Softly NotedPrivacy
Privacy policy
How Softly Noted handles your data.
The short version
Your journal stays on your device. Softly Noted works local-first. There are no advertising SDKs and no remote behavioural tracking. Signing in uses a free account, and what you write is not sent to JPott Studios. When the app's optional server configuration is present, Softly Noted can send anonymous usage counts how often a feature is used, plus app version and platform, tied to a random per-install tag that is not linked to any account or person. These counts never include your journal entries, moods, notes, photos, audio, name, or location. This is on by default, can be turned off any time in Settings, and happens at most once per day.
Network processing happens only when a feature that needs it is used, verifying a subscription with the app store, or optional encrypted sync if you turn it on.
What Softly Noted stores on your device
The app keeps the following in private app storage on your phone:
- Journal entries, moods, and the factors you attach to a day
- Notes you write and photos you choose
- Reminder choices and theme
- App-lock settings, if you set one up
- Onboarding state and widget data
- Local activity counters used to power your own progress display
These power your own in-app progress display. Only the anonymous aggregate counts described above ever leave the device, and only when the app's server is configured; your entries never do.
Encryption on your device
Your journal records are encrypted at rest with a key specific to this device.
Photos are handled differently from your writing. When you choose a photo, Softly Noted copies it into the app's private documents area on your device. The app does not claim those image files are separately encrypted at rest. They are protected by your device's own storage protections and any app lock you set.
You can add a PIN, or use biometrics where your device supports it, so the app locks whenever it leaves the foreground. Face or fingerprint matching is done by the operating system, the app only receives the result. Encryption reduces exposure, but no security measure is perfect. Keep your device, passcode, and backup passwords secure.
Optional encrypted sync
Sync is optional and off unless you turn it on. The core app never requires it.
If you enable sync, an account email address and authentication records are processed by the sync provider so the service knows the records are yours. Your journal records are encrypted on your device before they are uploaded. Your local photo files are not uploaded by this flow. You can delete the service copy from the app's sync settings. See the data deletion guide.
A separate sync passphrase may be used to derive an encryption key on your device. If you lose it, encrypted records may be unrecoverable.
Subscriptions
Softly Noted Premium is a monthly or yearly subscription. Apple or Google processes the payment and provides purchase information. The app uses RevenueCat to fetch available products, validate receipts, restore access, and check whether Premium is active.
JPott Studios does not receive your payment-card details. RevenueCat and the app store may process a store receipt, product identifier, subscription status, country or storefront information, and an app-user identifier. See RevenueCat's privacy policy, Apple's privacy policy, and Google's privacy policy.
Permissions
| Permission | Why |
|---|---|
| Notifications | An optional daily reminder that you schedule. You can decline this, or turn it off later in device settings, and the app still works. |
| Photo library | Choose photos to attach to a journal entry. Access is requested when you start the photo feature, and the selected photo is copied into the app's private storage. |
| Biometrics | An optional app lock. Face or fingerprint matching is performed by the operating system; the app receives only the authentication result. You can use a PIN instead, or no lock at all. |
Exports and backups
You can create a backup, or export a PDF or CSV report, at any time. Your device then offers destinations such as Files, email, messaging, or cloud storage. JPott Studios does not receive that file.
Softly Noted backup files are password-encrypted, and may include your journal photos. Keep the password somewhere safe. Without it, the backup cannot be opened, by you or anyone else. PDF and CSV reports are not encrypted and contain readable personal content, so store and send those carefully. Once you save any file somewhere, that destination's own terms and privacy practices apply.
Keeping and deleting data
Local data stays until you delete entries, use the in-app Delete local journal data control, replace data during a restore, or remove the app's data from your device. Operating-system backups and any copies you export are controlled by you and the platform you chose.
If you enabled sync, the app provides a control to delete the service copy. See the data and account deletion guide.
Children
Softly Noted is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children under 13. JPott Studios does not knowingly use the app to solicit personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided account information through sync, contact us so we can investigate.
Changes and contact
This policy may be updated as features, service providers, or legal requirements change. The published date above changes whenever it is revised.
Privacy questions: jpottstudios@gmail.com. Please don't email journal entries or passwords. General help is on the support page. This policy covers Softly Noted; the other JPott Studios apps have their own at apps.jpottstudios.com/privacy.