Privacy Policy

Last updated: June 5, 2026

        TL;DR: MQTT Explorer is a native macOS app. It does not collect, transmit, or store any personal data. The built-in broker runs on your Mac, and MQTT traffic only goes to the brokers you explicitly connect to. No analytics, no tracking, no phone-home.
      

What MQTT Explorer Does

MQTT Explorer is a native macOS application for MQTT communication. It can run a local MQTT broker, publish and subscribe to topics, and inspect message traffic. It runs entirely on your Mac.

Data Collection

MQTT Explorer does not collect, transmit, or store any personal data. Specifically:

No MQTT data leaves your Mac. Topic payloads, subscriptions, and message history exist only in the app's memory and your local storage. The built-in broker does not relay messages to any external server.
No device or broker information is collected. Broker hostnames, ports, credentials, and topic configurations entered in the app are stored locally for your convenience and never sent anywhere.
No usage analytics. The app does not include any analytics SDK, tracking pixels, or telemetry. We do not know how you use the app.
No crash reporting. The app does not send crash reports automatically. If you report a bug, you choose what information to share.

Network Communication

The app makes network connections only to the MQTT brokers you explicitly configure:

External brokers: Connects to the host and port you specify (e.g. HiveMQ, EMQX, AWS IoT, Azure IoT Hub, or your own broker), over TCP, TLS, or WebSocket.
Built-in broker: Listens on a local port on your Mac (default 1883) so your own devices and clients can connect. It does not expose itself to the internet unless you choose to.
License activation (DMG version only): If you purchased via Polar.sh, the app contacts dl-mqtt-explorer.voltrus.id to validate your license key. This sends only your license key and a device identifier — no other data.

The Mac App Store version does not include license activation — Apple handles everything.

Local Storage

The app stores the following data locally on your Mac:

Broker connection profiles (host, port, credentials, TLS settings) — stored in app preferences
Topic subscriptions and retained-message cache — stored in app preferences
License activation data (DMG version only) — stored in macOS Keychain
Message history — stored in memory only, cleared when the app closes

All local data can be deleted by removing the app. No residual data is left on your Mac after deletion.

License Purchase

Licenses for the DMG version are processed through Polar.sh. We receive only your email address and purchase details. We do not receive or store payment card information. License keys are managed by Polar.sh.

The Mac App Store version is processed by Apple. We receive only the information Apple provides through App Store Connect (sale reports with anonymized data).

Children's Privacy

MQTT Explorer is an industrial automation and IoT debugging tool. It is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children.

Cookies and Analytics

This product page (voltrus.id/mqtt-explorer/) uses privacy-focused analytics (One Dollar Stats) that does not use cookies or track individual users. The app itself contains zero analytics.

Third-Party Services

Polar.sh — Payment processing and license key management (DMG version only). Their privacy policy applies to purchase data.
Apple App Store — Payment processing and distribution (App Store version). Apple's privacy policy applies.
Cloudflare — Hosts the license validation and update server. No personal data is stored on Cloudflare beyond temporary request logs.

Data Retention

We retain your email address (from Polar.sh purchases) for as long as necessary to provide license support. We do not maintain any database of users, devices, or usage patterns. You can request deletion of your purchase data by emailing us.

Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

Request access to the personal data we hold about you
Request deletion of your personal data
Object to processing of your personal data
Request a copy of your data in a portable format

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance.

Contact

For privacy-related questions or data requests, contact support@voltrus.id.