1. Introduction
Phorb ("Phorb", "us", "we", or "our") operates the Phorb mobile application for iOS (the "App"), a private space for couples to stay emotionally connected and share updates with each other.
We also maintain a simple marketing website at https://phorb.app (the "Website") that presents the App, along with this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Service. The Website does not provide accounts, partner linking, or any app functionality — those are available only in the App.
This Privacy Policy ("Policy") describes how we collect, process, share, and safeguard Personal Data when you use the App. It also briefly covers limited data collected when you visit the Website. It explains your rights and choices, and how to contact us with questions or concerns.
2. Personal Data we collect
We collect Personal Data about you from the sources listed below. In this Policy, "Personal Data" means any information relating to an identified or identifiable individual, and does not include data from which personally identifiable information has been removed (such as anonymized or aggregated data).
Personal Data you provide in the App
- Account information: When you create an account in the App, we collect your email address and authentication credentials. You may sign in with Apple, Google, or email and password. If you use Apple or Google, we receive the information those providers share with us (such as your email address and, where available, your name).
- Profile information: When you set up or update your profile in the App, we collect your display name, profile photo, birth date, relationship start date, relationship connection type, timezone, daily emotion goal, and notification preferences (including per-feature notification settings).
- Partner content: When you use the App with a linked partner, you provide content that is shared with that partner, including tracked emotions, selected needs, notes (including text and photos), doodles, daily sync answers, calendar events, wishes (including photos), reactions, and custom pulse messages.
- Correspondence and support: When you contact us for support or submit feedback through the App, we collect the information you provide, such as your message, display name, email address, app version, device locale, and related technical details needed to respond.
- Payment information: If you subscribe to Phorb Premium through the App, payment processing is handled by Apple and our subscription provider, RevenueCat. They collect the financial information needed to process your purchase in accordance with their own privacy policies. We do not receive or store your full payment card information.
Information collected automatically in the App
- Device and usage data: When you use the App, we and our service providers may collect information about your device and how you interact with the App, such as your device type, operating system version, app version, language settings, general diagnostic information, and usage events (for example, screens viewed and features used). Where enabled through our feature settings, we may also collect analytics data to help us understand App usage.
- Push notification tokens: If you enable push notifications in the App, we collect and store a device token so we can deliver notifications about partner activity and app updates you choose to receive.
- Widget data: If you add Phorb widgets to your home or lock screen, a limited subset of App data may be cached locally on your device through Apple's App Groups to display widget content. This cached data stays on your device unless you remove the widget or sign out of the App.
The App requests access to your camera and photo library only when you choose to take or select photos for your profile, notes, or wishes, or when you choose to save a doodle to your photo library. We do not access your contacts, precise location, or phone number. If you choose to share an invite link through your device's share sheet (such as Messages), that action uses your device's native sharing tools and we do not receive the recipient's contact information.
Information collected on the Website
The Website is a marketing landing page and does not require an account. When you visit the Website, our hosting provider may collect standard server logs (such as IP address, browser type, and pages requested). We do not use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies on the Website.
Information we receive from third parties
- Sign-in providers: If you authenticate in the App with Apple or Google, we receive information from those providers as permitted by your account settings and their privacy policies.
- Subscription status: We receive subscription and entitlement information from RevenueCat and Apple to determine whether premium features are available to you and your linked partner in the App.
3. How we use your Personal Data
We use your Personal Data for one or more of the following purposes:
- To provide the App. We use Personal Data to operate, maintain, and provide the App, including creating and managing your account, linking you with your partner, storing and displaying shared content, syncing widgets, and delivering features you request.
- To operate the Website. We use limited technical data to host the marketing landing page and required legal pages.
- To send notifications. We use Personal Data to deliver push notifications, local check-in reminders, and in-app alerts about partner activity and other events, based on your notification settings in the App.
- To manage subscriptions. We use subscription-related information to offer, validate, and support Phorb Premium for you and your linked partner.
- To provide support. We use Personal Data to respond to your requests, troubleshoot issues, and improve how we help users.
- To analyze and improve the App. Where enabled, we use analytics to understand how the App is used, diagnose problems, and improve features and reliability.
- To keep the App secure. We use Personal Data to detect, prevent, and address fraud, abuse, security incidents, and violations of our Terms of Service.
- To comply with law. We use Personal Data where necessary to comply with applicable legal obligations and respond to lawful requests.
4. How we disclose your Personal Data
We disclose Personal Data in the following circumstances:
- Your linked partner: When you connect with a partner in the App, content you create (such as emotions, needs, notes, doodles, daily sync answers, calendar events, wishes, reactions, and pulses) is shared with that partner. Your partner sees your display name, profile photo, and other profile details you choose to share.
- Service providers: We rely on trusted vendors to help us provide the App, including Google Firebase (for authentication, database, cloud storage, cloud functions, messaging, analytics, and remote configuration), Apple (for Sign in with Apple, in-app purchases, and push notification delivery), Google (for Google Sign-In), and RevenueCat (for subscription management). These providers process Personal Data on our behalf subject to contractual and legal obligations.
- Legal and safety: We may disclose Personal Data if we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to comply with applicable law, respond to lawful requests, enforce our terms, protect the rights and safety of Phorb, our users, or others, or investigate fraud or security issues.
- Business transfers: If Phorb is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, or sale of assets, Personal Data may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to this Policy.
We do not sell your Personal Data. We do not share your Personal Data with third parties for their own advertising purposes.
Content you share with your partner in the App remains visible to them as part of the shared relationship experience. If you disconnect from a partner or delete specific content, future access may be limited, but content your partner has already viewed or saved locally (including through widgets or device backups) may still remain on their device.
5. Your rights and choices
Depending on where you live and how you interact with the App, you may have the following rights and choices regarding your Personal Data:
- Access and portability: You may request a copy of the Personal Data we hold about you.
- Correction: You may update your profile information in the App or ask us to correct inaccurate Personal Data.
- Deletion: You may delete your account in the App settings. When you do, we delete or anonymize your account data and associated content from our systems, subject to legal retention requirements and limited backup retention.
- Notification choices: You can manage push notification preferences in the App and through your device settings.
- Withdraw consent: Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time. This will not affect the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal.
- Object or restrict processing: In some jurisdictions, you may object to or request restriction of certain processing of your Personal Data.
To exercise these rights, contact us at support@phorb.app. We may ask you to verify your identity before responding. Depending on your location, you may also have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection authority.
6. International data transfers
Phorb is operated from the United States. If you use the App from outside the United States, your Personal Data may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States and other countries where our service providers operate. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from those in your country.
Where required by applicable law, we implement appropriate safeguards for international transfers of Personal Data, such as standard contractual clauses or equivalent mechanisms.
7. Children's privacy
The App is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect Personal Data from anyone under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with Personal Data, please contact us at support@phorb.app.
8. Retention of Personal Data
We retain Personal Data only for as long as necessary to provide the App, fulfill the purposes described in this Policy, comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.
When you delete your account in the App, we delete or anonymize your Personal Data from active systems, though residual copies may remain in encrypted backups for a limited period before being overwritten.
9. Security of Personal Data
We use reasonable organizational, technical, and administrative measures designed to protect Personal Data against unauthorized access, misuse, loss, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
10. Links to other sites
The App may contain links to third-party websites or services that we do not operate, such as Apple, Google, or payment-related pages. If you click a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party's site or service. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of every third-party site or service you visit.
We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.
11. Changes and updates to this Policy
We may update this Policy from time to time. When we do, we will post the updated Policy on this page and update the "Last updated" date above. If we make material changes, we will provide additional notice as required by applicable law.
Your continued use of the App after an update becomes effective means you accept the revised Policy, unless otherwise required by applicable law.
12. Contact us
Phorb, operated from the United States, is the entity responsible for the processing of your Personal Data described in this Policy. If you have questions about this Policy, our privacy practices, or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us at support@phorb.app.