Your Terms and Conditions (also called Terms of Service or Terms of Use) is a contract between you and your users. It sets the rules for using your website, app, or product—covering acceptable use, payments, refunds, intellectual property, disclaimers, and more. A clear set of terms reduces disputes, limits legal risk, and makes expectations obvious for everyone.
Below is a practical, plain-English template you can copy and customize. Use it as a starting point and tailor it to your product, industry, and jurisdiction. If you process personal data, pair this with a separate Privacy Policy.
When You Need Terms and Conditions
- When you operate a website, mobile app, SaaS, marketplace, or ecommerce store.
- When you sell products or subscriptions and need to set billing, renewal, and refund rules.
- When you host user-generated content and need acceptable use and takedown procedures.
- When you want to limit your liability, disclaim warranties, or govern how disputes will be resolved.
What This Template Covers
| Section | Purpose | Customize |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction & Agreement | Establishes the contract and who it applies to | Business name, contact, effective date |
| Eligibility & Accounts | Who can use your service and account responsibilities | Age limits, verification, security |
| Acceptable Use | Rules for lawful and fair use | Prohibited activities for your product |
| Subscriptions, Billing & Refunds | How you charge and refund | Prices, renewals, free trials, refund window |
| Intellectual Property | Ownership of content and licenses | Your IP, user content license |
| Third-Party Services | External tools and integrations | Vendors, links, disclaimers |
| Warranties & Disclaimers | Service is provided “as is” | Scope of disclaimers |
| Limitation of Liability | Caps your liability | Typical limits and exclusions |
| Indemnification | When users cover your losses | Scope tied to misuse or breaches |
| Termination | Ending accounts or access | What happens to data and payments |
| Governing Law & Disputes | Which laws apply and how disputes are handled | Jurisdiction, arbitration, class action waiver |
| Changes to These Terms | How you’ll notify users of updates | Notice method and effective date |
| Contact | How users can reach you | Email or support channel |
Copy-and-Paste Terms and Conditions Template
Replace bracketed text with your details. This is a general template and may need adjustments for your industry and local law.
1. Introduction and Agreement
These Terms and Conditions (the “Terms”) govern your access to and use of [Company Name]’s website, products, and services (collectively, the “Services”). By using the Services, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Services.
Company: [Company Name], located at [Address]. Contact: [Support Email]. Effective date: [Date].
2. Eligibility and Accounts
You must be at least [Age] years old to use the Services. If you create an account, you are responsible for maintaining its security and for all activities that occur under your account. Notify us immediately of unauthorized use.
3. Acceptable Use
You agree not to misuse the Services. Prohibited activities include illegal activity; infringing others’ rights; reverse engineering; uploading malware; interfering with security; scraping without permission; and using the Services to send spam or harmful content.
4. Subscriptions, Billing, and Refunds
If you purchase a subscription or product, you authorize us (and our payment processors) to charge your payment method. Prices may change with notice. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled before the renewal date. Where required by law or our policy, we offer refunds within [X] days of purchase; otherwise, all fees are non-refundable.
5. Intellectual Property
All content and materials in the Services, including software, text, images, and logos, are owned by [Company Name] or its licensors and are protected by intellectual property laws. Users retain ownership of content they submit but grant [Company Name] a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, display, and use such content solely to operate and improve the Services.
6. Third-Party Services and Links
The Services may include integrations or links to third-party services. We do not control and are not responsible for third-party content or practices. Your use of third-party services is governed by their terms and policies.
7. Warranties and Disclaimers
The Services are provided “as is” and “as available” without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. We do not guarantee that the Services will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free.
8. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, [Company Name] will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenues, whether incurred directly or indirectly, or loss of data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses. Our total liability for any claim arising out of or relating to the Services is limited to the amount you paid to us in the 12 months prior to the event giving rise to the claim.
9. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless [Company Name] and its affiliates, officers, agents, and employees from any claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your use of the Services or your violation of these Terms or applicable law.
10. Termination
We may suspend or terminate your access to the Services at any time if we suspect misuse, non-payment, or a breach of these Terms. You may stop using the Services at any time. Upon termination, certain provisions will continue to apply, including intellectual property, disclaimers, limitations of liability, and dispute terms.
11. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
These Terms are governed by the laws of [Jurisdiction]. Disputes will be resolved in the courts of [Location] or through binding arbitration where stated. You waive any right to participate in class actions to the fullest extent permitted by law.
12. Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. If we make material changes, we will provide notice by email, in-app message, or by posting a notice on our website. The updated Terms take effect on the date indicated.
13. Contact
Questions about these Terms? Contact us at [Support Email].
How to Use This Template Safely
- Replace placeholders like [Company Name] and [Jurisdiction] with your details.
- Align billing, refund windows, and cancellation rules with your actual product behavior.
- If you collect personal data, link to your Privacy Policy and Cookie settings.
- If you sell to consumers in regulated markets (e.g., EU, UK, US states), check local consumer protection laws.
- Consider consulting a qualified lawyer for industry-specific requirements.
FAQs
Do I need both Terms and Conditions and a Privacy Policy?
Yes. Terms set the rules of use and your liability framework. A Privacy Policy explains how you collect and use personal data. They serve different purposes and are often both required.
Can I copy Terms from another website?
It’s risky. Terms should reflect your specific product, pricing, and risk profile. Use this template as a starting point and customize it to your operations.
Where should I link my Terms?
Place a link in your site footer, during sign-up/checkout, and within your account settings. For apps, include a link in the onboarding flow and settings menu.
Conclusion
Clear Terms and Conditions protect your business and set expectations for users. Use this template, tailor it to your service, and keep it updated as your product evolves.