Effective Date: November 5, 2025
Welcome to AI Plant Identifier. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring transparency about how we handle your information. This Privacy Policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding your personal information.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Account Information
When you create an account, we collect:
- Email address
- Display name
- Firebase User ID (UID)
- Account creation timestamp
- Subscription tier and status
- Credit usage and bonus credits earned
1.2 Plant Identification Data
To provide plant identification services, we process:
- Plant photos you upload or capture
- AI-generated plant descriptions and care guides
- Health assessments and recommendations
- Care routine tracking and progress logs
- Plant diary entries and notes
1.3 Usage Information
We track usage patterns to improve our service:
- Credit consumption and monthly resets
- Feature usage statistics
- Task completion timestamps
- AI Coach chat history (stored locally)
1.4 Device Information
For anonymous users and technical functionality:
- Sanitized device identifiers for credit tracking
- Device type and operating system version
- App version and build information
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the collected information for the following purposes:
Plant Identification
Process your plant photos to provide accurate species identification and care recommendations
Account Management
Maintain your profile, subscription status, and credit balance across devices
Care Reminders
Schedule and deliver notifications for plant watering and maintenance tasks
Purchases & Billing
Process in-app purchases and manage subscription transactions
Service Improvement
Analyze usage patterns to enhance features and user experience
AI Coach Support
Provide personalized plant care guidance through conversational AI
3. Data Sharing and Third-Party Services
We share data with trusted third-party services to deliver our app's functionality:
Note: We do not sell your personal information to third parties. Data sharing is limited to service provision and occurs through secure, encrypted channels.
4. Data Storage and Retention
Cloud Storage (Firebase)
Account profiles, subscription data, and credit balances are stored in Firebase Realtime Database. This data persists until you delete your account.
Local Device Storage
Plant libraries, care routines, and AI Coach chat histories are cached locally using Hive and SharedPreferences. This data is deleted when you uninstall the app or clear app data.
Temporary Processing
Plant images sent to OpenAI for identification are processed transiently and not permanently stored by the AI service.
Retention Period
We retain your data only as long as necessary to provide services or as required by law. Deleted accounts are purged within 30 days.
5. Your Rights and Controls
You have the following rights regarding your personal information:
Access Your Data
View and export your account information, plant library, and usage history through the app
Delete Your Account
Permanently remove your account and associated Firebase data from our servers
Clear Local Data
Delete plant records, chat histories, and cached data stored on your device
Manage Notifications
Control reminder permissions and notification preferences at the OS level
Opt Out of Ads
Skip rewarded ads (though this means you won't receive bonus credits)
Withdraw Consent
Revoke permissions for camera, storage, or notifications at any time
6. Security Measures
We implement industry-standard security practices to protect your information:
- Encrypted Communications: All data transfers use HTTPS/TLS encryption
- Firebase Security Rules: Database access is restricted to authenticated users' own data nodes
- API Key Protection: Sensitive keys are stored outside the codebase and loaded securely at runtime
- Sanitized Identifiers: Device IDs are processed to remove sensitive hardware information
- Regular Updates: We maintain current security patches for all dependencies
Important: While we take reasonable precautions, no method of electronic storage or transmission is 100% secure. Please use strong passwords and keep your account credentials confidential.
7. App Permissions
AI Plant Identifier requires the following permissions to function:
8. Children's Privacy
AI Plant Identifier is intended for users aged 13 and older (or the minimum age in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under this age limit.
If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately so we can delete it.
9. International Data Transfers
Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own, including the United States, where our service providers (Firebase, OpenAI) operate. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
10. Regional Privacy Rights
European Economic Area (GDPR)
If you are in the EEA, you have additional rights including data portability, restriction of processing, and the right to lodge complaints with supervisory authorities.
California (CCPA/CPRA)
California residents may request information about categories of personal information collected, sources, business purposes, and third parties we share with.
Other Jurisdictions
We comply with applicable privacy laws in all regions where we operate. Contact us for region-specific information.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will:
- Update the "Effective Date" at the top of this policy
- Notify you via in-app notification or email
- Request renewed consent where required by law
We encourage you to review this policy regularly to stay informed about how we protect your information.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us:
Thank you for trusting AI Plant Identifier with your plant care journey. Your privacy matters to us.