Service Description
Kaikou (the "App") is a native macOS menu-bar voice input app developed and operated by the Kaikou team ("we"). It provides speech recognition, text insertion, AI polishing, and related features.
By downloading, installing, or using the App, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.
Free Services
Kaikou Basic includes the following features, free forever:
- Speech-to-text via the SenseVoice offline engine or Apple Speech
- 4 hotkey modes (double-tap Command / hold Right Option / double-tap Right Command / hold Fn)
- Basic text insertion
We promise that Basic speech-to-text remains free forever — basic recognition capability will never be removed or limited by future updates.
Premium Features & Subscriptions
Kaikou comes in three tiers: Basic (free), Pro, and Ultra. Basic voice input is free forever; Pro and Ultra are App Store subscriptions with all payments handled by Apple — we never directly collect your payment information. AI polishing requires you to configure a third-party AI service yourself.
Plans and Entitlements
Pro (¥12/month or ¥98/year) includes:
- Everything in Basic
- 4-row parallel AI candidate generation
- Terminology-aware translation
- SenseVoice offline recognition engine
Ultra (¥15/month or ¥149/year) includes:
- Everything in Pro
- Multi-device sync (coming soon)
- Priority support
Free Quota & Subscriptions
Free users get 100 AI recognition credits per day (1 AI-enhanced recognition = 1 credit), reset automatically at midnight with no rollover. Subscribing to Pro or Ultra unlocks unlimited AI credits and all advanced features. There is no free trial — billing starts from the first cycle. Cancel anytime; access continues until the period ends.
Auto-Renewal
Subscriptions renew automatically. Within 24 hours before expiry, Apple charges the next cycle (monthly or yearly) to the payment method linked to your Apple ID. Unless you turn off auto-renewal at least 24 hours before the current period ends, the subscription renews automatically.
Cancellation
You can cancel anytime: open System Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions, find Kaikou, and click "Cancel Subscription". Features remain available until the end of the current period, then downgrade to the free Basic tier. Fees already paid are non-refundable.
To manage your subscription, you can also visit the Apple subscription management page.
User Responsibilities
When using the App, you agree to:
- Not reverse-engineer, decompile, or disassemble the App, or otherwise attempt to obtain its source code or technical implementation;
- Not use the App for any activity that violates the laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China;
- Not abuse or maliciously use the App's services, including but not limited to hammering AI interfaces or disrupting normal operation;
- Keep your account credentials safe — issues caused by your own handling are your responsibility;
- Comply with the Apple App Store terms of use.
Intellectual Property
The Kaikou brand, logo, app software, and all its content (including but not limited to interface designs, snippet templates, and AI prompt templates) are the intellectual property of the Kaikou team, protected by the copyright law of the People's Republic of China and related international treaties.
Without our written permission, you may not copy, modify, distribute, or disseminate any part of the App, nor use its intellectual property for commercial purposes.
Third-party open-source components are governed by their respective licenses; see the Open Source Licenses page.
Disclaimer
- AI-generated content. Text produced by AI polishing, AI candidates, and similar features is for reference only; we do not guarantee its accuracy, completeness, or fitness for a particular purpose. You judge its use and bear the associated risk.
- "As is" provision. The App is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. To the maximum extent permitted by law, we make no express or implied warranties, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.
- Recognition accuracy. Speech recognition may be imperfect due to accents, speech rate, or background noise. We do not guarantee 100% accuracy — please verify important content before use.
- Third-party services. AI polishing depends on the third-party AI provider you configure. That provider is responsible for its availability, latency, and content quality; we assume no liability for third-party service failures or content issues.
Termination
- By you. You may stop using the App at any time — simply uninstall it.
- By us. If you violate these Terms, we may terminate your access without notice. For serious violations, we reserve the right to pursue legal remedies.
- Service changes. We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or terminate any part or all of the service at any time. We will endeavor to give advance notice of material changes or terminations.
Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the People's Republic of China. Disputes arising from or relating to these Terms should first be resolved through friendly negotiation; failing that, either party may bring the dispute before the people's court with jurisdiction where we are located.
Updates to These Terms
We may revise these Terms from time to time. Updates are published on this site (17kaikou.com/terms.html). Material changes will be announced via in-app notifications or on this website. Continued use of the App after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
Contact Us
If you have questions about these Terms, reach us at:
- Email: support@17kaikou.com
- Website: 17kaikou.com