Privacy Policy

Inku is a Japanese learning app for iPhone. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. We try to keep it short and plain.

If something here is unclear, email us at app@inkujapanese.com and we will explain.

The short version

• Your learning lives on your iPhone.
• We do not run our own servers that store your progress.
• We do not sell your data.
• We do not run ads.
• We do not use third-party trackers to follow you around the internet.
• You can wipe everything by deleting the app.

Information stored on your device

Inku saves your learning data locally on your iPhone using Apple's standard on-device storage. This includes:

• Which characters, words, and phrases you have reviewed.
• How you answered each review (remembered or did not remember).
• Your streak, daily ink drops, and overall progress.
• Your onboarding answers (level, goals, pace) and the plan we built from them.
• Any cards or phrases you flag as broken.
• A random install ID we generate on first launch so we can group anonymous diagnostic events (see “Diagnostic information” below). This ID is not linked to your name, email, Apple ID, or anything else that identifies you.

This data never leaves your device unless you send it yourself (for example, by using the “Flag” feature, which opens your email app with a pre-filled message).

If you enable iCloud backup on your iPhone, iOS may include Inku's data in your encrypted iCloud backup. That is governed by Apple's privacy policy, not ours.

Information we receive

Subscription status

If you subscribe to Inku Pro, we receive a signal that says you are an active subscriber. We do not see or store your credit card or Apple ID. Apple and our subscription partner RevenueCat handle that.

Diagnostic information

To keep the app stable, we collect basic technical information:

• Device model and iOS version.
• App version.
• Anonymous crash reports and error logs (through Sentry).
• Anonymous in-app events that tell us which screens are used and where people get stuck (onboarding completion, session start and finish, paywall views). These events are tied to the random install ID mentioned above, not to you personally.

Feedback emails

If you use the in-app “Flag” feature or email app@inkujapanese.com, we see whatever you type, plus the email address you send from.

We do not collect your location, your contacts, your photos, your microphone audio, your browsing history, or anything outside Inku.

How we use this information

We use the information we collect to:

• Measure whether a change to the app is helping people learn.
• Diagnose and fix bugs.
• Keep your Inku Pro subscription in the right state.
• Respond when you email us.

We do not use your data to train AI models. We do not build a behavioral profile of you. We do not share your data with advertisers.

Third-party services

Inku uses a small number of third-party services. Here is what each one sees:

Apple

If you install the app, Apple sees that. If you buy a subscription, Apple handles payment and receives the billing information. We follow Apple's own privacy rules for App Store apps.

RevenueCat (subscription management)

RevenueCat receives a signal when you subscribe, renew, or cancel so the app can unlock Pro features correctly. RevenueCat does not receive your card information. It sees an anonymous user ID tied to your Apple ID.

Sentry (crash and error reporting)

Sentry receives anonymous crash reports and error logs. These are used only to fix bugs. Sentry does not see your learning data or any personal identifier.

ElevenLabs (voice audio)

We use ElevenLabs to pre-record the Japanese pronunciations you hear in the app. This happens at build time before the app ships. No audio is generated on demand; the mp3s are bundled into the app. ElevenLabs does not receive any information about you.

AI providers (future features)

If we ship an AI-powered feature later (for example, a conversational practice partner or speech feedback), we may send the text or audio you produce to a third-party AI service. We will only send what is needed for the feature to work, and we will update this policy before the feature ships so you know exactly what is involved.

Where your data is stored

Your learning data is stored locally on your iPhone. If you use iCloud Backup, a copy may also live in your encrypted iCloud backup under Apple's control.

Diagnostic reports and anonymous usage events flow to Sentry (servers in the United States). Subscription signals flow to RevenueCat (servers in the United States) and Apple.

If you are located outside the United States, including in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, you understand that limited diagnostic and subscription data will be processed in the United States. We rely on standard contractual clauses and the providers' own safeguards.

How long we keep your data

• On-device data: as long as you keep Inku installed. Deleting the app deletes everything.
• Subscription records: Apple and RevenueCat retain their own records for the periods required by their policies and by tax law.
• Diagnostic data: retained in anonymous, aggregated form for up to 90 days by our providers.

How to delete your data

Delete the Inku app from your iPhone. That erases your learning progress, your settings, and the random install ID.

If you also want us to delete the anonymous diagnostic events tied to your install ID, email app@inkujapanese.comwith the install ID (you can find it in the app's Settings screen under “About”) and we will purge it within 30 days.

You can stop paying for Inku Pro at any time by managing your subscription in your iPhone Settings (see our Terms of Service for details).

Security

Every network request the app makes is sent over HTTPS. Diagnostic data and subscription signals are encrypted in transit.

No system is perfect. If we ever discover a breach that affects the data we hold, we will let users know through an in-app notice or an App Store update note within 72 hours of confirming it.

Children's privacy

Inku is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you believe a child is using the app, email app@inkujapanese.com and we will help.

Users between 13 and the age of majority in their country should have a parent or guardian review this policy first.

Your rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:

• Access the data we hold about you.
• Correct it.
• Delete it.
• Object to certain processing.

Because most of your data lives on your device, you already have full access to it. For the anonymous diagnostic data we hold through our providers, email app@inkujapanese.com and we will help.

Changes to this policy

If we change this policy in a way that affects you, we will update the app and the date at the top, and surface the update in the App Store release notes. Small editorial edits (typos, clearer phrasing) do not trigger a notice.

Contact us

Questions about this policy or your data:

app@inkujapanese.com

Inku is operated by Bao Hua, a sole proprietor based at The Ampersand, 140 10 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0A3, Canada.