📚 ShelfWise Privacy Policy

Last Updated: October 26, 2025

Overview

ShelfWise is committed to protecting your privacy. This privacy policy explains how we handle your data when you use our book management application.

Data Collection and Storage

ShelfWise stores all your data locally on your device. We do not collect, transmit, or store any of your personal information on our servers.

What Data is Stored Locally:

Book information (titles, authors, ISBNs, ratings, notes, etc.)
Book cover images (downloaded from public APIs or custom photos)
Reading progress and statistics
Collections and categories you create
Achievements and streaks
Your preferences and settings

iCloud Sync (Optional)

If you enable iCloud sync (Pro feature), your library data is stored in your personal iCloud account using Apple's CloudKit service. This data is:

Stored in your private iCloud account
Encrypted by Apple
Only accessible by you on devices signed in with your Apple ID
Not accessible by ShelfWise developers or any third party

Camera and Photo Library Access

ShelfWise requests camera access for two purposes:

ISBN Scanning: To scan book barcodes and automatically add books to your library
Custom Cover Photos: To capture or select custom book cover images

All photos taken or selected are stored locally on your device. We do not upload or transmit these images anywhere except to your own iCloud account if you have iCloud sync enabled.

Third-Party Services

ShelfWise uses the following third-party services:

Google Books API

When you scan an ISBN or search for a book, we query the Google Books API to retrieve book information (title, author, cover image, description, etc.). This request includes:

The ISBN or search term you entered
Your IP address (standard with any internet request)

This data is subject to Google's Privacy Policy.

OpenLibrary API

As a fallback when Google Books doesn't have results, we may query the OpenLibrary API. Similar to Google Books, this includes the ISBN or search term.

Notifications

If you enable reading reminders or streak protection notifications, these are handled entirely by iOS. No notification data is transmitted to our servers or any third party.

Analytics and Tracking

ShelfWise does not use any analytics, tracking, or advertising services. We do not track your usage, behavior, or any personal information.

Data Export and Deletion

You have complete control over your data:

Export: You can export your entire library to JSON format at any time
Delete: You can delete individual books, clear all books, or reset everything from Settings
iCloud Data: Deleting books or resetting will also remove data from your iCloud account

Children's Privacy

ShelfWise does not collect any personal information from anyone, including children under 13. The app can be safely used by users of all ages.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy, please contact us through the Support page.

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