Overview
Ember ("we", "our", or "the app") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our habit tracking application.
Information We Collect
Habit Data: Ember stores your habits (names, icons, colors, schedules, goals, reminders, categories), your check-ins, streaks, vacations, reports, the days you open the app, and your settings. This stays on your device and, when you’re signed in to iCloud, syncs to your private iCloud.
Health Data: If you link a habit to a health metric, Ember reads that metric from the Health app on your device so the habit can complete itself. Two kinds of habit can also write back: water and mindful minutes save the amount you log in Ember to the Health app, and only for habits where you have turned that on. Both directions are optional, both are chosen per habit, and both can be revoked at any time in the Health app. Health readings stay on your device and are shared only with Ember’s own widgets and Apple Watch app. iCloud sync and backup files carry your progress toward each goal, never the readings themselves. Health data is never sent to us, never shared with third parties, never used for advertising or marketing, and never sold.
We do NOT collect:
- Personal identification information (name, email address, or similar)
- Location data
- Device identifiers for tracking purposes
- Usage analytics or behavioral data
- Any data for advertising purposes
Data Storage
Local Storage: All your habit data is stored locally on your device using secure storage mechanisms provided by iOS.
iCloud Sync: When you’re signed in to iCloud, Ember syncs your data to your private iCloud account with Apple’s CloudKit. Apple encrypts it, and only devices signed in to your Apple ID can read it. There is no switch in the app.
Apple Watch and widgets: Ember’s widgets and Apple Watch app receive your habit names, icons, colors, schedules, counts, streaks, and today’s Health readings, through a private app group on your device and Apple’s encrypted link to your paired watch. Nothing on that path leaves your own devices.
Backups: Export Backup saves a file and opens the share sheet, so you choose where it goes (for example Files or iCloud Drive). Ember never uploads it anywhere.
Third-Party Services
Ember uses the following Apple-provided services only:
- iCloud / CloudKit: for syncing data across your devices (automatic when you’re signed in to iCloud). Sync uses Apple’s silent push notifications to tell your device that another of your devices has changes. Those pushes carry no habit content.
- StoreKit: for processing in-app purchases through Apple’s App Store
- UserNotifications: for habit reminders, evening streak alerts, and report notifications (optional, requires your permission)
- HealthKit: to read the metrics you link to a habit (the app and its widgets read them), and to save water and mindful minutes you log in Ember to Health if you turn that on (optional, per habit, requires your permission)
- Photos: saving a share card asks iOS for add-only access. Ember cannot read your photos.
- Siri and Shortcuts: if you use Siri or Shortcuts with Ember, Apple handles those requests.
We do not use any third-party analytics, advertising, crash reporting, or tracking services. There are no SDKs from Facebook, Google, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or any similar provider embedded in Ember.
In-App Purchases
Purchases are processed entirely through Apple’s App Store using StoreKit. We do not have access to your payment information at any point. Apple handles all payment processing according to their own privacy policy and terms of service.
Ember offers three premium options: a weekly subscription, a monthly subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase. Subscriptions auto-renew through your Apple ID and can be managed or cancelled at any time in your App Store account settings. The lifetime option is a single payment with no recurring charge. All purchases are tied to your Apple ID and can be restored on any device signed in with the same account.
Data Security
We implement appropriate security measures to protect your data:
- All iCloud data is encrypted in transit and at rest by Apple
- Local data is stored using iOS secure storage mechanisms
- We do not transmit your data to any external servers. There are none to transmit to
- Backup files are only shared when you explicitly initiate an export
Your Rights
You have complete control over your data at all times:
- Access: view all your data within the app at any time
- Export: create a portable backup of your data via Settings → Data → Backup & Sync → Export Backup
- Delete: delete individual habits, habit history, or all app data. Delete All Data (Settings → Data → Backup & Sync) also erases your iCloud copy. Backup files you saved are kept.
- Portability: your backup is a JSON file (saved as .ember) that you can keep indefinitely
- iCloud: iCloud sync runs while you’re signed in to iCloud. Signing out stops it, and your data stays on the device.
Because we collect no personal data on our end, there is nothing for us to look up, correct, or delete on your behalf. All data management happens directly through the app on your device.
Children’s Privacy
Ember does not knowingly collect information from children under 13. The app is designed to be suitable for all ages. It needs no personal information, and your data goes only to your own devices and your own iCloud.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy. Continued use of the app after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
We will never introduce data collection, analytics, or advertising without making this clearly visible to users through an updated policy and prominent in-app notification.
Contact
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how Ember handles data, please contact us: support@edgarpielb.com. We typically respond within 24 hours.