Privacy Policy

Our core commitments

Astray was built on a simple idea: the best way to protect your data is not to store it at all. We don't run servers that receive your location, and we never build a history of where you've been.

• Your location stays on your device. Coordinates are used to measure the distance to the destination you chose. We don't store them and we don't send them to ourselves.
• Your destinations stay on your device. The places you save and the routes you build are stored locally on your phone.
• No accounts. There is nothing to sign up for, and no account is ever created.
• Honest about the trade-off. Astray is free because it shows ads and collects anonymous usage statistics. Those services never receive your location or your destinations — but they do collect other things, and the sections below say exactly what.

What data we collect

Everything Astray needs to sound an alarm — where you are, where you're going, and how far out to alert you — is processed on your device. That data comes first, because it is the most sensitive thing the app touches.

Location data

• Your current GPS coordinates, used to measure distance to your destination.
• Your destination's coordinates and address, which you choose.
• Live location updates while an alarm is running.

Alarm information

• Destination names and addresses.
• The distance threshold you selected (e.g. 1 km or 2 km).
• Alarm state and countdown timers.

How we use your data

Astray measures distances and fires alarms on your device, and your coordinates are never sent to us or to our analytics and advertising providers. There are two narrow exceptions where Apple's mapping services handle them, described under Third-party services and advertising below. Astray uses your data to:

• Compute the distance between you and your destination.
• Trigger geofence alarms as you approach.
• Display your position and destination on the map.
• Show countdowns in the Dynamic Island and on the lock screen.
• Save your preferences between launches.

Astray does not:

• Send your location or your destinations to us.
• Build a history of where you've been.
• Sell your personal information.

Data storage & retention

Your location, destination and alarm data is kept locally on your device, in on-device storage such as iOS UserDefaults and SwiftData:

• Active alarm information persists across restarts so your alarm keeps working.
• Saved destinations and journeys are stored on your device, and removed when you delete them.
• Alarm data is deleted when the alarm is dismissed.
• No history, logs or backups of your location are created.

Analytics and advertising data is held by our providers under their own retention schedules — Firebase Analytics keeps event data for up to 14 months by default. Deleting the app removes everything stored on your device and stops any further collection, though it cannot recall information that has already been sent to those providers.

Third-party services and advertising

Astray uses the following external services. Google's services never receive your location or your destinations; Apple's mapping services handle them, but only in the two narrow cases described below.

Firebase Analytics, Crashlytics and Remote Config (Google)

Astray uses Firebase Analytics to understand which features are actually used — for example, that an alarm was armed or a journey started. These events carry the device model, operating system and app version, your language, and a randomly generated app identifier. They do not carry your coordinates, your destination names, or anything you typed. Astray also uses Firebase Crashlytics to receive crash reports so faults can be fixed, and Firebase Remote Config to check whether a newer version of the app is required. Crash reports include the device type, the app version, and whether onboarding and the Pro unlock are active — again, never your location or your destinations. All three are governed by Firebase's privacy policy.

Google AdMob (advertising)

Astray shows ads through Google AdMob, which is what pays for the app. AdMob receives your device's advertising identifier, your IP address, information about your device and operating system, and which ads you were shown or tapped. Your IP address allows Google to infer your approximate location — typically your city or region, not your street.

Your precise location and your destinations are never passed to the ad SDK. Anything Google knows about where you are comes from your IP address and nothing else — Astray never hands it your coordinates or the places you are travelling to, and ads are selected by Google, not by us.

This collection is governed by Google's privacy policy and described in How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services. You can limit personalized advertising in Google's Ads Settings, and turn off tracking for Astray entirely in iOS Settings.

Apple Maps (search and addresses)

Two things leave your phone for Apple rather than for us. When you type a place into search, the words you typed and a map region go to Apple's Maps service, which returns the results. And when Astray needs to turn a coordinate into a city or a street address — to label a destination, for example — it asks Apple to do that too. Apple handles both under Apple's privacy policy. We never see these requests or the results.

Purchases of Astray Pro are also handled by Apple through the App Store. We never see your payment details.

Permissions requested

Location ("Always Allow")

Background alarms need access to your location at all times, so Astray asks for "Always Allow." If you switch to "While Using the App," background alarms won't work.

Notifications

Notifications are used for alarm alerts and Dynamic Island countdowns.

App Tracking Transparency

Before any ad can be personalized, iOS asks whether Astray may track you across other companies' apps and websites. Saying no costs you nothing — the app behaves exactly the same, and you simply see ads that aren't tailored to you. You can change your answer at any time in iOS Settings.

Your rights & control

• Toggle location, notification and ad-tracking access anytime in iOS Settings.
• Limit personalized advertising through Google's Ads Settings.
• Cancel an alarm to clear its alarm data immediately.
• Delete the app to erase everything stored on your device. This also stops any further collection, though it cannot recall information already sent to our providers.
• Contact the developer with any privacy questions or concerns.

Our philosophy

The best way to protect your data is not to store it at all, so the things that matter most — where you are and where you're going — never leave your phone. Astray does carry ads, and it does collect anonymous usage statistics, because that is what keeps it free. We would rather say so plainly than claim a purity the app does not have.

Children's privacy

Astray is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. The app requires no account and no personal details. Because Astray displays advertising, it is not intended for children, and we ask that parents not install it for a child.

Changes to this policy

This policy may be updated from time to time. The "Last updated" date above will be revised accordingly, and continued use of the app implies acceptance of any changes.

Contact us

Questions or concerns about your privacy? Email us at astraycommutecompanion@gmail.com.