Terms of Service

Last updated: April 26, 2026

These Terms of Service govern your use of The Harold ("Harold," "Service," "we," "us"). By subscribing or using our service, you agree to these terms.

1. The Service

The Harold is a subscription audio news briefing service. Each morning, we generate a short (~5 minute) audio briefing of the day's news and deliver it to you via SMS link. The Premium plan includes personalization based on your location, preferences, and interests.

2. Subscription & Billing

We offer two paid tiers:

The Harold Basic: $3.50/month or $31.50/year (~$2.63/month)
The Harold (Premium): $5.00/month or $45/year (~$3.75/month)

All subscriptions include a 7-day free trial. You will not be charged during the trial period. Billing begins on day 8 unless you cancel before then. Subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each billing period. Payments are processed by Stripe.

3. Cancellation

You may cancel at any time by:

Texting STOP to the number Harold texts from
Using the contact form on our website

Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period. We do not offer refunds for partial months.

4. SMS Terms

By providing your phone number, you consent to receive automated text messages from The Harold. This includes:

Your daily briefing link (1 message per day)
Trial and subscription notifications (occasional)

Standard message and data rates apply. You may opt out at any time by texting STOP. For help, text HELP. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. SMS delivery is via Twilio.

5. Content & Editorial Standards

Harold generates news briefings using AI. While we strive for accuracy, balanced sourcing, and factual reporting:

Briefings are AI-generated summaries, not primary journalism
We are not responsible for errors in source material
Corrections are issued in the following day's briefing
Harold does not provide financial, legal, or medical advice

6. No Advertising

The Harold will never run advertisements, sponsorships, or paid placements in briefings. Your subscription is our only revenue source.

7. Acceptable Use

You may not:

Share, redistribute, or republish briefing content commercially
Attempt to circumvent payment or access controls
Use our service for automated or bulk data collection
Abuse or harass our support team

8. Intellectual Property

All briefing audio, scripts, and website content are owned by The Harold. Your subscription grants you a personal, non-commercial license to listen to and share individual briefings for personal use.

9. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Service is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not guarantee uninterrupted service, delivery at any specific time, or that briefings will be free of errors. Occasional service interruptions may occur for maintenance or technical issues.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, The Harold's total liability to you shall not exceed the amount you paid in the 3 months preceding the claim.

11. Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, USA, without regard to conflicts of law principles.

12. Changes to These Terms

We may update these terms. We'll notify you via SMS and post the updated version at this URL. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance.

13. Contact

Questions? Use the contact form on our homepage.