Privacy Policy for Leafnote
Last updated: March 26, 2026
This Privacy Policy describes how Leafnote ("the App", "we", "us", or "our") handles your information. We are committed to being transparent about our practices.
1. Overview
Leafnote is a nature identification and logging app. You can photograph or upload images of plants to identify them, and optionally save those identifications — along with a photo and location — to your personal Leafnote on your device.
We do not operate servers, collect personal data, or store any of your information remotely. All data stays on your device.
2. Information We Collect
a) Photos
When you submit a photo for identification, it is sent to PlantNet to retrieve identification results. The photo is transmitted over an encrypted connection and is not stored, logged, or retained by us.
Please note: Photos taken on your iPhone may contain embedded location metadata (EXIF data). This metadata is not stripped before your photo is sent to PlantNet. Please review PlantNet's Privacy Policy for details on how they handle submitted images and any associated metadata.
b) Location Data
If you choose to save an identification to your Leafnote, the App may record the GPS location of your sighting. This location data is stored only on your device and is never transmitted to us.
The App requests access to your location only while the App is in use. You can deny or revoke location access at any time in your iPhone's Settings — the core identification features will still work without it.
c) Camera & Photo Library
The App requests access to your device's camera and photo library so you can take or upload photos for identification. We do not access, copy, or store any photos beyond what you explicitly submit for identification.
d) Analytics (Firebase)
We use Firebase Analytics, a service provided by Google, to collect anonymous usage data to understand how the App is used and improve its functionality.
This may include:
- Basic app interactions (e.g., button taps, screen views)
- General usage patterns (e.g., feature usage frequency)
No personally identifiable information (PII), photos, or location data are collected or transmitted through Firebase Analytics. All analytics data is aggregated and cannot be used to identify you.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information described above solely to provide the App's features:
- Photos are sent to PlantNet to retrieve species identification data.
- Species names returned by PlantNet are sent to the iNaturalist API to retrieve basic publicly available information about the identified species, such as common name, taxonomy, and description. No photos or location data are sent to iNaturalist.
- Species names are also sent to the Anthropic API to generate a short AI-written summary about the identified species. Only the species name is sent — no photos, location data, or any other information.
- Location data is saved locally on your device to tag your sightings.
- Camera and photo library access is used only when you actively initiate a photo or upload.
- Analytics data is used in aggregate to understand app usage and improve features and user experience.
We do not use your information for advertising or sell any data.
4. Data Storage
All data you save in Leafnote — including sighting records, photos, and locations — is stored locally on your device only. We have no servers, no databases, and no cloud infrastructure. We have no ability to access, view, or recover your data.
If you delete the App, all associated data is permanently removed from your device.
5. Third-Party Services
Leafnote relies on the following third-party services. We are not responsible for the data practices of these services and encourage you to review their respective privacy policies:
| Service | Purpose | Data Sent |
|---|---|---|
| PlantNet | Species identification from photos | Photo (may include embedded location metadata) |
| iNaturalist | Basic species information lookup | Species name only |
| Anthropic | AI-generated species summary text | Species name only |
| Firebase Analytics | Anonymous app usage analytics | Aggregated usage data (no personal data) |
Beyond these services, we do not integrate any advertising networks or social platforms.
6. Children's Privacy
Leafnote is intended for a general audience and is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect any personal information from children. Because all data is stored locally on the device and we collect no account information, the App does not transmit or store personal data about any user, including children.
If you are a parent or guardian and have concerns about your child's use of the App, please contact us at the address below.
7. Your Choices & Controls
Because all data is stored on your device, you are in full control:
- Camera access — Grant or revoke in iPhone Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera.
- Location access — Grant or revoke in iPhone Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.
- Photo library access — Grant or revoke in iPhone Settings > Privacy & Security > Photos.
- Delete your data — Delete individual sightings within the App, or uninstall the App to remove all data.
8. Data Security
Photos and species names submitted to third-party APIs are transmitted over encrypted HTTPS connections. Since we store no data on our end, there is no server-side data at risk of breach. Your on-device data is protected by your device's own security features, such as passcode and Face ID.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:
leafnote.contact@gmail.com