Privacy Policy — SplitOwl

This Privacy Policy explains what information SplitOwl ("SplitOwl", "we", "us") collects when you use our mobile app and website, how we use it, and the choices you have. By using SplitOwl you agree to this policy.

1. Information we collect

Information you provide

Account details — your name, email address, and password (stored only as a secure hash).
Profile & group data — groups you create or join, group members, and the expenses, amounts, notes, and settlements you record.
Communications — messages you send us (e.g. support emails).

Information collected with your permission

Contacts — if you grant contacts permission, we use your contacts only to help you find friends who already use SplitOwl and to send invites you initiate. We do not upload your entire address book for advertising, and you can use the app without granting this permission.

Information collected automatically

Device & push tokens — a notification token (via Firebase Cloud Messaging) so we can send the push notifications you enable.
Technical data — basic device and log information needed to operate, secure, and debug the service.

2. How we use your information

To provide the core service: tracking shared expenses and calculating who owes whom.
To create and manage your account and authenticate you.
To send transactional messages (invites, password resets, important account notices) and the push notifications you opt into.
To maintain security, prevent abuse, and comply with legal obligations.

3. How we share information

With other users — when you join a group, members can see your name, email, and the shared expenses and balances within that group.
With service providers — we use trusted third parties to run SplitOwl, including cloud database hosting (MongoDB Atlas), application hosting, push notifications (Google Firebase), and email delivery. They process data only on our behalf.
For legal reasons — if required by law or to protect rights, safety, and the integrity of the service.

We do not sell your personal information.

4. Money & payments

SplitOwl is an expense-tracking tool. It records balances and settlements that you and your group enter. SplitOwl does not process, hold, or transfer real money, and we do not collect payment-card or bank-account details for settlements between users.

5. Data retention & deletion

We keep your information for as long as your account is active. Deleted groups and expenses are moved to a trash/soft-deleted state and later permanently removed. You can delete your account from within the app; when you do, we delete or anonymize your personal data, except where we must retain limited records for legal or security reasons.

6. Security

We protect your data with measures such as encrypted connections (HTTPS), hashed passwords, access controls, and rate limiting. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, but we work to safeguard your information.

7. Your rights

Depending on where you live (e.g. under the EU GDPR, India's DPDP Act, or California's CCPA), you may have the right to access, correct, export, or delete your personal data, and to object to certain processing. To exercise these rights, contact us at the email below.

8. Children

SplitOwl is not directed to children under 13 (or the minimum age required in your country). We do not knowingly collect data from children. If you believe a child has provided us information, contact us and we will remove it.

9. International transfers

Your information may be processed in countries other than your own, where our service providers operate. We take steps to ensure your data remains protected in line with this policy.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will revise the "Last updated" date above and, where appropriate, notify you in the app.

11. Contact us

Questions about this policy or your data? Email us at [email protected].