Rebates never reads your code.
The sponsored footer pays you for showing a line, not for your work. The default flow does not read, upload, or scan your source code, files, prompts, or chat transcripts. Contextual sponsors are opt-in and redacted on your machine — and you can turn the whole thing off in one command.
The line pays you, not your codebase.
You do not have to upload traces, transcripts, or source to earn. The sponsored footer renders, we count that it was visible, and you get credited. That is the whole loop.
- No source-code uploads or filesystem scans in the default flow.
- Ad relevance uses limited device/request + broad category data.
- Contextual matching is opt-in, disclosed, and redacted on-device.
- Turn it off with `rebate off`; settings restore byte-for-byte.
What Rebates can see, and what it never touches.
A clear line between the two. The left is everything the default flow needs to serve a sponsor and credit you. The right never leaves your machine in that flow.
- A random device id and session state
- Which sponsor was shown, and when it was visible
- Coarse platform + IP signal for ad matching
- Broad developer-tool category (not your content)
- Your source code, files, or repositories
- Your prompts and chat transcripts
- Your keystrokes or terminal output
- Any filesystem scan of your machine
If you want more relevant sponsors, you opt in — with your eyes open.
Contextual matching is off unless you turn it on. When it is on, the CLI may send a short local summary after redacting secrets, emails, file paths, URLs, and code blocks on your machine, and after an explicit disclosure. Redaction is a safeguard, not a guarantee, so only opt in for content you are allowed to share. Decline and you still earn.
The default footer is not contextual — it does not need to know what you are building. Contextual mode is a separate, disclosed choice that trades a redacted summary for a more relevant line. Either way, your raw code and transcripts stay yours.
Preview it, back it up, turn it off.
Nothing changes without you seeing it first, and nothing is permanent.
rebate planPreview every change before it is applied.
byte-for-byte backupYour original settings are copied before any edit.
rebate offDisable and restore your settings, one command.
Straight answers about terminal-ad privacy.
Does Rebates read my code?
No. The default sponsored-footer flow does not read, upload, or scan your source code, files, prompts, or chat transcripts. It shows a sponsored line and counts when it was visible — nothing about what you are writing is required for that.
Is it safe to run in my terminal?
Yes. Before it changes anything, Rebates backs up your Claude Code and Codex settings byte-for-byte, and you can preview every change with `rebate plan`. It adds a sponsored footer line and clickable-link setup — it does not run your code or exfiltrate your workspace.
What data leaves my machine by default?
Only what is needed to serve and count a sponsor: a random device id, session state, the request, coarse platform and IP information for ad matching, and broad developer-tool category information. No raw code, files, or transcripts.
What about contextual sponsors?
Contextual matching is opt-in. If you turn it on, the CLI may send a short local summary after on-device redaction of secrets, emails, file paths, URLs, and code blocks, and after an explicit disclosure. Redaction is a safeguard, not a guarantee, so only opt in for content you are allowed to share. You can decline and still earn.
How do I turn it off?
Run `rebate off`. It disables the Claude Code and Codex integration and restores your settings from the byte-for-byte backup. You can also purge local Rebate state with the documented purge option.
Does Rebates sell my code or transcripts?
No. Rebates does not sell your raw local files, raw source code, raw prompts, or raw chat transcripts. See the full Privacy Notice for how limited ad and account data is handled.
Earn from your terminal, keep your code to yourself.
Install in one command. Preview with rebate plan, and off anytime with rebate off.
curl -fsSL https://rebates.ai/install | bash