other materials transmitted through, processed by, or stored in connection with the Services.
2.1. You must be at least eighteen (18) years of age, or the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction if greater than eighteen, to create an Account and use the Services.
2.2. You are limited to one (1) Account per natural person. You must provide a valid email address that you own and control. You must provide accurate, current, and complete information during the registration process and maintain the accuracy of such information.
2.3. You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your Account credentials, SSH keys, and any other authentication materials. You are fully responsible for all activities that occur under your Account, whether or not authorized by you. You agree to immediately notify the Company at [email protected] of any unauthorized use of your Account or any other breach of security.
2.4. The Company reserves the right to refuse registration, suspend, or terminate any Account at its sole discretion, with or without cause, and with or without notice.
3.1. The Company provides latch, an open source terminal multiplexer with built-in remote access capabilities, distributed under the MIT License. latch is provided free of charge and may be used without an Account.
3.2. The Company operates the Relay Service, a complimentary service provided free of charge to all registered Users. The Relay Service enables Users to establish SSH connections to their machines through the Company's relay infrastructure and forwards encrypted SSH traffic between the User's client and the User's latch daemon. The relay infrastructure does not decrypt, inspect, store, or modify the contents of SSH sessions. The Company reserves the right to impose reasonable usage limits and to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Relay Service at any time.
3.3. The Company operates the Shell Service, a paid subscription service that provides managed Linux virtual machines with pre-installed developer tools. Each shell is an isolated KVM virtual machine with persistent home directory storage. Shell plans include Relay Service access. The Company does not access, inspect, or monitor the contents of User shells or terminal sessions.
3.4. The Company provides a web terminal interface that enables browser-based access to shells and relay devices. The web terminal uses OPAQUE (RFC 9807) zero-knowledge password authentication. SSH keys generated via the web terminal are encrypted client-side with keys derived from the User's password. The Company cannot decrypt these keys.
3.5. The Company provides a mobile application for iOS and Android platforms that enables SSH, mosh, and SFTP connections. The mobile application is provided free of charge under the MIT License.
3.6. The Company reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Services at any time, with or without notice. The Company shall not be liable to you or any third party for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of the Services.
4.1. You agree that you will not use the Services to:
4.2. The Company reserves the right, but has no obligation, to monitor use of the Services for compliance with these Terms. The Company may, in its sole discretion, immediately terminate or suspend your access to the Services without notice or liability for any violation of these Terms.
5.1. The Relay Service is provided free of charge to all registered Users and does not require a paid subscription. The Shell Service requires a paid subscription. Current pricing: Shell Service is twelve United States dollars ($12.00) per month per shell. All fees are quoted and payable in United States dollars. The Company reserves the right to change its pricing at any time upon thirty (30) days' prior notice to Users with active subscriptions.
5.2. All payments are processed through Stripe, Inc. ("Stripe"). By subscribing to any paid Service, you agree to Stripe's terms of service and privacy policy. You authorize the Company and Stripe to charge your designated payment method on a recurring basis at the applicable subscription interval (monthly or annually) until you cancel your subscription.
5.3. Subscriptions automatically renew at the end of each billing period unless canceled prior to the renewal date. You may cancel your subscription at any time through the web terminal dashboard, the latch CLI, or by contacting the Company at [email protected]. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. No prorated refunds will be issued for partial billing periods. When a Shell subscription is canceled, the VM is destroyed but home directory data is retained for thirty (30) days.
5.4. All fees are non-refundable except at the Company's sole discretion. If you believe there is an error in your billing, you must contact the Company at [email protected] within thirty (30) days of the charge in question.
5.5. You are responsible for all applicable taxes, duties, and governmental assessments arising from your use of the Services, excluding taxes based on the Company's net income.
6.1. YOU AGREE TO CONTACT THE COMPANY AT [email protected] TO RESOLVE ANY BILLING DISPUTES BEFORE INITIATING A CHARGEBACK, PAYMENT DISPUTE, OR REVERSAL WITH YOUR BANK, CREDIT CARD COMPANY, OR PAYMENT PROVIDER.
6.2. If you file a chargeback, payment dispute, or payment reversal with your bank, credit card company, or payment provider without first contacting the Company and making a good-faith effort to resolve the dispute directly, the Company reserves the right to immediately terminate your Account and pursue all available legal remedies, including recovery of the disputed amount, associated chargeback fees, administrative costs, and reasonable attorneys' fees to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
6.3. By creating an Account and subscribing to any paid Service, you expressly acknowledge and agree that you have accepted these Terms, including this chargeback provision, and that the Company may submit evidence of your acceptance of these Terms, your Account activity, and your use of the Services in response to any chargeback or payment dispute.
7.1. The latch terminal multiplexer, the Unix Shells mobile application, and other software components designated as open source are licensed under the MIT License. Your rights to use, copy, modify, and distribute such software are governed by the MIT License, not by these Terms.
7.2. The Company's relay infrastructure, server-side systems, proprietary APIs, trade secrets, and any non-open-source components of the Services are the exclusive property of the Company and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws. Nothing in these Terms grants you any right, title, or interest in such proprietary components except the limited right to use the Services in accordance with these Terms.
7.3. The Unix Shells name, logo, and associated trademarks and service marks are the property of the Company. You may not use any Company trademarks without prior written consent.
Your use of the Services is subject to the Company's Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into and made a part of these Terms by this reference. By using the Services, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in the Privacy Policy.
9.1. You may terminate your Account at any time by running latch relay delete-account or by contacting the Company at [email protected]. Upon termination, the Company will delete your Account data, SSH keys, and billing records in accordance with the Privacy Policy.
9.2. The Company may suspend or terminate your Account and access to the Services immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including but not limited to a breach of these Terms, suspected fraudulent or illegal activity, or extended periods of inactivity.
9.3. Upon termination, all rights and licenses granted to you under these Terms shall immediately cease. Sections 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 shall survive any termination or expiration of these Terms.
10.1. THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE. THE COMPANY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND ANY WARRANTIES ARISING OUT OF COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE.
10.2. THE COMPANY DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, SECURE, OR FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. THE COMPANY DOES NOT WARRANT THAT ANY DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED OR THAT THE SERVICES WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS OR EXPECTATIONS.
10.3. THE COMPANY MAKES NO WARRANTY REGARDING THE RELIABILITY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, OR PERFORMANCE OF THE SERVICES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE RELAY INFRASTRUCTURE, NETWORK LATENCY, CONNECTION STABILITY, OR DATA TRANSMISSION INTEGRITY.
10.4. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties. In such jurisdictions, the above exclusions shall apply to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
11.1. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COMPANY, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AFFILIATES, SUCCESSORS, OR ASSIGNS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, DATA, USE, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR ACCESS TO OR USE OF, OR INABILITY TO ACCESS OR USE, THE SERVICES, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STATUTE, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, EVEN IF THE COMPANY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
11.2. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE COMPANY'S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICES SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNTS YOU HAVE PAID TO THE COMPANY IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLARS ($100.00).
11.3. THE COMPANY SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS, DAMAGE, OR INJURY RESULTING FROM HACKING, TAMPERING, UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS, OR OTHER UNAUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES OF THIRD PARTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICES OR YOUR ACCOUNT.
11.4. The limitations of liability set forth in this Section 11 are fundamental elements of the basis of the bargain between the Company and you. Some jurisdictions do not allow the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages. In such jurisdictions, the Company's liability shall be limited to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Company, its officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliates, successors, and assigns from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs) arising out of or relating to: (a) your use of or access to the Services; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your violation of any applicable law or regulation; (d) your violation of any third-party rights, including any intellectual property, privacy, or publicity rights; or (e) any Content transmitted through the Services using your Account. This indemnification obligation shall survive the termination of these Terms and your use of the Services.
13.1. These Terms and any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, United States of America, without regard to its conflict of laws principles.
13.2. Subject to the arbitration provision in Section 14, any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to these Terms that is not subject to arbitration shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in San Francisco County, California, and you hereby irrevocably consent to the personal jurisdiction and venue of such courts.
PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY. IT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING YOUR RIGHT TO FILE A LAWSUIT IN COURT AND TO HAVE A JURY TRIAL.
14.1. Agreement to Arbitrate. You and the Company agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services, including the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, shall be resolved by binding individual arbitration administered by JAMS pursuant to its Comprehensive Arbitration Rules and Procedures then in effect, and not by a court or jury. There is no judge or jury in arbitration, and court review of an arbitration award is limited.
14.2. Arbitration Procedures. The arbitration shall be conducted by a single neutral arbitrator in San Francisco, California, or at another mutually agreed location, or via telephone or videoconference if the amount in controversy is less than ten thousand United States dollars ($10,000.00). The arbitrator shall apply California law consistent with the Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. Sections 1-16) and shall honor claims of privilege recognized at law. The arbitrator's award shall be final and binding, and judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.
14.3. Costs and Fees. Each party shall bear its own attorneys' fees and costs in arbitration, except as otherwise provided by applicable law. If a statute gives you the right to recover attorneys' fees, that statutory right shall apply in arbitration. JAMS filing, administrative, and arbitrator fees shall be governed by JAMS's then-current rules.
14.4. Small Claims Exception. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may bring an individual action in small claims court in San Francisco County, California, for claims that are within the jurisdictional limits of that court.
14.5. CLASS ACTION AND JURY TRIAL WAIVER. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, YOU AND THE COMPANY EACH WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY. YOU AND THE COMPANY EACH WAIVE THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION, COLLECTIVE ACTION, PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ACTION, OR OTHER REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND. THE ARBITRATOR MAY NOT CONSOLIDATE MORE THAN ONE PERSON'S CLAIMS AND MAY NOT OTHERWISE PRESIDE OVER ANY FORM OF A CLASS, COLLECTIVE, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. IF THIS CLASS ACTION WAIVER IS FOUND TO BE UNENFORCEABLE, THEN THE ENTIRETY OF THIS ARBITRATION PROVISION SHALL BE NULL AND VOID, BUT THE REMAINDER OF THESE TERMS SHALL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.
14.6. Opt-Out. You may opt out of this arbitration provision by sending written notice to the Company at [email protected] within thirty (30) days of your first acceptance of these Terms. Your notice must include your name, Account username, email address associated with your Account, and an unequivocal statement that you wish to opt out of this arbitration provision. If you opt out, you may still bring claims against the Company, but only in a court of competent jurisdiction in San Francisco County, California.
15.1. Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and the Company with respect to the Services and supersede all prior or contemporaneous communications, proposals, and agreements, whether oral or written, between you and the Company relating to the subject matter hereof.
15.2. Severability. If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, legal, and enforceable, or if modification is not possible, severed from these Terms. The invalidity of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of these Terms.
15.3. Waiver. The failure of the Company to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. Any waiver of any provision of these Terms shall be effective only if in writing and signed by the Company.
15.4. Assignment. You may not assign or transfer these Terms or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Company. The Company may assign these Terms or any rights or obligations hereunder without restriction and without notice to you. These Terms shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each party's successors and permitted assigns.
15.5. Force Majeure. The Company shall not be liable for any delay or failure to perform its obligations under these Terms due to causes beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, war, terrorism, riots, embargoes, acts of civil or military authorities, fire, floods, power outages, network infrastructure failures, strikes, or shortages of transportation, facilities, fuel, energy, labor, or materials.
15.6. Notices. The Company may provide notices to you via email at the address associated with your Account or by posting on the Services. You are responsible for ensuring that your email address is current. Notice is deemed received twenty-four (24) hours after an email is sent or when posted on the Services.
15.7. Modifications to Terms. The Company reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. If the Company makes material changes to these Terms, the Company will provide notice via email to the address associated with your Account at least thirty (30) days before the changes take effect. Your continued use of the Services after the effective date of any modifications constitutes your acceptance of the modified Terms. If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you must stop using the Services and delete your Account.
15.8. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. These Terms are for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and nothing herein shall give or be construed to give any other person or entity any legal or equitable right, remedy, or claim under or with respect to these Terms.
15.9. Headings. The headings in these Terms are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation or construction of these Terms.
15.10. Electronic Communications. By using the Services, you consent to receiving electronic communications from the Company. You agree that all agreements, notices, disclosures, and other communications that the Company provides to you electronically satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be in writing.
If you have any questions regarding these Terms, please contact the Company at [email protected].