Privacy Policy for Note Buddy

1. Overview

ChargeOut does not collect your personal information or note contents through Note Buddy. The app has no ChargeOut account, advertising, analytics or tracking. Notes sync through your private Apple iCloud database, not a developer-operated service.

This policy explains the Apple services and optional device permissions Note Buddy uses.

2. Information stored by the app

Note Buddy may store note titles and dates; typed text and handwriting; recognised text; summaries; action items, owners, due dates and completion state; linked reminder identifiers; meeting titles, times, attendees and calendar names copied into a note; and photos or files you attach.

This information is stored in the app’s SwiftData database and, when iCloud is available, mirrored by Apple CloudKit to your private iCloud database so it can appear on your devices.

3. iCloud and CloudKit

iCloud sync is provided by Apple under your Apple Account and Apple’s terms. ChargeOut does not operate a sync server and does not receive your note contents. Apple may process and store the encrypted service data needed to provide iCloud and CloudKit.

If iCloud is unavailable, Note Buddy may use local-only storage on that device until its iCloud store can be opened.

4. Calendar access

Calendar access is optional. If allowed, Note Buddy reads nearby calendar events to identify the meeting currently in progress and can show meetings for relinking a note. When you use a meeting, its title, start and end times, attendees and calendar name are copied into the note and may then sync through your private iCloud database.

Calendar information is not sent to ChargeOut. You can deny or revoke Calendar access in system settings and continue to use notes.

5. Reminders access

Reminders access is optional. If allowed, Note Buddy can list your reminder lists, create reminders from action items, find linked reminders and update their completion state. It stores the linked reminder identifier in the note so ticks can be kept in step.

Apple’s Reminders and iCloud services handle reminder data. Note Buddy does not send it to ChargeOut. You can turn off automatic adding in Note Buddy Settings or revoke access in system settings.

6. Camera, photos and files

Camera access is used only when you choose to take a photo for a note. Photos and files are added only when you choose them. Attachments are stored with the note and may sync through your private iCloud database.

Apple Vision and PDFKit read text from images and documents on-device. Markup is handled by Apple’s system tools. ChargeOut does not receive the original attachment, recognised text or markup.

7. Apple Intelligence and text processing

Current builds use Apple’s on-device Foundation Model, when available, to create a summary and identify action items. Handwriting and image recognition also run on-device using Apple Vision. If Apple Intelligence is unavailable, Note Buddy can use simple on-device keyword matching instead.

Private Cloud Compute is not enabled in current builds. Note Buddy does not send note text to a third-party AI provider or to ChargeOut. Generated summaries and action items are stored with the note and may sync through your private iCloud database.

8. Sharing

Nothing is shared until you choose Share and select a destination in the system share sheet. A shared note can include text, rendered handwriting images and attached files. The chosen app or service then handles that copy under its own privacy terms. ChargeOut does not receive a copy.

9. Information collected by the developer

Note Buddy does not include developer analytics, advertising, tracking technologies, third-party SDKs, a ChargeOut account or a developer-operated database. ChargeOut does not sell or share app data.

If you contact support by email, your email provider and ours process the information you choose to send. We use it only to respond to your enquiry.

10. Optional tips

All features are free, with no note limit. Optional beer tips are processed by Apple through the App Store and do not unlock features. ChargeOut does not receive your payment-card details. Each tip is a separate one-time payment with the local App Store price shown before confirmation.

The app verifies tip transactions and stores a tip count and invitation-dismissal date locally and in your private iCloud key-value storage. This keeps the supporter acknowledgement and invitation preferences consistent across your devices. These records are separate from your notes and are not sent to a ChargeOut server. Apple handles purchases and iCloud services under its own terms and privacy policy.

11. Data deletion

You can delete individual notes inside Note Buddy. The deletion is mirrored through CloudKit to your other devices. Removing the app from one device does not necessarily delete notes from iCloud or from your other devices. Use Note Buddy on a signed-in device to delete notes you no longer want, and review your Apple Account’s iCloud storage controls where appropriate.

12. Website hosting

The Note Buddy marketing, support and privacy pages are hosted using GitHub Pages. GitHub may process routine web request information needed to provide and secure the site. This is separate from the app; Note Buddy does not send note data to this website or GitHub.

13. Changes to this policy

This policy may be updated if Note Buddy’s features or data practices change. The effective date identifies the current version.

14. Contact

For privacy questions, email info@chargeout.net.