Privacy Policy

Fern (hereinafter referred to as "the App") is developed and operated by ElevenApril. We understand the importance of your personal information and are committed to protecting your privacy. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully before using the App.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

• Plant data: Plant profiles, growth records, photos, care notes, and other content you create in the App.
• User preferences: Personalized settings such as watering reminders and notification preferences.
• Account information (optional): Creating an account is optional. If you choose to sign in, we receive the information needed to identify your account: with Google or Apple sign-in, your email address (and, if the provider shares it, your name and profile picture); with phone sign-in, your phone number and password. We also store the nickname and avatar you set, the devices you are signed in on, and your membership and purchase status.

1.2 Automatically Collected Information

• Device information: Device model, operating system version, and app version number, used to optimize compatibility and troubleshoot issues.
• Usage data: Statistical data such as screens viewed, feature usage frequency and crash logs, collected through Google Analytics for Firebase with a random app-instance identifier and not linked to your name, email or phone number. Used to improve the app experience.

1.3 Information We Do Not Collect

You are not required to create an account to use the App's core features. If you don't sign in, Fern does not collect your name, email address or phone number. Fern does not collect your location, contacts, or any data for advertising purposes.

2. Data Storage and Syncing

Your plant data (including photos) is primarily stored locally on your device. Depending on your platform, data syncing works as follows:

iOS Users

• Through Apple's CloudKit framework, your data can automatically sync between your iPhone and iPad via iCloud.
• All data is encrypted in transit and at rest by iCloud, with security managed by Apple.
• We cannot access any of your personal data stored in iCloud.
• You can disable syncing for this App at any time in iOS Settings > Apple ID > iCloud.

Android Users

• Plant data is stored locally on your device.
• If you sign in, your account information (see 1.1) is stored on our servers hosted by Supabase, and is transmitted via encrypted connections.
• If cloud syncing is available, data is transmitted via encrypted connections and stored securely on our servers or third-party cloud services.
• You can manage syncing options in the App's settings.

3. How We Use Information

The limited information we collect is used solely for the following purposes:

• Providing and maintaining the App's core features.
• Improving user experience and app performance.
• Analyzing and fixing technical issues.
• Understanding feature usage trends to guide product development.

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We commit to the following:

• We do not sell any of your personal information to third parties.
• We do not share your data with advertisers or data brokers.
• The App does not contain any third-party advertising SDKs.

We may disclose information in the following circumstances:

• To comply with mandatory legal requirements.
• To protect the rights and safety of ElevenApril, users, or the public.

5. Third-Party Services

The App may use the following third-party services:

• Apple iCloud (CloudKit): Used for data syncing on iOS. Subject to Apple's Privacy Policy.
• App Store / Google Play: Used for app distribution and in-app purchases. Subject to Apple Media Services Terms and Google's Privacy Policy, respectively.
• Supabase: Hosts our account and membership servers. Subject to Supabase's Privacy Policy.
• Staghorn Q&A: Questions you ask in Staghorn Q&A, in the app or on this website, are sent to an AI model provider to generate the answer. We store questions and answers linked to a pseudonymous identifier, not your name or email, to measure and improve answer quality.
• Android beta waitlist: If you join the Android beta waitlist on this website, we store the email address you enter, your page language, the page you joined from and your approximate country. We use it only to send you a Google Play testing invite and news about the Android app. Email us to have it deleted.
• Google Sign-In / Sign in with Apple: Used when you choose to sign in with those accounts. Subject to Google's Privacy Policy and Apple's Privacy Policy, respectively.
• Google Analytics for Firebase: Used for usage statistics and app improvement. Subject to Google's Privacy Policy.
• RevenueCat: Used for subscription management. Subject to RevenueCat's Privacy Policy.

6. Data Security

We take reasonable technical measures to protect the security of your data, including but not limited to:

• All photos are stored at original quality locally on your device or in the cloud syncing service.
• Data transmission is protected by encryption protocols.
• We minimize server-side data storage, keeping data on your device whenever possible.

7. Children's Privacy

The App is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you become aware that we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.

8. Your Rights

You have full control over your data:

• View and edit: You can view and modify all your plant data within the App at any time.
• Delete data: You can delete any plant profile or individual record, or remove all local data by uninstalling the App.
• Delete your account: You can delete your account in the App (Settings > Account > Delete Account) or request deletion by email. See Delete Your Fern Account for details.
• Disable syncing: iOS users can disable syncing in Settings > Apple ID > iCloud; Android users can manage syncing options in the App's settings.
• Export data: The App supports exporting your plant data.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Updated versions will be posted on this page with a revised "Last updated" date. We recommend checking this policy periodically. If there are significant changes, we will notify you through an in-app notification.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions or suggestions regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us through:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: staghornfern.org