Terms of
Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User", "you") and ShieldLink Team ("we", "us", "our") governing your access to and use of the ShieldLink VPN Android application and any associated services (collectively, the "Service").

By downloading, installing, or using the Service, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

2. Description of Service

ShieldLink VPN is an Android application that provides encrypted VPN connectivity using the OpenVPN protocol with AES-256 encryption. The Service connects users to VPN servers sourced from VPNGate (vpngate.net), an academic VPN project operated by the University of Tsukuba, Japan, as well as ShieldLink's own proprietary servers.

2.1 Free Tier

The free tier provides access to public VPNGate nodes with standard connection speed. The free tier is supported by advertisements delivered via Google AdMob.

2.2 Pro Subscription

The Pro subscription ("Pro") removes all advertising, enables priority server selection, and provides unlimited connection speed. Pro is available as a monthly subscription, annual subscription, or lifetime one-time purchase.

3. Subscriptions & Billing

3.1 Pricing

All prices are in USD. Applicable taxes may be added at checkout depending on your location. Payment processing is handled by Paddle.com, our authorised Merchant of Record.

3.2 Automatic Renewal

Monthly and annual subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each billing period unless cancelled before the renewal date. You will receive an email receipt for each renewal charge.

3.3 Cancellation

You may cancel your subscription at any time by contacting us at [email protected] with your order details. Upon cancellation, your Pro access will continue until the end of the current paid billing period and will not renew thereafter. No partial refunds are issued for unused time within a billing period except as provided under Section 4.

4. Refund Policy

We want you to be satisfied with ShieldLink VPN Pro. Refunds are available under the following conditions:

4.1 Eligibility

• Refund requests must be submitted within 14 days of the original purchase date.
• The refund request must state a valid reason, such as the Service not functioning as described on our website.
• Refunds are available for first-time purchases of each plan type. Repeat purchases of the same plan are not eligible for refund.

4.2 How to Request a Refund

Email us at [email protected] with the subject line Refund Request — [Your Order ID]. Include your order ID (found in your purchase confirmation email) and a brief description of the issue.

4.3 Processing

Refund requests are reviewed within 3 business days. Approved refunds are processed back to the original payment method. Depending on your payment provider, funds may take 5–10 business days to appear in your account.

5. Acceptable Use Policy

You agree to use the Service only for lawful purposes. You must not use ShieldLink VPN to:

• Engage in any activity that violates applicable local, national, or international law or regulation
• Transmit, distribute, or store material that infringes any intellectual property rights
• Conduct denial-of-service attacks, port scanning, or other network abuse
• Distribute malware, spyware, ransomware, or any malicious code
• Access systems or data without authorisation
• Engage in spamming, phishing, or other fraudulent activities
• Harass, threaten, or harm any individual or group
• Access, download, or distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or any content that exploits minors

6. Intellectual Property

The ShieldLink VPN application, including its source code, design, graphics, and branding, is the exclusive property of ShieldLink Team and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence to install and use the App on your personal Android device solely for the purposes described in these Terms. You may not:

• Reverse-engineer, decompile, or disassemble the App
• Copy, modify, or create derivative works based on the App
• Resell, sublicense, or otherwise distribute the App or any part thereof
• Remove or alter any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices

The App incorporates open-source components including ics-openvpn (licensed under the GPLv2). Source code attributions are available within the App under Settings → Open Source Licences.

7. Third-Party Services

The Service integrates or relies upon the following third-party services:

These third-party services are subject to their own terms and privacy policies. ShieldLink Team is not responsible for the content, availability, or practices of third-party services.

8. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability

8.1 No Warranty

The Service is provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

8.2 Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, ShieldLink Team shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of data, loss of revenue, or interruption of service, arising from your use of or inability to use the Service.

8.3 VPN Limitations

9. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will update the Effective Date at the top of this page. For material changes we will provide notice through the App or by email to your registered address.

Continued use of the Service after any changes to these Terms constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree with the updated Terms, you must stop using the Service.

10. Governing Law & Disputes

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with applicable international law. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms that cannot be resolved through good-faith negotiation shall be submitted to binding arbitration under internationally recognised arbitration rules.

Nothing in this section shall prevent either party from seeking injunctive or other equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent imminent harm.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding these Terms, please reach out: