📄 Introduction
Welcome to VirtuPet: Step Tracker! Your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use our app. By using VirtuPet: Step Tracker, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. This policy applies to all users regardless of location.
📱 Information We Collect
VirtuPet collects the following types of information:
- Account Information: When you sign in with Apple, we receive your Apple User ID and optionally your name/email (if you choose to share). This is used to create your VirtuPet account and enable cloud features.
- Profile Data: Your first name, pet name, pet type, and country are stored in our secure cloud database (Supabase) to enable leaderboards and social features.
- Health Data: With your permission, we access step count data from Apple HealthKit to calculate your pet's health and track your daily progress. Step data is synced to our servers for leaderboard rankings.
- Location Data: When using activity tracking, we access your location to track routes and fetch weather conditions from Open-Meteo. Routes are stored locally; only coordinates are sent to Open-Meteo for weather data.
- Camera & Photos: With your permission, we access your camera to take photos for sharing your step stats on social media. You may also select photos from your library to attach to activity records or create share cards. Photos are processed and stored locally on your device and are not uploaded to our servers.
- Social Data: Friend connections, friend codes, and friend requests are stored in our cloud database to enable the friends leaderboard feature.
- Feed Data: When you complete activities, shared activity posts (pet name, activity type, steps, etc.) may appear in the Community feed visible to your friends. Likes and comments on feed posts are stored in our cloud database.
- Game & Achievement Data: Your minigame high scores and achievement progress are synced to our cloud database to preserve your progress across devices.
- Activity Records: Your walk and run activities (date, distance, duration, calories, steps, notes, mood, weather, and GPS routes) are synced to our cloud database for backup and cross-device access. Photos attached to activities remain stored locally on your device.
- Purchase Data: Transaction information is processed by Apple and RevenueCat; we do not store payment card details.
⚙️ How We Use Your Information
We use your information for the following purposes:
- To provide and maintain our app's functionality
- To calculate your pet's health based on your step count
- To track and display your walking activities
- To power global and friends leaderboards with your step data
- To enable social features including friend connections and friend codes
- To allow you to share your step stats via photos on social media
- To let you attach photos to your activity records as a walk journal
- To backup and restore your activity history across devices
- To sync your achievements and minigame high scores across devices
- To save your preferences and progress
- To process in-app purchases and subscriptions
- To improve our app and develop new features
- To send optional push notifications you have consented to
🔐 Data Storage & Security
Your data is stored in two locations:
- Local Storage: App preferences, activity routes, and cached data are stored securely on your device using Apple's secure storage mechanisms.
- Cloud Storage (Supabase): Account information, step data for leaderboards, friend connections, and profile data are stored in our secure cloud database hosted by Supabase. This enables features like global leaderboards, friends lists, and cross-device sync.
We implement industry-standard security measures including encryption in transit (HTTPS/TLS) and at rest to protect your information. Location coordinates are sent to Open-Meteo solely to retrieve weather data; no personal identifiers are included.
⏰ Data Retention
Your data is retained as follows:
- Local Data: Stored on your device for as long as you use the app. When you delete the app, all locally stored data is removed.
- Cloud Data: Your account data, leaderboard entries, and friend connections are retained in our cloud database until you delete your account. You can delete your account and all associated cloud data from Settings within the app.
- Analytics: Anonymous analytics data may be retained for up to 24 months for app improvement purposes.
You can request deletion of any data we hold by contacting us at support@virtupet.app or by using the "Delete Account" option in the app's Settings.
❤️ HealthKit Integration
VirtuPet integrates with Apple HealthKit to read your step count data. We only access the data you explicitly grant permission for. Your step count data is used to:
- Calculate your pet's health and mood
- Track your daily, weekly, and monthly progress
- Populate leaderboard rankings (daily step totals are synced to our servers)
You can revoke HealthKit access at any time through your device's Settings > Privacy > Health.
📷 Camera & Photo Library
VirtuPet requests camera and photo library access to enable photo features:
- Camera: Used to take photos that can be overlaid with your step stats for sharing on social media. Also used to capture photos during or after your walks.
- Photo Library: Used to select existing photos for the stats sharing feature, attach photos to your activity records, and to save your created share cards.
- Activity Photos: You can attach up to 4 photos to each recorded walk or run. These photos are stored locally on your device as part of your activity journal and are not uploaded to our servers.
All photos are processed and stored locally on your device. We do not upload your photos to our servers. You can revoke camera or photo library access at any time through your device's Settings.
🏆 Leaderboards & Social Features
VirtuPet includes competitive leaderboards and social features:
- Global Leaderboard: Your pet name, pet type, country, and daily step count are displayed publicly on the global leaderboard. Your real name is not shown on the global leaderboard.
- Friends Leaderboard: Your name, pet name, pet type, and step count are visible to users you have accepted as friends.
- Community Feed: Activity posts you share (from completed walks) appear in the feed visible to your friends. Friends can like and comment on your posts. Feed posts are automatically removed after 24 hours.
- Friend Codes: You receive a unique friend code that others can use to send you friend requests. You control who you accept as friends.
You can remove friends at any time, which will remove your data from their friends leaderboard view.
🤝 Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party services:
- Apple HealthKit: To access step count data (subject to Apple's Privacy Policy)
- Supabase: For secure cloud storage of account data, leaderboards, friends, achievements, and game scores (subject to Supabase's Privacy Policy)
- RevenueCat: To manage subscriptions and in-app purchases (subject to RevenueCat's Privacy Policy)
- Apple App Store: For payment processing (subject to Apple's Terms)
- Open-Meteo: For weather data based on general location coordinates
These services may collect information as described in their respective privacy policies. We do not sell your personal data to third parties.
💳 Purchases
In-app purchases are processed entirely through Apple's App Store and RevenueCat. We do not collect or store any payment card information. Purchase history is managed by Apple and linked to your Apple ID. RevenueCat processes transaction data to manage your subscription status.
✋ Your Rights
Regardless of your location, you have the right to:
- Access the data we collect about you
- Request correction of inaccurate data
- Request deletion of your data
- Opt out of data collection at any time
- Revoke health data access through iOS Settings > Privacy > Health
- Withdraw consent for notifications through iOS Settings
- Data portability where applicable
🌍 GDPR & CCPA Rights
For EU/EEA residents (GDPR): You have rights to access, rectify, erase, restrict processing, data portability, and object to processing. Our legal basis for processing is your consent and legitimate interests in providing the service. You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
For California residents (CCPA): You have the right to know what personal information is collected, request deletion, and opt-out of sale of personal information. We do not sell personal information. You have the right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights.
To exercise these rights, contact us at support@virtupet.app. We will respond within 30 days.
👶 Children's Privacy
VirtuPet is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 years of age. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at support@virtupet.app and we will delete such information promptly.
✈️ International Data Transfers
Your data is primarily stored locally on your device. Any anonymous analytics data that may be processed uses services that comply with applicable data protection laws. For EU users, any data transfers outside the EU are protected by appropriate safeguards including Standard Contractual Clauses where applicable.
📊 Analytics
We may collect anonymous usage analytics to improve the app experience. This data cannot be used to identify you personally and includes general usage patterns and crash reports. You can opt out of analytics through your device settings.
🔄 Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and in the app, and updating the "Last updated" date. For significant changes, we will provide notice through the app or via push notification if you have enabled them. Your continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
📧 Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your data rights, or have concerns about our data practices, please contact us at support@virtupet.app. We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days.