Terms of Service

This Terms of Service Agreement is effective as of the date last updated — see the Last Updated date at the top of this page.

Last Updated: [Date — insert before launch]

These Terms of Service govern your use of the Communities OS platform operated by Communities OS, accessible at communitiesos.app, and all associated services, features, and content provided by Communities OS.

PLEASE READ THESE TERMS OF SERVICE CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THE COMMUNITIES OS PLATFORM. BY ACCESSING OR USING THE SERVICE, CREATING AN ACCOUNT, ACCESSING THE DEMO COMMUNITY, OR PURCHASING A SUBSCRIPTION, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS, DO NOT ACCESS OR USE THE SERVICE.

Definitions

The following definitions apply throughout these Terms of Service:

"Agreement" means these Terms of Service, together with the Communities OS Privacy Policy at communitiesos.app/privacy-policy and any additional terms, policies, or agreements incorporated by reference.

"Communities OS," "we," "us," or "our" refers to the company operating the Communities OS platform at communitiesos.app.

"Service" means the Communities OS platform, website, demo community, mobile applications, done-for-you professional services, and all associated features, content, and functionality provided by Communities OS at communitiesos.app and related domains.

"Account" means the account you create to access and use the Service.

"Organization" means the church, nonprofit, professional association, alumni organization, ministry, foundation, volunteer organization, membership organization, or other entity that creates an Account and uses the Service to operate a private community.

"Administrator" means a user who creates or manages an Account on behalf of an Organization and has authority to bind the Organization to these Terms.

"Member" means an individual who joins and participates in a private community operated by an Organization using the Service.

"Community" means the private branded community portal operated by an Organization using the Service.

"Subscription" means a paid plan — Foundation, Growth, or Authority — that grants an Organization access to designated features of the Service for a recurring billing period.

"Content" means all text, images, video, audio, course materials, announcements, discussions, files, and other materials posted, uploaded, or transmitted through the Service by any user.

"Organizational Content" means Content created, uploaded, or posted by an Organization or its Members within the Organization's Community.

"Done-For-You Services" means the professional setup, configuration, automation, course creation, white label branding, and monetization build services offered by Communities OS as described at communitiesos.app/services.

"Subscription Fee" means the recurring monthly or annual fee charged for access to a Communities OS Subscription plan.

Acceptance of Terms

2.1 — Agreement to Terms

By accessing or using the Service in any way — including visiting communitiesos.app, accessing the demo community at communitiesos.app/demo, creating an Account, purchasing a Subscription, or engaging Done-For-You Services — you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and the Communities OS Privacy Policy at communitiesos.app/privacy-policy.

If you are accepting these Terms on behalf of an Organization, you represent and warrant that you have the authority to bind that Organization to these Terms. In that case, "you" and "your" refer to both you as an individual and the Organization you represent.

2.2 — Minimum Age Requirement

You must be at least 18 years of age to create an Account or purchase a Subscription. By creating an Account, you represent and warrant that you are at least 18 years old. If you are accepting these Terms on behalf of an Organization, you represent that you are of legal age in your jurisdiction to enter into binding contracts on behalf of that Organization.

2.3 — Updates to Terms

Communities OS reserves the right to update or modify these Terms of Service at any time. When we make material changes, we will:

  • Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
  • Notify registered Account holders by email at the address associated with their Account
  • Display a prominent notice on the platform or website where appropriate

Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of any updated Terms constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree with the updated Terms, you must stop using the Service and may request Account deletion by contacting [email protected].

The Service

3.1 — Service Description

Communities OS provides a private community management and member engagement platform for churches, nonprofits, professional associations, alumni organizations, ministries, foundations, volunteer organizations, and mission-driven businesses. The Service allows Organizations to create, configure, and operate private branded community portals for their members — including features for channels and groups, live video and events, native course delivery, member management, automation and workflows, gamification, direct messaging, mobile access, white label branding and custom domain, monetization, and analytics and reporting.

The specific features available to your Organization depend on the Subscription plan you select. Full feature details and plan comparisons are available at communitiesos.app/pricing.

3.2 — Demo Community Access

Communities OS provides free access to a fully built live demo community at communitiesos.app/demo for the purpose of evaluating the Service before purchasing a Subscription. Demo community access is subject to these Terms of Service. The demo community is a shared evaluation environment — Organizations should not use the demo community to store proprietary data, conduct operational community activities, or invite active members.

3.3 — Service Availability

Communities OS makes reasonable efforts to ensure the Service is available and accessible at all times. However, we do not guarantee uninterrupted, error-free, or continuously available service. The Service may be temporarily unavailable due to:

  • Scheduled maintenance and platform updates
  • Unplanned technical issues or infrastructure failures
  • Events beyond our reasonable control including natural disasters, internet outages, and third-party service failures

Communities OS will make reasonable efforts to notify Account holders of scheduled maintenance that may affect Service availability. We are not liable for any damages or losses resulting from Service unavailability except as required by applicable law.

3.4 — Service Modifications

Communities OS reserves the right to modify, update, enhance, or discontinue features or functionality of the Service at any time. We will make reasonable efforts to notify Account holders of material changes to features that affect their Subscription. We are not liable for any modifications to the Service that affect your use of the platform.

3.5 — Done-For-You Professional Services

Done-For-You Services — including community setup and build, automation architecture, course creation, white label branding configuration, and monetization build — are available as separate one-time engagements described at communitiesos.app/services. Done-For-You Services are subject to these Terms of Service and any additional service-specific terms communicated at the time of engagement. Done-For-You Services are non-refundable once work has commenced unless otherwise agreed in writing by Communities OS.

Accounts and Registration

4.1 — Account Creation

To access most features of the Service you must create an Account. When creating an Account you agree to:

  • Provide accurate, current, and complete information as requested during registration
  • Maintain and promptly update your Account information to keep it accurate and complete
  • Maintain the security of your Account credentials including your password
  • Notify Communities OS immediately of any unauthorized access to your Account at [email protected]
  • Accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your Account

4.2 — Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your Account login credentials. You agree not to share your Account credentials with any unauthorized individual. Communities OS is not liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to maintain Account security or from unauthorized access to your Account resulting from your failure to maintain adequate security practices.

4.3 — Organization Accounts

When you create an Account on behalf of an Organization, you represent that you are authorized to act on behalf of that Organization and to bind it to these Terms. The Organization is responsible for all activities conducted through the Account — including the activities of all Administrators and Members within the Organization's Community.

4.4 — Account Accuracy

You agree not to create an Account using a false identity, misrepresent your organizational affiliation, or provide false or misleading information during registration or at any time during your use of the Service.

Subscriptions and Payment

5.1 — Subscription Plans

Communities OS offers three Subscription plans with different features and pricing:

  • Foundation — core community features for organizations launching their first private community
  • Growth — includes Foundation features plus automation, native course delivery, member segmentation, and engagement tracking
  • Authority — includes Growth features plus white label branding, custom domain, monetization, advanced analytics, and priority support

Current Subscription pricing and feature details are available at communitiesos.app/pricing. Communities OS reserves the right to modify Subscription pricing with advance notice to existing subscribers as described in Section 5.7.

5.2 — Billing Cycles

Subscriptions are available on monthly or annual billing cycles:

Monthly Billing

Monthly Subscriptions are billed on a recurring monthly basis beginning on the date of initial purchase. Monthly Subscriptions renew automatically each month until cancelled.

Annual Billing

Annual Subscriptions are billed annually on a recurring basis beginning on the date of initial purchase. Annual Subscriptions include two months of access at no additional charge — making the effective cost equivalent to ten months of the monthly rate. Annual Subscriptions renew automatically each year until cancelled.

5.3 — Payment Processing

All Subscription payments and Done-For-You Service payments are processed through Stripe, our third-party payment processor. By purchasing a Subscription or Done-For-You Service, you authorize Communities OS to charge your designated payment method through Stripe for all applicable fees.

You agree to provide valid, current payment information and to maintain valid payment information throughout your Subscription term. If your payment fails, Communities OS reserves the right to suspend or terminate your Account access until payment is resolved.

For information about how Stripe processes and protects your payment data, please review the Stripe Privacy Policy at stripe.com/privacy.

5.4 — Free Demo Access

The Communities OS demo community at communitiesos.app/demo is provided at no charge and does not require a credit card or payment method. Free demo access does not constitute a Subscription and does not create a recurring billing obligation. Demo access may be modified or discontinued at any time at Communities OS's discretion.

5.5 — Automatic Renewal

All Subscriptions — both monthly and annual — renew automatically at the end of each billing period unless cancelled before the renewal date. You authorize Communities OS to charge your designated payment method for each renewal period. Communities OS will make reasonable efforts to send a renewal reminder before annual Subscription renewal.

To cancel automatic renewal, follow the cancellation process described in Section 5.8 before your renewal date.

5.6 — No Refund Policy

All Subscription Fees are non-refundable except as required by applicable law or as expressly stated otherwise by Communities OS. We do not provide refunds for:

  • Partial months of Subscription access on monthly plans
  • Unused portions of annual Subscription terms
  • Features that were modified or discontinued during a Subscription term
  • Cancellations made after a billing cycle has commenced

If you have a billing dispute or believe you have been charged in error, contact us within 30 days of the disputed charge at [email protected] or (855) 599-0659.

5.7 — Pricing Changes

Communities OS reserves the right to modify Subscription pricing. For existing subscribers:

  • Price changes affecting monthly Subscriptions will take effect no sooner than 30 days after notice is provided
  • Price changes affecting annual Subscriptions will take effect at the next annual renewal date following notice

Communities OS will notify existing subscribers of pricing changes by email to the address associated with their Account. Your continued use of the Service after a price change takes effect constitutes acceptance of the new pricing.

5.8 — Cancellation

Monthly Subscriptions

You may cancel a monthly Subscription at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. You retain access to the Service through the end of the paid billing period. No partial refunds are provided for unused days in the final billing period.

Annual Subscriptions

You may cancel an annual Subscription at any time. Cancellation prevents automatic renewal at the next annual renewal date. You retain access to the Service through the end of the paid annual term. Annual Subscription fees are non-refundable.

How to Cancel

To cancel your Subscription, contact Communities OS at:

Upon cancellation you retain the right to export your Organizational Content and community data before your access period ends. See Section 8 (Organizational Content and Data) for data export information.

5.9 — Plan Upgrades and Downgrades

Upgrades

You may upgrade your Subscription plan at any time. Upgrades take effect immediately and you will be charged a prorated amount for the upgrade for the remainder of the current billing period.

Downgrades

You may downgrade your Subscription plan at any time. Downgrades take effect at the start of the next billing period. Downgrading to a lower plan may result in loss of access to features available only on higher-tier plans. It is your responsibility to export or migrate any content or configuration associated with features that will no longer be available after a downgrade.

Acceptable Use Policy

6.1 — Permitted Use

You may use the Service for the lawful purpose of operating a private community for your Organization and its Members — in accordance with these Terms of Service and all applicable laws and regulations.

6.2 — Prohibited Activities

You agree not to use the Service for any purpose that is unlawful, harmful, or prohibited by these Terms. Prohibited activities include but are not limited to:

Illegal and Harmful Activities

  • Using the Service for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable local, state, national, or international law or regulation
  • Facilitating, promoting, or enabling illegal activity of any kind
  • Collecting or storing personal information about other users in violation of applicable privacy laws
  • Using the Service to harass, threaten, intimidate, or harm any individual

Platform Abuse

  • Accessing or attempting to access any portion of the Service for which you do not have authorization
  • Attempting to probe, scan, or test the vulnerability of the Service or any related system or network
  • Attempting to interfere with, disrupt, or disable the Service or servers connected to it
  • Using automated tools, bots, scrapers, or crawlers to access, collect, or monitor the Service without express written permission from Communities OS
  • Circumventing or attempting to circumvent any security, access control, or authentication mechanism of the Service
  • Reverse engineering, decompiling, disassembling, or otherwise attempting to derive the source code of the Service

Content Violations

  • Uploading, posting, or transmitting Content that infringes any intellectual property right of any third party
  • Uploading, posting, or transmitting Content that is defamatory, obscene, pornographic, or sexually explicit
  • Uploading, posting, or transmitting Content that contains or promotes hate speech, discrimination, or violence based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic
  • Uploading, posting, or transmitting malware, viruses, or any other malicious code
  • Impersonating any person, organization, or entity in a misleading or harmful way

Commercial Misuse

  • Reselling or sublicensing access to the Service without express written permission from Communities OS
  • Using the Service to build a competing product or service
  • Using the Service to aggregate or scrape data for commercial purposes outside the scope of your Subscription

6.3 — Community Standards

Organizations using Communities OS to operate a private community are responsible for establishing and enforcing appropriate community standards within their Community. Communities OS is not responsible for Content posted by Organization Administrators or Members within private Communities and does not monitor or moderate Community Content in the ordinary course of operations.

However, Communities OS reserves the right to remove Content or suspend access to any Community that — upon receiving a report or becoming aware of a violation — is found to violate these Terms, applicable law, or our content policies.

Intellectual Property

7.1 — Communities OS Intellectual Property

The Service — including the platform software, design, user interface, features, functionality, documentation, and all Communities OS-authored content — is owned by Communities OS and protected by applicable intellectual property laws including copyright, trademark, patent, and trade secret laws.

These Terms do not grant you any right, title, or interest in the Service or Communities OS intellectual property beyond the limited license to use the Service as described in Section 7.3. You agree not to:

  • Copy, modify, distribute, sell, or sublicense any part of the Service
  • Use the Communities OS name, logo, or trademarks without express written permission
  • Remove or alter any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices in the Service

7.2 — Organizational Content Ownership

Your Organization retains full ownership of all Organizational Content — all text, images, video, audio, course materials, announcements, discussions, files, and other materials created, uploaded, or posted by your Organization or its Members within your Community.

Communities OS does not claim ownership of Organizational Content. Communities OS does not sell, commercially exploit, or use Organizational Content for any purpose other than providing the Service to your Organization.

7.3 — License Grant to Communities OS

By uploading or posting Organizational Content to the Service, your Organization grants Communities OS a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to host, store, process, display, and transmit your Organizational Content solely for the purpose of providing the Service to your Organization. This license is limited to what is technically necessary to operate the Service and terminates when you delete the Content or close your Account.

7.4 — License Grant to You

Subject to these Terms and payment of applicable Subscription Fees, Communities OS grants your Organization a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Service for your Organization's internal community management purposes during the term of your Subscription.

7.5 — Feedback

If you provide Communities OS with feedback, suggestions, or ideas about the Service, you grant Communities OS a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable license to use, incorporate, and commercialize that feedback without any obligation to compensate you.

Organizational Content and Data

8.1 — Your Responsibility for Organizational Content

Your Organization is solely responsible for all Organizational Content posted, uploaded, or transmitted through the Service. By posting Organizational Content you represent and warrant that:

  • You own the Content or have all necessary rights, licenses, and permissions to post it
  • The Content does not infringe any intellectual property right, privacy right, or other right of any third party
  • The Content complies with these Terms and all applicable laws
  • The Content does not contain malware, viruses, or other harmful code

8.2 — Data Export and Portability

Your Organization may export Organizational Content and community data at any time through the data export tools available in your Communities OS admin dashboard. Communities OS does not impose data export fees, data hostage practices, or exit penalties of any kind. It is your responsibility to export your data before your Subscription ends if you wish to retain it following cancellation.

8.3 — Data Following Account Termination

Following cancellation or termination of your Account:

  • You retain access to the Service and your community data through the end of your paid access period
  • After your paid access period ends, your community data is retained for a reasonable period to allow for account reactivation or dispute resolution
  • After the retention period, your community data is deleted or anonymized in accordance with our Privacy Policy
  • Communities OS is not responsible for any loss of data that occurs after the end of your paid access period if you have not exported your data

8.4 — Member Data Responsibility

As the community Administrator, your Organization is the data controller for all Member data collected within your Community. Your Organization is responsible for:

  • Maintaining appropriate privacy notices for your Members
  • Obtaining any required consents for data collection and processing
  • Complying with applicable data protection laws in your jurisdiction
  • Handling Member data requests including access, correction, and deletion requests

Communities OS processes Member data within your Community as a data processor acting under your Organization's direction. See the Communities OS Privacy Policy at communitiesos.app/privacy-policy for additional information about data processing practices.

Third-Party Services and Integrations

9.1 — Payment Processing

Subscription and Done-For-You Service payments are processed by Stripe. Your use of Stripe's payment services is subject to the Stripe Services Agreement available at stripe.com/legal. Communities OS is not responsible for the practices, policies, or actions of Stripe.

9.2 — Third-Party Integrations

The Service may offer integrations with third-party tools, platforms, and services. When you enable a third-party integration within your Community, you are subject to the terms and privacy policies of that third-party service. Communities OS is not responsible for the functionality, availability, security, or data practices of any third-party integration.

9.3 — Third-Party Links

The Service may contain links to third-party websites or resources. These links are provided for convenience only. Communities OS does not endorse and is not responsible for the content, products, services, or practices of any linked third-party website.

Disclaimers and Warranties

10.1 — Disclaimer of Warranties

10.2 — No Professional Advice

The Communities OS platform, content, and services do not constitute legal, financial, tax, accounting, psychological, medical, or other professional advice. Nothing in the Service or these Terms should be construed as professional advice of any kind. Organizations should consult appropriate professional advisors for guidance specific to their circumstances.

Limitation of Liability

Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Communities OS and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and service providers from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses — including reasonable attorneys' fees — arising from or related to:

  • Your use of or access to the Service
  • Your violation of these Terms of Service
  • Your violation of any applicable law or regulation
  • Your Organizational Content or your Members' Content posted through the Service
  • Your violation of any third-party right including any intellectual property right, privacy right, or other proprietary right
  • Any dispute between your Organization and your Community Members arising from your operation of a Community using the Service

Termination

13.1 — Termination by You

You may terminate your use of the Service at any time by cancelling your Subscription as described in Section 5.8 and ceasing all use of the Service. Termination does not entitle you to any refund of prepaid Subscription Fees except as required by applicable law.

13.2 — Termination by Communities OS

Communities OS may suspend or terminate your Account and access to the Service at any time — with or without notice — for any of the following reasons:

  • Your violation of these Terms of Service or any Communities OS policy
  • Your failure to pay applicable Subscription Fees
  • Activity that Communities OS determines — in its sole discretion — poses a risk to the Service, other users, or third parties
  • A request from a law enforcement or government authority
  • An extended period of Account inactivity
  • Discontinuation of the Service or any portion thereof

Where practicable, Communities OS will provide advance notice of termination and a reasonable opportunity to export your data before access is terminated.

13.3 — Effect of Termination

Upon termination of your Account:

  • Your right to access and use the Service ceases immediately or at the end of your paid access period as applicable
  • Communities OS may delete your Account and Organizational Content in accordance with the data retention practices described in our Privacy Policy
  • All provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination — including intellectual property provisions, warranty disclaimers, limitations of liability, and indemnification — remain in full force and effect

Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

14.1 — Governing Law

These Terms of Service are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States and the State of [INSERT BEFORE LAUNCH — governing law state], without regard to its conflict of law principles.

14.2 — Informal Resolution

Before initiating formal dispute resolution proceedings, you agree to first contact Communities OS at [email protected] or (855) 599-0659 to attempt to resolve any dispute informally. Communities OS will make reasonable efforts to resolve disputes through direct communication within 30 days of receiving written notice of the dispute.

14.3 — Arbitration Agreement

If informal resolution is unsuccessful, you and Communities OS agree to resolve any dispute, claim, or controversy arising from or related to these Terms or the Service through binding individual arbitration rather than in court — except as provided in Section 14.5.

The arbitration shall be administered by a recognized arbitration organization under its applicable rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in English and the arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding.

14.4 — Arbitration Opt-Out

You may opt out of the arbitration agreement by sending written notice to [email protected] within 30 days of first accepting these Terms. Your opt-out notice must include your name, Account email address, and a clear statement that you are opting out of the arbitration agreement.

14.5 — Exceptions to Arbitration

Notwithstanding the arbitration agreement, either party may seek emergency injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent actual or threatened infringement of intellectual property rights or other irreparable harm. Claims that are within the jurisdiction of a small claims court may also be brought in small claims court.

14.6 — Jurisdiction

For any claims not subject to arbitration, you agree to submit to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in [INSERT BEFORE LAUNCH — governing law state].

General Provisions

15.1 — Entire Agreement

These Terms of Service, together with the Communities OS Privacy Policy and any additional terms communicated at the time of purchase or engagement, constitute the entire agreement between you and Communities OS regarding your use of the Service — superseding all prior agreements, understandings, or representations relating to the subject matter.

15.2 — Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid under applicable law, that provision will be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable — or if it cannot be modified, it will be severed from these Terms. The remaining provisions of these Terms will continue in full force and effect.

15.3 — Waiver

The failure of Communities OS to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision. No waiver of any term shall be deemed a continuing waiver of that or any other term.

15.4 — Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or any rights or obligations under them without the prior written consent of Communities OS. Communities OS may assign these Terms — in whole or in part — to any affiliate, successor, or acquirer without your consent.

15.5 — Force Majeure

Communities OS shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance resulting from causes beyond our reasonable control — including natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, internet outages, labor disputes, government actions, or other force majeure events.

15.6 — Relationship of the Parties

These Terms do not create a partnership, joint venture, employment, franchise, or agency relationship between you and Communities OS. You and Communities OS are independent parties.

15.7 — Notices

Communities OS may provide notices to you through email to the address associated with your Account, through a notice posted on the Service, or through other reasonable means. You may provide notices to Communities OS by email at [email protected] or by contacting us through communitiesos.app/contact.

15.8 — Headings

Section headings in these Terms are for convenience only and have no legal or contractual effect.

Contact Us — Terms of Service Questions

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, need to exercise rights described in these Terms, or want to contact Communities OS regarding any provision of this Agreement, please reach out through any of the following channels:

Email: [email protected]

For all Terms of Service questions, billing disputes, cancellation requests, and account inquiries

Phone: (855) 599-0659

Business hours — Monday through Friday

Web Contact Form: communitiesos.app/contact

Select the appropriate inquiry type for your question

Mailing Address:

Communities OS
[INSERT BEFORE LAUNCH — physical address if applicable]
United States

For urgent matters including active security concerns, data breach notifications, or time-sensitive legal notices, contact us by phone at (855) 599-0659 for the fastest response.