Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

This Privacy Policy explains how the SignBuddy iOS app (the "App") and the website at signbuddy.app handle information. In this policy, "we", "us" and "our" mean the company named below, and "you" means anyone who uses the App or the website.

3. Information stored on your device

To give you a personal learning experience, the App saves the following on your iPhone:

• the name you choose to enter, so the App can greet you;
• your lesson progress, stars, streak and medals;
• the signs you mark as favorites;
• your settings, such as sound, haptics and reminders.

This information stays on your device. It is not sent to us, and we cannot see it. Because there is no account, it is not synced between devices.

4. Camera and filmed clips

The App asks for camera access only when you choose to film yourself signing, for example to compare your signing with the teacher. The App records video only and does not record audio, so it does not need microphone access.

Your clips are saved on your device and are never uploaded to us or to anyone else. You can delete them at any time in the App under Profile, Settings, Delete filmed clips. You can also turn off camera access in your iPhone Settings.

5. Notifications

If you allow notifications, the App can schedule an optional daily practice reminder at 7 pm, and a reminder before your free trial ends. These are local notifications, which means they are scheduled by your device. We do not use a push notification server, and no reminder data is sent to us.

You can turn practice reminders off in the App under Profile, Settings, or turn off all notifications for SignBuddy in your iPhone Settings.

6. Sign videos and lesson content

The sign videos, thumbnails and lesson catalog download from our content server, which runs on Google Firebase Hosting, a content delivery network. Videos are then cached on your device so they play faster next time.

Like any web server, our hosting provider may log standard technical request data, such as your IP address, the time of the request, the file requested and basic device or browser information. These requests do not include your name, your progress or any account information, because there is no account. We do not use this data to identify you or to build a profile about you. Google processes this data as our service provider. You can read more in Google's Privacy Policy.

Our website, signbuddy.app, is served by a standard web hosting provider, which may log the same kind of technical request data. The website does not use cookies, analytics or advertising. It loads its font from Google Fonts, so your browser connects to Google to download it.

7. Crash reports

The App uses Firebase Crashlytics, a crash reporting service from Google, to help us find and fix bugs. When the App crashes, Crashlytics collects crash diagnostics and sends them to us, including:

• a stack trace, which shows where in our code the crash happened;
• your device model and iOS version;
• the App version;
• a random installation identifier, created by Crashlytics, that lets us tell whether several crashes come from the same installation.

We use crash reports only to find and fix bugs. They are not linked to your name, your progress or your filmed clips, and they are not used for advertising or to track you. Google processes this data as our service provider. You can read how Google handles Firebase data on the Firebase privacy page.

8. App analytics

The App uses Firebase Analytics, a service from Google, to understand how people use SignBuddy so we can make it better. It records events such as opening the App, finishing onboarding, seeing the subscription screen and starting a free trial, together with your device model, iOS version, App version, an approximate country and a random app instance identifier created by Firebase.

Analytics are not linked to your name, your progress or your filmed clips, and the App does not give Firebase your advertising identifier. Analytics are turned off in our own test builds. Google processes this data as our service provider. See the Firebase privacy page.

9. Ad measurement and tracking

We show ads for SignBuddy on other apps and websites, such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and App Store search results. To learn which ads lead people to install SignBuddy and start a subscription, so we can stop paying for ads that do not work, the App uses these measurement services:

• Adjust, our mobile measurement partner, which works out which ad campaign led to an install. It receives install and session information, the identifier for vendors, your IP address and, if you allow tracking, your advertising identifier (IDFA). Adjust shares campaign results with the ad networks we use, such as Meta and TikTok. See Adjust's privacy policy.
• Meta (Facebook and Instagram), through the Meta SDK in the App, which reports installs and App opens. The Meta SDK starts only after you have answered the iOS tracking question, and it never reports your purchases. See Meta's Privacy Policy.
• Apple Ads, through Apple's AdServices framework, which tells us whether an install came from an ad in App Store search results. This does not use your advertising identifier.

When you start a free trial or a subscription, RevenueCat (see section 10) tells Adjust, Meta and Firebase Analytics that this happened, together with the price and the identifiers described above, so we can measure which ads bring paying learners.

Your choice. Early in the App, iOS asks whether SignBuddy may track your activity across other companies' apps and websites. If you allow it, Adjust and Meta can use your advertising identifier to match ad views with installs. If you do not allow it, your advertising identifier is never shared, and these partners receive only the other information described above, which they use to measure ad performance in aggregate. You can change your answer at any time in your iPhone Settings, under Privacy and Security, Tracking. Your answer never changes how the App works for you.

We never send your name, your progress, your favorites or your filmed clips to any of these partners.

10. Purchases and subscriptions

Subscriptions are sold and processed by Apple through the App Store. Apple handles your payment details, billing and receipts under its own privacy policy. We never receive your card number, billing address or Apple ID email.

To unlock features, the App checks whether you have an active subscription or free trial. We use RevenueCat, a subscription management service, for this. RevenueCat receives your App Store receipts, your subscription status and history, a random app user identifier, device identifiers such as the identifier for vendors (and the advertising identifier if you allow tracking), and your IP address. It does not receive your name, your email address or your payment details. See RevenueCat's privacy policy.

11. Service providers

We use a small number of service providers to run and promote SignBuddy. They process data only for the purposes described here:

• Google (Firebase): Firebase Hosting delivers the sign videos and lesson catalog, and Firebase Crashlytics collects crash reports. See the Firebase privacy page.
• Google (Firebase Analytics): counts how the App is used, as described in section 8.
• Apple: the App Store sells and manages subscriptions and processes payments, and Apple Ads attributes installs from App Store search ads.
• RevenueCat: manages subscription status and sends trial and subscription events to our measurement partners.
• Adjust: measures which ads lead to installs and subscriptions.
• Meta: measures installs and subscriptions from our ads on Facebook and Instagram.
• Our website host: serves the signbuddy.app website.
• Google Fonts: provides the font used on the website.

12. What we do not do

• We do not show ads inside the App.
• We do not share your advertising identifier unless you allow tracking when iOS asks.
• We do not sell or rent your personal information.
• We do not send your name, progress or filmed clips to anyone.
• We do not ask for your contacts, location, photos or microphone.

13. When you email us

If you contact us at [email protected], we receive your email address and whatever you choose to include in your message. We use it only to reply and help you, and we keep it only as long as needed for that purpose or as required by law. Please do not send us sensitive information you do not want us to have.

14. Children

SignBuddy is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has sent us personal information, for example by email, please contact us and we will delete it.

15. Your choices and rights

Because almost everything stays on your device, you are in control:

• Reset your progress in the App under Profile, Settings, Reset progress.
• Delete your filmed clips in the App under Profile, Settings, Delete filmed clips.
• Delete everything by deleting the App from your iPhone. This removes all data the App stored on your device.
• Turn off the camera or notifications at any time in your iPhone Settings.
• Stop tracking at any time in your iPhone Settings, under Privacy and Security, Tracking.
• Ask us to delete measurement data by emailing us. We will delete your RevenueCat record and ask Adjust and Firebase to forget your device.

Depending on where you live, including under Singapore's Personal Data Protection Act, the GDPR in Europe and the UK, or privacy laws in US states such as California, you may have rights to access, correct or delete personal data we hold about you, or to object to how it is used. The personal data we handle is limited to emails you send us and the crash reports, analytics, subscription and ad measurement data described above, none of which is linked to your name. To make a request, email us and we will respond within the time required by law. You may also complain to your local data protection authority.

16. Where data is processed

Our content server uses a global network, so requests for sign videos may be handled by servers in different countries, including outside your own. Crash reports and analytics are processed by Google, subscription data by RevenueCat, and ad measurement data by Adjust, Meta and Apple, on servers that may be located outside your country, including in the United States and the European Union. Where the law requires it, we rely on appropriate safeguards for these transfers.

17. Security

Content downloads, crash reports, analytics, subscription checks and ad measurement all use secure HTTPS connections. Information stored on your device is protected by your iPhone's own security, such as your passcode. No method of storage or transmission is perfect, but we keep the information we handle to a minimum, which is one of the best protections there is.

18. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time, for example if we add new features. When we do, we will change the effective date at the top of this page, and if the changes are significant we will let you know in the App or on this website before they take effect.

19. Contact us

Questions about privacy? Email [email protected] and a real person will get back to you.