An independent studio making useful software.
Our story
Cogorium is an independent app studio. We build practical consumer apps with a clear philosophy: software should serve the people who use it, not the other way around.
We started because too much software — even software designed for everyday tasks — is engineered to extract. It collects data it doesn't need, nudges behaviours that benefit advertisers rather than users, and wraps basic functionality in friction designed to keep you engaged rather than get things done.
We think that's a poor trade. And we think enough people agree that there's a place for apps that simply work — cleanly, respectfully, without agenda.
We are a small team. We use a mix of traditional software development and AI-assisted tooling, applied thoughtfully. We don't rush releases. We ship things we're willing to put our name on.
More apps are in the pipeline, all built on the same foundation of privacy, honesty, and focus.
Respectful software is a design choice, not a constraint.
Privacy is non-negotiable
We don't use behavioural tracking, third-party analytics that profile users, or advertising networks. Privacy isn't a feature we offer — it's the baseline from which we build.
No engagement farming
Our apps are tools, not platforms. We have no interest in maximising time-in-app or daily active user metrics. If you open the app for 30 seconds and close it, that's a success.
Free, with optional support
We believe useful software should be accessible. Our apps are free to use. If you find value in them, optional contributions help sustain development. That's the whole business model.
No dark patterns
No fake urgency. No buried opt-outs. No deceptive defaults. No guilt-tripping. We respect your ability to make decisions without being manipulated into them.
Honest about limitations
We're small. We ship carefully. We won't over-promise on features or timelines. When something isn't ready, we say so.
Against tracking-based models
We don't believe the data-for-free-access trade is a good deal for users. Behavioural advertising requires surveillance infrastructure at scale. We want no part in building or feeding it.
Monetisation without exploitation.
We cover costs through optional user contributions — a "support the project" mechanism, not a paywall. We also accept a very limited number of ethical sponsorships: fixed, contextual placements that are clearly labelled, non-targeted, and non-intrusive.
What we don't do: behavioural ads, data selling, profiling, paywalled features, or dark patterns designed to extract money from users who don't notice.