Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 16, 2026

Dear Brain is made by Aavula Sreeja, an individual developer based in India ("we", "us"). This policy explains what the Dear Brain app and website do with your information. The short version: almost everything stays on your iPhone, we don't run ads, we don't use analytics or tracking tools, and we never sell your data.

In one line: your habits, limits, notes and photos live on your phone (and in your own iCloud if you turn on backup). Only the features that need the internet send anything, and only what they need.

1. What stays on your phone

Habits, app limits, streaks, trophies, notes, memory photos and Brainly chat history are stored on your iPhone.
Screen Time. Dear Brain uses Apple's Screen Time framework to block and limit apps. Apple only gives the app anonymous tokens for the apps you pick and on-device usage summaries; we can't see which apps you use, and none of it leaves your phone.
Location limits use your location on the device to know when you arrive at or leave a place you chose. Your location is not sent to us.
Step limits read your step count from your iPhone's Motion & Fitness data, on the device only.
Camera and photos. Photos you take as habit proof or memories are saved on your phone.

2. Optional iCloud backup

If you choose Sign in with Apple, Dear Brain backs up your data (everything except Brainly chats) to your own private iCloud, using Apple's CloudKit. It is stored in your iCloud account, which we cannot read. Apple shares a private identifier with us, and your name and email only if you choose to share them; these are kept on your phone to show who is signed in. You can delete the backup in the app at any time.

3. AI features (Brainly and photo proof)

When you chat with Brainly, or ask the app to check a photo proof, the text you type, or that photo, plus the details needed for the answer (such as the habit's name), are sent to OpenAI to produce the reply or check. They are sent only when you use these features. Under OpenAI's API terms, this data is not used to train their models, and OpenAI keeps it for a limited time for abuse monitoring. Please don't share sensitive personal information in Brainly.

4. Accountability partners

If you invite an accountability partner, our small server (hosted on Cloudflare) holds what is needed for it to work: the name you give for yourself, the partner's PIN in a protected (hashed) form, requests to open a limited app, the habit and its tasks when a finish is sent for approval, and the push notification addresses that tell your phone the answer. Your partner sees these details on the approval page. We keep them only as long as the partnership is in use.

5. Notifications and Live Activities

Reminders are scheduled on your phone. Some reminders and Live Activity updates are sent through Apple's push notification service, for which our server keeps your device's push address.

6. Purchases

Dear Brain Pro is bought through Apple's App Store. Apple handles the payment; we never receive your card or payment details. The app only learns from Apple whether your subscription is active.

7. What we don't do

No advertising, and no ad or tracking SDKs.
No analytics tools.
No selling or renting of your information to anyone.
No tracking you across other companies' apps or websites.

8. Your choices

You can turn off permissions (Screen Time, notifications, location, motion, camera, photos) at any time in your iPhone's Settings.
Log Out in the app erases all of Dear Brain's data from your phone and signs you out.
You can delete your iCloud backup in the app, or delete the app to remove everything stored on the phone.
To have accountability partner data removed from our server, or to ask what we hold, email us.

9. Children

Dear Brain is not directed at children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect information from them.

10. Security

Data sent over the internet is encrypted in transit. Data on your phone is protected by iOS, and your backup by your iCloud account.

11. Changes

If we change this policy, we will update the date at the top and, for important changes, let you know in the app.

12. Contact

Questions or requests about your privacy? Email support@dearbrainapp.com.