Overview
Paw-San ("the App") is a Japanese vocabulary learning app developed by Dave ("we", "us", "our"). We take your privacy seriously and are committed to being transparent about how we handle your data.
The short version: we collect as little as possible, we never sell your data, and most of what the app does happens on your device.
Data stored on your device
The following data is stored locally on your device using Apple's SwiftData framework and is never transmitted to our servers:
- Saved vocabulary: Words and phrases you save, including Japanese text, readings, meanings, and example sentences.
- Conversation history: Small Talk practice conversations and messages.
- App preferences: Your native language setting, voice style preference, and onboarding state.
This data stays on your device and in your iCloud backups (if enabled). We cannot access it.
Data processed through our servers
When you use certain features, data is sent to our backend server (a Cloudflare Worker) for processing:
- AI Translation requests: The text you enter for translation is sent to OpenAI or Google Gemini APIs via our server. We do not store the content of your translations.
- Text-to-Speech (TTS): Text sent for premium voice playback is processed through ElevenLabs via our server. We do not store the audio or the input text.
- Voice Input (STT): Audio recordings from voice input are sent to ElevenLabs for transcription via our server. We do not store the audio.
- Small Talk chat: Messages in practice conversations are sent to AI providers via our server to generate responses. We do not store conversation content.
Usage tracking
We track the following aggregated counts to enforce free tier limits and manage subscriptions:
- Number of translations used
- Number of TTS and STT requests used
- Number of chat messages used
- Saved word count and favorite count (anonymous statistics)
- Your language and level preferences (to improve the service)
This data is associated with an anonymous RevenueCat user ID, not with your name or email address.
Subscription and payments
Subscriptions are managed through Apple's App Store and RevenueCat. We do not collect or store any payment information. Apple handles all billing. RevenueCat provides us with anonymized subscription status to unlock Pro features.
Third-party services
The App uses the following third-party services:
- RevenueCat — Subscription management. Privacy Policy
- OpenAI — AI translation and chat. Privacy Policy
- Google Gemini — AI translation. Privacy Policy
- ElevenLabs — Text-to-speech and speech-to-text. Privacy Policy
- Apple Translation — On-device translation (no data leaves your device).
- Cloudflare — API proxy hosting. Privacy Policy
Analytics
We do not use any third-party analytics SDKs (no Firebase Analytics, no Mixpanel, no Amplitude). We do not track screens you visit, buttons you tap, or how long you use the app.
Data retention
Usage counts are reset on a monthly cycle. We do not maintain long-term logs of your translation content or conversations. Anonymous usage statistics may be retained indefinitely to improve the service.
Children's privacy
The App is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
Your rights
Since most data lives on your device, you can delete it at any time by deleting the app. If you'd like us to delete any server-side usage data associated with your anonymous ID, contact us and we'll take care of it.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. If we make significant changes, we'll note the date at the top of this page.
Contact
If you have questions about this policy or your data, reach out to us at hi@paw-san.com.