Privacy Policy

How we collect, use, and protect your information

Effective Date: January 27, 2026 | Last Updated: January 27, 2026

Your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how TipCalculate ("we," "our," or "us") collects, uses, discloses, and protects your information when you use our mobile application and related services (collectively, the "Service").

Summary: We collect only the data necessary to provide TipCalculate's features. Your tip history stays on your device unless you enable cloud sync. We never sell your personal information.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you use TipCalculate, you may provide us with the following information:

Data Type Examples Purpose
Tip History Bill amounts, tip percentages, totals, dates Track and display your tipping history
Location Data Restaurant names, addresses (when you add them) Associate tips with specific venues
Categories & Notes Service type, personal notes about visits Help you organize and remember experiences
Account Information Name, email, profile photo (via Google Sign-In) Enable cloud sync and account features
Preferences Currency, theme color, default tip percentage Personalize your app experience
Support Communications Emails, feedback, bug reports Respond to your inquiries and improve the app

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use our Service, we may automatically collect:

  • Device Information: Device model, operating system version, unique device identifiers (such as IDFA on iOS or Advertising ID on Android), screen resolution, and language settings.
  • Usage Data: Features you use, buttons you tap, screens you view, session duration, and general interaction patterns.
  • Crash Reports: Technical information about app crashes to help us identify and fix bugs.
  • Performance Data: App launch times, response times, and other performance metrics.

1.3 Information from Third Parties

  • Google Sign-In: If you choose to sign in with Google, we receive your Google account name, email address, and profile picture.
  • Apple Sign-In: If you choose to sign in with Apple, we receive the name and email you choose to share (which may be a private relay email).
  • App Store/Play Store: Purchase and subscription information to verify your premium status.

1.4 Advertising Information

Our free version displays advertisements through Google AdMob. AdMob may collect:

  • Advertising identifiers
  • IP address (for geographic ad targeting)
  • Device information
  • Ad interaction data (impressions, clicks)

Premium subscribers do not see advertisements, and this data is not collected for premium users.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

2.1 Provide and Maintain the Service

  • Calculate tips and split bills accurately
  • Store and display your tip history
  • Sync data across your devices (when enabled)
  • Process your premium subscription

2.2 Improve and Personalize the Service

  • Understand how users interact with our features
  • Identify and fix bugs and performance issues
  • Develop new features based on usage patterns
  • Remember your preferences and settings

2.3 Communicate with You

  • Respond to your support requests and feedback
  • Send important updates about the Service (security, Terms changes)
  • Notify you about new features (if you opt in)

2.4 Display Advertising

  • Show relevant advertisements in the free version
  • Measure ad performance and effectiveness

2.5 Legal and Safety

  • Comply with legal obligations
  • Protect against fraud and abuse
  • Enforce our Terms of Service

3. Data Storage and Security

3.1 Local Storage

By default, all your tip history and preferences are stored locally on your device. This data never leaves your device unless you explicitly enable cloud sync.

3.2 Cloud Storage

If you enable cloud sync, your data is stored securely in:

  • Apple iCloud (CloudKit): For iOS users who enable iCloud sync. Data is stored in Apple's secure infrastructure and governed by Apple's privacy policy.
  • Google Firebase: For cross-platform sync. Data is stored in Google Cloud's secure infrastructure with encryption at rest and in transit.

3.3 Security Measures

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data:

  • Encryption: All data transmitted to and from our servers uses TLS/SSL encryption. Data at rest is encrypted using industry-standard AES-256 encryption.
  • Access Controls: Strict access controls limit who can access user data within our organization.
  • Secure Authentication: We use OAuth 2.0 and industry-standard authentication protocols.
  • Regular Audits: We regularly review our security practices and update them as needed.

Note: While we strive to protect your data, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

4. Third-Party Services

TipCalculate integrates with the following third-party services:

Service Purpose Data Shared
Google AdMob Display advertisements (free version only) Device ID, IP address, ad interactions
Google Sign-In Account authentication Authentication tokens
Apple Sign-In Account authentication (iOS) Authentication tokens
Firebase Cloud sync, analytics, crash reporting User data (when sync enabled), usage data
Apple CloudKit iCloud sync (iOS) User data (when iCloud sync enabled)
RevenueCat Subscription management Purchase data, subscription status

Each third-party service has its own privacy policy governing its use of your data:

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We never have and never will sell user data to third parties.

We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

5.1 With Your Consent

We may share information when you explicitly direct us to, such as when you use the share feature to send a bill summary to friends.

5.2 Service Providers

We work with third-party companies that help us operate, provide, and improve our Service (e.g., cloud hosting, analytics, customer support). These providers have access to your information only to perform tasks on our behalf and are obligated to protect it.

5.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of TipCalculate, our users, or others.

5.4 Business Transfers

If TipCalculate is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any change in ownership or use of your information.

5.5 Aggregated or De-identified Data

We may share aggregated or de-identified information that cannot reasonably be used to identify you (e.g., "users leave an average 18% tip").

6. Data Retention

6.1 How Long We Keep Your Data

  • Local Data: Stored on your device until you delete the app or clear app data.
  • Cloud Sync Data: Retained as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services.
  • Account Information: Retained until you delete your account.
  • Analytics Data: Typically retained for 14 months, then aggregated or deleted.
  • Support Communications: Retained for up to 3 years to improve our service.

6.2 Account Deletion

You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time by:

Upon deletion, we will remove your personal data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law or for legitimate business purposes (e.g., fraud prevention).

7. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

7.1 Access and Portability

You can request a copy of your personal data. In the app, go to Settings > Account > Export Data to download your tip history.

7.2 Correction

You can update your account information and tip history directly within the app.

7.3 Deletion

You can request deletion of your account and associated data as described in Section 6.2.

7.4 Opt-Out of Personalized Advertising

You can opt out of personalized ads:

  • iOS: Go to Settings > Privacy > Tracking and disable "Allow Apps to Request to Track"
  • Android: Go to Settings > Google > Ads and enable "Opt out of Ads Personalization"
  • Upgrade to Premium: Premium users see no advertisements

7.5 Withdraw Consent

You can withdraw consent for optional data collection (e.g., location access, cloud sync) at any time through the app settings or your device settings.

7.6 Lodge a Complaint

If you believe we have violated your privacy rights, you may lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

8. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) provides you with additional rights:

8.1 Right to Know

You have the right to request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.

8.2 Right to Delete

You have the right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.

8.3 Right to Non-Discrimination

We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights.

8.4 Do Not Sell My Personal Information

We do not sell personal information. We have not sold personal information in the preceding 12 months and do not plan to do so.

8.5 Authorized Agents

You may designate an authorized agent to make requests on your behalf. We may require verification of both your identity and the agent's authority.

To exercise your CCPA rights, contact us at support@justinheintz.me. We will respond within 45 days.

9. International Users

9.1 Data Transfers

TipCalculate is operated from the United States. If you are located outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate.

9.2 European Users (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

  • Legal Basis: We process your data based on: (a) your consent, (b) performance of our contract with you, (c) our legitimate interests, or (d) legal obligations.
  • Data Transfers: When we transfer data outside the EEA, we use appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission.
  • Right to Object: You may object to processing based on legitimate interests.
  • Right to Restrict Processing: You may request restriction of processing in certain circumstances.

10. Children's Privacy

TipCalculate is not directed to children under the age of 13 (or 16 in the EEA). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under these ages.

If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under the applicable age, we will take steps to delete that information as quickly as possible.

If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately at support@justinheintz.me.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors.

  • We will post the updated policy on this page with a new "Last Updated" date.
  • For material changes, we will provide notice through the app or via email before the changes take effect.
  • Your continued use of the Service after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days.