Terms of Service

Last Updated: July 4, 2026

These Terms of Service govern your use of Pulse, operated by Paul Hill Studio LLC, a New York limited liability company. By creating an account or using the Service, you agree to these Terms.

1. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and capable of entering a binding contract. The Service is currently available only to residents of the United States.

2. Description of the Service

Pulse is a commitment device. Users create accountability agreements called Pacts with other users, committing to complete physical fitness goals within a defined time window with a monetary commitment attached. Pulse is not gambling, a contest of chance, or a lottery. Outcomes are determined entirely by each user's individual physical performance, verified through Apple HealthKit.

3. Pact Mechanic

When you create a Pact, you specify the distance goal, cutoff date, and monetary commitment per user. The Pact becomes binding when both participants accept and Pulse successfully authorizes both monetary commitments via Stripe.

If both users complete the distance goal by the cutoff, both commitments are released. If one user completes their goal and the other does not, the completing user receives the failing user's commitment less the Pulse platform fee. If neither user completes their goal by the cutoff, the Pact enters Race Mode. Both commitments are captured and held by Pulse until one user completes the goal. There is no time limit on Race Mode.

You acknowledge that if a Pact enters Race Mode and neither participant ever completes their goal, your commitment may be held by Pulse indefinitely.

4. Payments

All payments are processed through Stripe, Inc. Pulse charges a platform fee of ten percent (10%) on commitments transferred between users. You agree not to dispute or chargeback any payment for a Pact you accepted.

5. Verification

Pulse verifies workout completion exclusively through Apple HealthKit. Manually entered workouts are not accepted. Workouts must meet minimum criteria for duration, distance, and pace. Supported sources include Apple Watch, Apple Fitness, Strava, Garmin Connect, Nike Run Club, and others listed in the app.

You may also record a run directly in Pulse, which uses your device's GPS to trace your route and measure distance and pace, and saves the run to Apple Health. Runs recorded in Pulse are verified through the same HealthKit process and must meet the same criteria; runs that cannot be verified are not counted. GPS accuracy depends on your device and environment; Pulse does not guarantee that every recorded run will be captured or verified.

6. Account Deletion

You may delete your account at any time through the app. Active pacts must be resolved before deletion. Your data will be removed within 30 days, subject to legal retention requirements.

7. Limitation of Liability

Pulse's liability for any claim is limited to the greater of $100 or the total platform fees you paid in the prior 12 months. Pulse is not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.

8. Dispute Resolution

Any dispute arising from these Terms shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by JAMS in New York, New York. You waive any right to participate in a class action proceeding.

9. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York.

10. Contact

Paul Hill Studio LLC
161 Water St, New York, NY 10038
hey@paulhill.nyc