Privacy Policy
Last Updated: February 4, 2026
BibleChat ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use the BibleChat iOS app.
Key Privacy Principles:
- Local-First: Most of your data stays on your device
- Privacy by Default: Cloud features are optional
- Transparency: We clearly explain what data we collect and why
- Your Control: You can export or delete your data anytime
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Information You Provide
- Journal Entries: Text reflections, emotions, and tags you create
- Daily Check-ins: Your selected emotion (peaceful, grateful, neutral, heavy, anxious, or frustrated)
- AI Conversations: Messages you exchange with the AI reflection companion
- Reading Plan Progress: Which Bible reading plans you're following and your progress
- Account Information: When you sign in with Apple, we receive:
- Apple User ID (unique identifier)
- Email address (if you choose to share it)
- Full name (if you choose to share it)
1.2 Automatically Collected Information
- Usage Data: How you use the app (screens visited, features used, buttons clicked)
- Device Information: iOS version, app version, device model
- Analytics Events: Actions like viewing verses, completing reflections, reaching milestones
- Performance Data: Error logs and crash reports
1.3 Subscription & Purchase Information
- Product ID purchased (e.g., "BibleChat Premium")
- Transaction ID and purchase date
- Subscription status (active, expired, cancelled)
- Renewal dates
2. How We Use Your Information
2.1 To Provide Core Features
- Local Storage: Journal entries, scripture readings, and progress are stored on your device in a local database
- AI Reflections: When you use the AI companion, your messages and conversation context are sent to our server to generate personalized spiritual guidance
- Authentication: Sign in with Apple securely links your account across devices
- Subscription Management: Track your subscription tier (Free or Premium) to unlock appropriate features
2.2 To Enforce Rate Limits
- Free users: 15 AI conversations per month, 10 messages per conversation
- Premium users: 30 AI conversations per month, 25 messages per conversation
- Usage counters stored on our server to prevent abuse
2.3 To Improve the App
- Analytics help us understand which features are most valuable
- Error logs help us fix bugs and crashes
- Usage patterns inform future feature development
2.4 To Provide Premium Features
- iCloud Backup (Premium only): Sync journal entries to your private iCloud account
- Extended AI Access: Premium subscribers get 2x the monthly conversation limit
- 141+ Reading Plans: Access to seasonal, themed, and life-situation Bible reading plans
3. How We Store Your Information
3.1 On Your Device (Local Storage)
Stored in Core Data (iOS local database):
- All journal entries and reflections
- Daily emotion check-ins
- AI conversation history
- Reading plan progress
- Streak and rhythm tracking stats
- Scripture texts (pre-loaded from Bible database)
Security: Subscription tier is encrypted locally to prevent tampering.
3.2 In the Cloud (Firebase by Google)
Firebase Firestore Database (US servers):
- User Profile: Subscription tier, monthly AI count, usage limits, Apple User ID
- Conversation Metadata: Message counts, quotas, timestamps (not message content)
- Usage Logs: Token counts, API costs (for our internal tracking)
- Metrics: Aggregated daily statistics (anonymous)
Firebase Authentication: Manages your Sign in with Apple token.
Firebase Analytics: Stores usage events and user properties.
3.3 In Your iCloud (Premium Feature)
CloudKit Private Database:
- Backup copies of your journal entries
- Linked scripture references and emotions
- Sync metadata (last sync date)
Security: Stored in your private iCloud account. We cannot access this data. Only you can read it when signed into your iCloud account.
4. Third-Party Services
4.1 OpenAI (AI Conversations)
What we share:
- Your message text in AI conversations
- Previous 10 messages for context
- Scripture reference and your selected emotion (for context)
How it's shared: Through our Firebase server (your message never goes directly to OpenAI from your device).
OpenAI's use: OpenAI processes your message to generate a response. According to OpenAI's API data policy, API requests are not used to train their models.
Model used: GPT-4o-mini
4.2 Firebase (by Google)
Services used:
- Authentication: Sign in with Apple integration
- Firestore: Cloud database (user profiles, usage tracking)
- Cloud Functions: Server-side API proxy for OpenAI and subscription validation
- Analytics: Usage tracking and error reporting
- App Check: Prevents unauthorized API access
Data location: US servers (us-central1 region)
Firebase Privacy: firebase.google.com/support/privacy
4.3 Apple Services
- Sign in with Apple: OAuth authentication (privacy-preserving)
- StoreKit 2: In-app purchase processing
- CloudKit: iCloud backup for Premium users
- App Store Server Notifications: Real-time subscription updates
5. Data Sharing & Disclosure
5.1 We Do NOT Sell Your Data
We never sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.
5.2 Service Providers
We share data with trusted service providers only as necessary to operate the app:
- OpenAI: To generate AI reflection responses
- Google (Firebase): For authentication, database, analytics, and server functions
- Apple: For authentication and subscription management
5.3 Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government request, or to protect our rights, property, or safety.
5.4 Business Transfers
If BibleChat is acquired or merged with another company, your information may be transferred to the new owner.
6. Your Privacy Rights & Controls
6.1 Access Your Data
- View: All your journal entries are visible in the Archive tab
- Export: Settings → Data → "Export Journal Data" downloads a JSON file with all your entries
6.2 Delete Your Data
- Individual Entries: Swipe to delete or archive any journal entry
- Complete Wipe: Settings → Data → "Clear All Data" permanently deletes:
- All journal entries
- All AI conversations
- All daily reflections
- Reading plan progress
- Streak and rhythm stats
Important: Local deletion does not automatically delete:
- Your iCloud backup (if you're a Premium user) - manage this in iCloud Settings
- Firebase server data (user profile, usage counters) - contact us to request server-side deletion
6.3 Delete Your Account
You can delete your account directly in the app:
- Go to Settings → Account → Delete Account
- Confirm deletion by typing "DELETE"
- Your data will be deleted as described below
What Gets Deleted Immediately
- Personal content: Journal entries, AI conversations, daily reflections, reading progress
- Local data: All data stored on your device
- iCloud backup: Journal backups (if Premium subscriber)
- Authentication: Your Firebase authentication account
What We Retain Temporarily (90 Days)
For fraud prevention and billing purposes, we retain minimal data for 90 days:
- Apple User ID: To prevent abuse of free tier AI reflections
- Usage counters: Your AI reflection count (e.g., "12 of 15 used")
- Transaction IDs: Required for App Store refund processing
- Subscription status: Your tier at time of deletion (free/premium)
If you sign back in within 90 days: Your usage counts will be restored to prevent exploitation. For example, if you used 10 of 15 free reflections and deleted your account, signing back in will restore you to 10 used (5 remaining).
After 90 days: All retained data is permanently deleted. If you sign in after this period, you'll be treated as a new user with a fresh monthly limit.
Legal Basis: This temporary retention is based on our legitimate interest in preventing service abuse (GDPR Article 6(1)(f)) and complying with financial record-keeping requirements.
6.4 Manage Cookies & Tracking
- We use Firebase Analytics to track app usage
- Analytics can be disabled: iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements → Share iPhone Analytics (turn off)
- We do NOT use advertising cookies or trackers
6.5 Manage Subscription
- View subscription status in Settings
- Cancel anytime via: Settings → "Manage Subscription" → Apple's subscription page
- Restore purchases: Settings → "Restore Purchases"
7. Data Retention
- Active accounts: Data retained as long as your account is active
- Deleted accounts: Personal content deleted immediately; fraud-prevention data (Apple User ID, usage counts, transaction IDs) retained 90 days
- Usage logs: Retained for 90 days for debugging and cost analysis
- Analytics: Aggregated and anonymized, retained for 2 years
- iCloud Backup: Retained until you delete it from iCloud or cancel your Premium subscription
8. Children's Privacy
BibleChat is not directed to children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at support@dailybibleverseapp.life, and we will delete it.
9. International Data Transfers
BibleChat is based in the United States. If you access the app from outside the US, your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the US where our servers (Firebase, OpenAI) are located. By using BibleChat, you consent to this transfer.
GDPR Compliance (EU/UK Users): If you are in the European Union or United Kingdom, you have additional rights under GDPR, including the right to data portability, rectification, and erasure. Contact us at support@dailybibleverseapp.life to exercise these rights.
10. Security
We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data:
- Encryption in Transit: All data transmitted to/from our servers uses HTTPS/TLS
- Local Encryption: Sensitive data (subscription tier) encrypted on device
- API Key Protection: OpenAI API key never stored on your device (server-side only)
- Authentication: Sign in with Apple uses OAuth 2.0 with PKCE (industry best practice)
- Rate Limiting: Server-side enforcement prevents abuse
- App Check: Prevents unauthorized API access from non-iOS clients
- Transaction Verification: Subscription purchases cryptographically verified with Apple
However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
11. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you by:
- Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
- Displaying an in-app notice when you next open BibleChat
Your continued use of BibleChat after changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact us:
Email: support@dailybibleverseapp.life
This privacy policy was generated based on the actual data practices of BibleChat as of January 2026.