Summary: PlantPal stores your data on your device and syncs it to your personal iCloud account. We do not collect, transmit, or share your personal information with any third parties. Your plant data is yours alone.
1. Information We Collect
PlantPal is designed with privacy as a core principle.
Data Stored on Your Device & iCloud
- Plant profiles: Names, species, locations, watering schedules, and care details you enter
- Care records: Watering logs, care tasks, health logs, and notes
- Photos: Plant photos you add from your camera or photo library
- App preferences: Your settings such as notification preferences
This data is stored on your device using Apple's SwiftData framework and automatically synced to your personal iCloud account via Apple's CloudKit.
Data We Do NOT Collect
- We do not collect analytics or usage data
- We do not use third-party analytics tools (no Google Analytics, Firebase, Mixpanel, etc.)
- We do not collect crash reports through third-party services
- We do not use advertising identifiers or ad networks
- We do not track your location
- We do not access your contacts
- We do not collect device identifiers for tracking purposes
2. Sign in with Apple (Optional)
PlantPal offers optional Sign in with Apple functionality. If you choose to use this feature:
- We receive only a user identifier and, if you choose to share it, your name and email address
- This information is stored securely on your device using Apple's Keychain
- We do not transmit this information to any server
- Sign in with Apple is entirely optional — the app is fully functional without it
- It is used solely to facilitate iCloud data sync and account recovery
3. iCloud Sync
When you are signed into iCloud on your device, PlantPal automatically syncs your data (including photos) to your personal iCloud account using Apple's CloudKit framework. This enables you to:
- Restore your data if you reinstall the app
- Access your data on a new device signed into the same iCloud account
Your data is stored in your personal iCloud storage and is not accessible to us or any third party. Apple's iCloud is protected by Apple's privacy policy and end-to-end encryption.
4. In-App Purchases
PlantPal offers an optional one-time in-app purchase ("PlantPal Pro") to unlock premium features. Regarding purchases:
- All purchases are processed entirely by Apple through the App Store
- We do not collect, store, or have access to your payment information (credit card, Apple Pay, etc.)
- We store only your purchase status (whether Pro features are unlocked) locally on your device
- Purchase verification is handled through Apple's StoreKit framework
- We do not use any third-party payment processors
5. Camera and Photo Library Access
PlantPal requests access to your camera and photo library solely for the purpose of adding photos of your plants. Photos you add are:
- Stored locally on your device and synced to your personal iCloud account
- Never shared with us or any third parties
- Deleted from app storage and iCloud when you remove them from PlantPal
6. Notifications
PlantPal uses local notifications to remind you about watering schedules and care tasks. These notifications:
- Are generated and scheduled entirely on your device
- Do not use any push notification server
- Do not transmit any data to external services
- Can be disabled at any time through iOS Settings or within the app
7. Data Export
PlantPal allows you to export your data as JSON, CSV, or PDF files. When you use this feature:
- The export file is generated on your device
- You control where the file is shared using iOS's built-in share sheet
- We do not retain any copy of exported data
8. Data Security
Your data is protected by:
- iOS device encryption (all data at rest is encrypted by your device)
- Apple's Keychain for any sensitive credential storage
- App sandboxing — other apps cannot access PlantPal's data
- iCloud encryption for synced data
9. Data Deletion
You have full control over your data:
- Delete individual records at any time within the app
- Delete all data at once through Settings
- Uninstalling PlantPal removes all local app data from your device
- To also remove iCloud data, disable iCloud sync for PlantPal in your device's iCloud settings
10. Children's Privacy
PlantPal does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. The app is rated 4+ and is suitable for all ages. Since all data is stored locally and synced only to the user's personal iCloud, there is no risk of collecting children's personal information.
11. Third-Party Services
PlantPal does not integrate with any third-party services, APIs, or SDKs beyond Apple's own frameworks. We use only:
- SwiftUI and SwiftData (Apple's native UI and data frameworks)
- Apple's Charts framework (for plant analytics)
- Apple's PhotosUI framework (for photo picking)
- Apple's UserNotifications framework (for local reminders)
- Apple's AuthenticationServices framework (Sign in with Apple)
- Apple's CloudKit framework (iCloud data sync)
- Apple's StoreKit framework (in-app purchases)
12. Changes to This Policy
If we make changes to this privacy policy, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of PlantPal after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this privacy policy, please contact us at vvijay26@gmail.com.