# Is NotchNook safe? What its pages state

> Is NotchNook safe? Its terms say it is Developer ID signed and notarized, closed, paid and licensed per Mac. See its privacy page, permissions and refund terms.

Canonical: https://www.notchstar.com/best/is-notchnook-safe/
Last updated: 2026-11-05

Published 2026-11-05.

This page answers "is NotchNook safe" by listing what the maker's own pages say, read on 5 November 2026. They state that NotchNook is signed with a Developer ID and notarized by Apple, that it is published by a company called lo fi cafe, LLC, and that it is closed and paid. They do not list every permission. Below are the facts, the gaps and the checks you can run.

## What its pages state

"Not stated" means the pages do not say, which is different from "no".

| Question | What its pages state |
|---|---|
| Who makes it | The footer of lo.cafe says lo fi cafe, LLC. The privacy policy names it as publisher and controller. The company page says the brand was founded in Brazil in 2019 and names no individual or location for the LLC. Contact is hi@lo.cafe. |
| Open or closed source | Not described as open source. The Terms grant a limited, non exclusive, revocable license and restrict copying, modifying, reverse engineering and redistributing. |
| Signed and notarized | Terms section 5: distributed outside the Mac App Store, "signed with a Developer ID certificate and notarised by Apple". |
| Where to download | The Terms say the official download is available from locafe.app, and say copies from elsewhere are not checked by the maker. |
| Permissions | The FAQ says it asks only for the macOS permissions a feature needs, with Calendar for events and the camera for the mirror as examples. It says skipping one turns off that feature. It does not list every permission. |
| Data it collects | See the next section. |
| Price | Pro is $19 lifetime or $3 a month. Classic is $15 lifetime or $2 a month. One license covers 2 Macs. Prices as of 5 November 2026. |
| Trial | 48 hours with every feature, no card needed. The Terms say the trial restarts with each feature update. |
| Refunds | A full refund within 7 days of purchase, asked for by email, with no reason needed. The FAQ says purchases made through Paddle follow Paddle's refund policy. |

## What its privacy policy says it collects

The privacy policy, effective 21 October 2026, covers the NotchNook application and its website. It says:

- It handles your name, email address and message contents when you give them, and the email used at checkout.
- It collects device and browser information, operating system version and an approximate location derived from your IP address.
- For licenses, it uses a device identifier generated for each Mac where a license is activated.
- The app contacts a server to validate the license, and a license stays valid offline for up to 30 days between checks.
- From 16 October 2026 it measures purchase sources with first party campaign information. It says this sets no analytics cookies, uses no browser storage and loads no third party analytics.
- It mentions diagnostic details such as app version, macOS version and error details when you send them to support. It does not mention automatic crash reporting.
- Payment, hosting and email providers process data. It says it does not sell personal information.
- Purchase and license records are kept while the license is valid, then longer where accounting, tax or disputes require.

The FAQ adds that your notes, files and camera content stay on your Mac. Whether the app sends usage data of its own, beyond the license check, is not stated on these pages. The pages do not describe an account in the app. They say the trial needs no card, and the privacy policy refers to the email used at checkout.

## How to check it yourself

1. **Check the signature.** Run `spctl -a -vv /Applications/NotchNook.app` in Terminal. A notarized app answers `accepted` with the source `Notarized Developer ID`. If the answer differs from the Terms, delete that copy and download again from the maker's page. Apple explains Gatekeeper and notarization at [Apple’s Gatekeeper page](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102445).
2. **Check the source of the download.** The Terms name locafe.app for the official download, while the NotchNook site with the FAQ is getnotchnook.com. If you are unsure which address belongs to the maker, follow the download link from lo.cafe/notchnook.
3. **Read the privacy policy before you start the trial.** It takes a few minutes, and it is the only place the maker states what is collected.
4. **Review permissions.** Open Apple menu, System Settings, Privacy & Security. Each category lists the apps that asked for access, and you can turn off any you do not want. Apple's page describes macOS 27 (checked 5 November 2026), so labels may differ on older versions.
5. **Watch the network.** A network monitor such as Little Snitch shows which servers the app contacts. You should expect the license server, per the privacy policy.
6. **Use the refund window.** If you buy and are not comfortable, the Terms give 7 days to ask for a full refund by email.

## What the pages leave open

The Terms disclaimer says the maker does not warrant that the services will be secure or free from harmful components. That is a standard legal disclaimer. The gaps in its pages are the full permission list and whether any usage data is sent beyond the license check. For general questions to ask of any app, use [the notch app privacy checklist](https://www.notchstar.com/guides/notch-app-privacy-checklist/), and for the basics see [Are Mac notch apps safe](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/are-notch-apps-safe/).

## How NotchStar compares

NotchStar is closed source and signed with a Developer ID and notarized since version 1.0.3, the same as NotchNook says of itself. It has no account, and nothing is measured unless you opt in to anonymous version info. It asks for four permissions: Calendars, Reminders, Camera and Automation. It costs $4 once for up to 3 Macs, with a 7 day trial and a 7 day refund. Prices as of 5 November 2026. NotchNook Pro does more, with live activities and a lock screen display, and is the better pick if you want those. See the [side by side comparison](https://www.notchstar.com/vs/notchnook/), the [NotchNook alternatives](https://www.notchstar.com/alternatives/notchnook/) and [Is NotchStar safe](https://www.notchstar.com/guides/is-notchstar-safe/).

## Sources

All pages were read on 5 November 2026.

- [NotchNook on lo.cafe](https://lo.cafe/notchnook)
- [lo.cafe privacy policy](https://lo.cafe/privacy/)
- [lo.cafe terms](https://lo.cafe/terms/)
- [lo.cafe company page](https://lo.cafe/company/)
- [NotchNook FAQ](https://getnotchnook.com/faq)
- [Apple, Gatekeeper and notarization](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102445)
- [Apple, change Privacy & Security settings](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/change-privacy-security-settings-on-mac-mchl211c911f/mac)
- [NotchStar privacy page](https://www.notchstar.com/privacy/)

## Quick answers.

### Is NotchNook signed and notarized?

Section 5 of its Terms says NotchNook is distributed outside the Mac App Store, signed with a Developer ID certificate and notarised by Apple. You can confirm it on your own copy with the spctl command.

### Does NotchNook need an account or an internet connection?

Its pages mention no account. The app contacts a license server, and its Terms say a license stays valid offline for up to 30 days between checks. The trial is 48 hours with no card needed.

### Is NotchNook open source?

Its pages do not describe it as open source. The Terms grant a limited, revocable license and restrict copying, modifying and reverse engineering, so treat the code as closed.

## Keep reading.

- [Is NotchStar safe? Signing, permissions and what it sends](https://www.notchstar.com/guides/is-notchstar-safe/): NotchStar is signed and notarized by Apple, needs no account and sends nothing unless you opt in. See every permission it asks for and how to check it yourself.
- [A privacy checklist for any Mac notch app](https://www.notchstar.com/guides/notch-app-privacy-checklist/): Seven checks to make before you install a notch app: permissions, notarization, network use, data storage and what to do if something looks off.
- [Are Mac notch apps safe?](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/are-notch-apps-safe/): Notch apps are ordinary Mac apps with ordinary risks. What to check before installing one: source, notarization, permissions, network use and account needs.
- [NotchStar vs NotchNook](https://www.notchstar.com/vs/notchnook/): NotchStar and NotchNook compared: price, macOS and Intel support, trial, release history and features, from NotchNook’s own website.
- [NotchNook alternatives](https://www.notchstar.com/alternatives/notchnook/): NotchStar and NotchNook compared: price, macOS and Intel support, trial, release history and features, from NotchNook’s own website.

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