Terms of Service

Last Updated: April 2026

Welcome to Groundzy. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Groundzy tree mapping platform and services ("Service"). By accessing or using our Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account, accessing, or using Groundzy, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use our Service.

2. Description of Service

Groundzy is a professional tree mapping and management platform that provides:

  • Interactive GPS-based tree mapping
  • Tree species identification (Identifying Wand)
  • Tree history and health tracking
  • GZ-TIN (Groundzy Tree Identification Number) system
  • Team collaboration tools
  • Data export and reporting features
  • Optional automated insights and notifications (such as in-app, email, or SMS) related to trees and conditions you choose to track

3. Assumption of Risk; Informational Service; No Professional Advice

3.1 Not a Safety or Emergency Service

The Service is not a substitute for emergency services (such as 911 in the United States), official government or municipal alerts, or on-site professional assessment. You must use your own judgment and appropriate emergency and professional resources.

3.2 No Professional Advice

Groundzy does not provide arboricultural, engineering, surveying, legal, or other professional advice. Species identification, health indicators, risk scores, storm-related or weather-related assessments, recommendations, and similar outputs are informational and may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. You should retain qualified professionals for inspection, pruning, removal, permitting, and compliance with applicable laws.

3.3 Insights and Notifications Are Not Guaranteed

Features such as intelligence insights, risk classifications, weather-related prompts, and notifications (including in-app, email, or SMS) are provided for convenience. We do not guarantee that hazards will be detected, that outputs are accurate or complete, or that notifications will be delivered, delivered on time, or received by you. Network, device, carrier, and third-party service issues may prevent delivery.

3.4 Your Responsibility

You are solely responsible for inspecting and maintaining trees and property, verifying conditions on site, and deciding when to engage licensed or qualified professionals. You agree not to rely on the Service as your sole source of safety information.

3.5 Inherent Risks

You acknowledge that trees and weather involve inherent risks; property damage, personal injury, or death can occur regardless of information shown in the Service.

4. Account Registration

4.1 Account Requirements

To use our Service, you must:

  • Be at least 13 years of age
  • Provide accurate and complete registration information
  • Maintain the security of your account credentials
  • Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access
  • Be responsible for all activities under your account

4.2 Account Types

We offer subscription tiers: Groundzy Home (free), optional Groundzy Plus (Home add-on), Groundzy Pro, and Groundzy Teams. Each tier has different features and limitations as described on our Pricing page.

5. Subscription and Payment

5.1 Subscription Plans

Paid subscriptions (Pro and Teams) are billed:

  • Monthly or annually, as selected
  • In advance for the subscription period
  • Automatically renewed unless cancelled

Groundzy Pro and Groundzy Teams may begin with a 14-day free trial. A valid payment method is required to start a Pro or Teams trial. You will not be charged during the trial period. Unless you cancel before the trial ends, your selected plan automatically converts to a paid subscription and your payment method will be charged according to the monthly or annual billing cycle selected at checkout.

5.2 Cancellation and Refunds

You may cancel your subscription at any time:

  • Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period
  • You retain access to paid features until the period ends
  • No refunds are provided for partial billing periods
  • Annual subscriptions cancelled mid-term are not eligible for prorated refunds

5.3 Price Changes

We reserve the right to modify subscription prices. Existing subscribers will be notified at least 30 days in advance of any price changes affecting their renewal.

5.4 Client payments (Stripe Connect)

Pro and Teams subscribers may enable client payments through Stripe Connect. Groundzy facilitates payment collection on your connected Stripe account; we are not the merchant of record for client invoice charges.

  • Card payment rates depend on your subscription tier and payment method (cards, Link, Klarna, ACH, and others where available). Published US domestic card payment rates are shown on each Pro and Teams plan on our Pricing page.
  • You may choose to absorb card fees or pass them through to your client where permitted by applicable law.
  • Method-specific rates apply when your client selects Klarna, bank debit, or other non-card methods at checkout.
  • Platform card fees are disclosed at charge time and are generally non-refundable if the underlying payment is refunded or disputed.
  • Enterprise customers may receive custom rates by agreement.

Passing payment-method surcharges to end clients (including BNPL) may be restricted in some jurisdictions. You are responsible for compliance with applicable laws.

6. User Obligations

You agree to:

  • Use the Service only for lawful purposes
  • Not upload malicious code or attempt to breach security
  • Not interfere with or disrupt the Service
  • Not use the Service to violate any laws or regulations
  • Not infringe on intellectual property rights
  • Not share your account credentials with others
  • Comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws

7. Intellectual Property

7.1 Your Content

You retain ownership of all tree data, photos, and content you upload to Groundzy ("Your Content"). By using our Service, you grant us a license to store, process, and display Your Content solely for the purpose of providing the Service.

7.2 Our Content

The Groundzy platform, including its design, features, software, and documentation, is owned by Groundzy and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, or create derivative works without our written permission.

8. Data and Privacy

Your use of our Service is also governed by our Privacy Policy. We are committed to protecting your data and maintaining your privacy. You may export your tree data at any time through the Service.

9. Service Availability

We strive to maintain high availability but do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free service. We may perform maintenance, updates, or modifications that temporarily affect availability. We are not liable for any downtime or service interruptions.

10. Limitation of Liability

WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, GROUNDZY AND ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO PHYSICAL HARM, PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE CONNECTED WITH TREES, WEATHER EVENTS, OR YOUR USE OF OR RELIANCE ON INSIGHTS, ASSESSMENTS, RECOMMENDATIONS, OR NOTIFICATIONS PROVIDED THROUGH THE SERVICE.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

  • GROUNDZY IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND
  • WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
  • WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
  • OUR TOTAL LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID IN THE 12 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE CLAIM

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or limitations of liability, so some of the above may not apply to you.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Groundzy, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from your use of the Service, violation of these Terms, or infringement of any rights of another party.

12. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account if you:

  • Violate these Terms
  • Engage in fraudulent or illegal activity
  • Fail to pay subscription fees
  • Misuse the Service

Upon termination, your access to the Service will cease, but you may export your data for a reasonable period as specified in our data retention policy.

13. Dispute Resolution

13.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Illinois, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.

13.2 Dispute Resolution Process

Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Service shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association, conducted in Aurora, Illinois. You waive your right to a jury trial and to participate in class action lawsuits.

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be notified via email or through the Service. Your continued use after changes constitutes acceptance. If you do not agree to modified Terms, you must stop using the Service.

15. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, please contact us:

16. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Groundzy regarding the Service and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.