Your files.Your keys.Your Loft.

Loft is a Mac app being built to keep big project folders and archives in the cloud, encrypted with keys only you hold. Files stay in the cloud until you open them, so your disk stays free. Free during the beta.

Alpine morning.mov

Encrypted in Loft storage

Stored in the cloud: 500 MB
Local copy: 0 MB

Designed so files stay in the cloud until you open them, with no copy kept on this Mac.

Illustrative fileOpen in your Mac apps

Concept preview · An illustration of the planned experience.

Loft is in early development. Everything here describes how it’s being built.

Encrypted files stay in the cloud until you open them.

For Macs that are always almost full: client projects, video and audio work, old archives you can’t delete.

The goal: your cloud files show up like any other folder on your Mac and open in the Mac apps you already use. Three principles guide Loft.

Your keys protect your files.

Loft is designed to encrypt file contents and sensitive metadata on your devices. You hold the decryption keys.

Keep your disk free.

Loft is designed so files stay in the cloud until you open them, with no copy on your Mac. Some apps and macOS may keep their own copies. Changes stay encrypted on your Mac until they’re safely uploaded.

No identity checks.

You sign up without a name, email or ID. A 12-word recovery phrase gets you back in.

The roadmap

Start on Mac.
More choice ahead.

The Mac private beta comes first with Loft-managed storage. External storage providers come next, followed by encrypted shared folders, then more desktop platforms. These are planned steps, with no release dates.

First: the Mac private beta

Start with storage provided by Loft, without setting up a separate cloud account. Free during the beta, with 1 GB per account shared across your Macs. During the beta, Loft is designed to keep only the current version of each file, so deleting a file is permanent. Paid plans with more space are planned; prices aren’t set yet.

Next: bring your own storage

Keep your existing storage provider and choose which personal files or folders to protect with Loft’s encryption and your own keys. Supported providers and compatibility with your existing files and apps are still undecided.

Then: encrypted shared folders

Shared folders are planned to require Loft-managed storage. Invite friends and teammates, each using their own account and keys. Real-time co-editing of documents isn’t part of the plan.

Later: Windows and Linux

Desktop apps are planned for Windows first, then Linux. Supported versions and integration details are still undecided.

Privacy by design

Private files. A private account.

Encrypted before it leaves your Mac

File contents, filenames and folder structure are designed to be encrypted on your Mac before upload, so neither Loft nor the storage provider can read them. Encrypted file sizes and access times remain visible.

An account without identity checks

You sign up without a name, email or ID. Your account is designed so Loft never needs to know who you are.

Your recovery phrase is designed to stay with you alone. Keep it somewhere safe: if you lose both the phrase and every trusted Mac, Loft cannot recover your encrypted files.

A security review comes before release.

Why twelve recovery words?

Loft is being built to let you recover your account and encrypted files with twelve private words: your Loft recovery phrase. No email and no password reset. Write the words down and keep them somewhere safe.

Anyone with the phrase can access your account and files, so never share it. If you lose both the phrase and every trusted Mac, nobody can restore access, not even us.

For the technically curious: the Mac app is designed to generate the words with Apple’s cryptographically secure randomness. They represent 128 bits of random data. A short checksum only helps catch typing mistakes. The words use the BIP39 word list, but a Loft recovery phrase is not a crypto wallet. Encryption is still being built.

Be among the first to try Loft.

Get beta invitations as Loft takes shape.

This is an optional mailing list. Loft accounts are designed to be created without a name or email.

Loft is being built by Andreas Osberghaus, an independent developer. Follow @getloftapp.

FAQ

Questions and answers

Still have a question? Ask us on X

Get my beta invite

What is Loft?

Loft is a Mac app being built for encrypted cloud storage. It’s designed to keep your files in the cloud, open them in the apps you already use, and give you your local space back.

How does Loft save space?

Your files stay in the cloud until you open them, not on your Mac. When an app opens one, Loft is designed to read it without keeping a copy on your Mac. Changes stay encrypted on your Mac until they’re uploaded, then the local copy is removed.

Does opening a file use space on my Mac?

Loft is designed not to keep a copy. Files stay in the cloud until you open them. Some apps and macOS may keep their own copies, and changes that haven’t uploaded yet use some space until they do.

Can I use my files offline?

Opening files needs an internet connection. Changes you make offline are kept and upload when you’re back. Keeping chosen files available offline is planned for after the beta.

Are my files encrypted?

That’s the goal. Loft is designed to encrypt file contents, filenames and folder structure on your Mac before upload, with keys only you hold, so neither Loft nor the storage provider can read them. Encryption is still being built, and a security review comes before release.

Do I need to give my name or email?

No. Loft is designed so you can use it without identity checks: no name, no email, no ID. Instead you get a private recovery phrase of twelve words. Keep it safe, because if you lose both the phrase and every trusted Mac, nobody can restore access, not even us. The waitlist uses your email only for beta invitations.

Will I ever have to give my name?

Not for a Loft account. A billing email is optional and is never used to sign in.

Is Loft free?

Free during the beta, with 1 GB per account to try it with real project files. Paid plans with more space are planned; prices aren’t set yet.

Can I get back deleted files or older versions?

Not during the beta. It keeps only the current version of each file, and deleting is permanent. Keep your own backup of anything important.

Does Loft collect usage data?

Loft sends pseudonymous usage data, such as setup progress and whether file operations succeed, plus basic app and device info (app and macOS version, language, Mac model), to help us improve it. It’s on by default and never includes file contents, filenames, folder names or paths. You can turn it off anytime with the “Share usage data” checkbox under Usage data in Settings.

When can I try it?

A private Mac beta comes first, by invitation. Joining doesn’t guarantee beta access. Get my beta invite, and we’ll email you when there’s a spot.

How does Loft compare with Dropbox, iCloud Drive, Google Drive and OneDrive?

Loft is being built as encrypted cloud storage for Mac. Read the comparison.