Last updated: June 3, 2026 · Effective: June 3, 2026
This Privacy Policy describes how Trace ("we", "our", or "the app") handles information when you use our iOS application. Trace is a local-first journaling and mood tracking app. By design, we have no access to your data.
We do not operate servers. We do not require accounts. We do not process analytics that identify you individually. This policy exists to be transparent about that.
The following data is never collected, transmitted, or seen by us:
All data you create in Trace — journal entries, photos, mood records, preferences — is stored locally on your iPhone using Apple's AsyncStorage and the iOS file system. It never leaves your device.
There is no cloud sync. There is no backend. Your data lives only where you choose: on your phone. If you delete the app, all data is permanently removed from your device.
Trace uses Apple's local notification system (Expo Notifications) to send you daily or weekly reminders. These notifications are generated and delivered entirely on-device by iOS. We do not use push notification services or remote notification servers. Your notification preferences are stored locally alongside your other app data.
If you attach a photo to a journal entry, Trace may request access to your photo library or camera. Photos you add are stored locally within the app's sandboxed storage. They are not uploaded, analyzed, or transmitted anywhere.
You can revoke photo access at any time in your iPhone's Settings → Privacy & Security → Photos.
Trace includes a "Listen to Reflection" feature that reads your journal summaries aloud using Apple's on-device text-to-speech (Expo Speech). This processing happens entirely on your device. Your text is not sent to external speech synthesis services.
Trace does not integrate with any third-party analytics platforms, advertising networks, crash reporting services, or social platforms. We use no SDKs that collect user data in the background.
The app is built with React Native and Expo. Apple's App Store infrastructure may collect standard download and crash data according to Apple's own privacy policy, which we do not control.
Trace does not knowingly collect any information from children under the age of 13. Because we collect no data from any user, there is no special handling required. If you believe your child has entered sensitive information, you can delete the app to permanently remove all data from their device.
Because all your data is stored locally on your device, you have full control over it at all times:
We cannot retrieve, modify, or delete your data on your behalf because we have no access to it.
If we make material changes to this Privacy Policy, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and notify users through an in-app notice on the next app update. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how Trace handles data, please reach out: