Charge

Privacy Policy

Effective May 14, 2026 · Last updated May 14, 2026

Contents

Introduction
Information We Collect
How We Use Your Information
Third-Party Services
Data Retention
Your Rights
Children's Privacy
International Data Transfers
Security
Changes to This Policy
Contact Us

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy describes how the Charge iOS application ("Charge", the "App", "we", "us", "our") collects, uses, and shares information when you use the App to find EV charging stations.

We've designed the App to collect as little personal information as possible. You do not need to create an account. We do not ask for your name, email, phone number, or any other personally identifying information. This document explains exactly what we do collect, why we collect it, and the choices you have.

Plain English summary: We don't know who you are. We use your location only to query nearby charging stations and we don't store your location on our servers. We never sell your data and we don't run ads.

2. Information We Collect

Anonymous Identifier

When you first open the App, our backend (Google Firebase Authentication) generates a random anonymous user ID for your installation. This ID is not linked to your real identity, your Apple ID, or any other personal information you've shared with Apple. The ID exists so the App can sync your subscription status and your favorited charging stations across sessions on the same device.

Location (When in Use)

The App requests permission to access your device's location only while you are using the App. When granted, the App sends your current latitude and longitude to the Google Places API in order to retrieve a list of nearby EV charging stations.

Your location is not stored on our backend
Your location is not associated with your anonymous user ID
Your location is sent only on demand (when you open the App or tap refresh) — there is no background tracking
You can revoke this permission at any time in iOS Settings. Without it, the App cannot find stations near you

Favorited Stations

If you save a charging station as a favorite, the App stores the station's name, address, coordinates, and the time you saved it under your anonymous user ID in our Cloud Firestore database. You can remove favorites at any time from within the App.

Subscription and Purchase Data

When you purchase a subscription, the transaction is processed entirely by Apple. We use a service called RevenueCat to verify and sync your subscription status. We receive only:

The product identifier you purchased
The purchase status (active, expired, refunded)
The expiration date for active subscriptions

We do not see your Apple ID, your credit card number, your billing address, or any other payment information. All payment processing is handled by Apple.

What We Do Not Collect

For absolute clarity, we do not collect:

Your name, email address, phone number, or postal address
Your contacts, calendar, messages, or photos
Your driving history, route history, or vehicle data
Background location or location history
Your Apple ID or any account information
The IDFA or any advertising tracker data
Browsing history or activity outside the App

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the limited information we collect for the following purposes only:

To query nearby charging stations from the Google Places API
To sync your favorites and subscription status across sessions on your device
To verify your subscription and unlock premium features
To prevent fraud, abuse, and violations of our Terms of Service
To comply with legal obligations
To improve App performance and reliability through aggregated, anonymous analytics

We do not sell your personal information. We do not share your personal information with advertisers. We do not run ads in the App.

4. Third-Party Services

The App relies on a small number of trusted third-party services. Each is bound by its own privacy policy and the limited purpose for which we use it.

Google Places API

We use the Google Places API to retrieve information about EV charging stations near your location. When you open the App or refresh the map, your latitude and longitude (plus a chosen search radius) are sent to Google.

Google privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

Google Firebase

We use Firebase Authentication for anonymous account creation, and Cloud Firestore to store your subscription status and favorited stations under your anonymous user ID. Firebase is operated by Google LLC.

Google privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

RevenueCat

We use RevenueCat to handle subscription validation. RevenueCat receives your anonymous user ID and the App Store transaction details only.

RevenueCat privacy policy: https://www.revenuecat.com/privacy

Apple

The App is distributed through Apple's App Store. Apple processes all payments. The map displayed inside the App is rendered using Apple Maps (MapKit), which sends your map view region to Apple for tile rendering.

Apple privacy policy: https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/

5. Data Retention

We retain the limited information we collect for as long as your installation is active, plus a reasonable period thereafter to comply with our legal obligations.

Your location: Not stored. Sent to Google Places API for the duration of each station search only.
Anonymous user ID: Retained while your installation is active. Deleted on request (see Your Rights below).
Favorited stations: Retained until you remove them from the App or request account deletion.
Subscription records: Retained for the duration of your subscription plus the period required by tax and accounting laws.

6. Your Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

European Union and United Kingdom (GDPR / UK GDPR)

Right to access the personal data we hold about you
Right to rectification of inaccurate data
Right to erasure (the "right to be forgotten")
Right to restriction of processing
Right to data portability
Right to object to processing
Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

California, USA (CCPA / CPRA)

Right to know what personal information is collected
Right to delete personal information
Right to correct inaccurate personal information
Right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information (we do not sell or share)
Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [email protected] with the subject line "Charge — Privacy Request". Because we use anonymous identifiers, please include your anonymous user ID (visible in the App's Profile screen support email body) so we can locate your data. We will respond within the timeframe required by applicable law (typically within 30 days for GDPR).

7. Children's Privacy

The App is not intended for children under 13 years of age (or under the minimum digital consent age in your jurisdiction, which may be 14 or 16 in some EU member states). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe a child has provided personal information to us, please contact us at [email protected] and we will delete it promptly.

8. International Data Transfers

The App's backend services (Google Firebase, Google Places API, RevenueCat) operate from data centers located in the United States and the European Union. By using the App, you consent to the transfer of your information to these regions for processing.

For transfers of personal data from the European Union or United Kingdom to countries outside the EEA, we and our processors rely on Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission and other appropriate safeguards.

9. Security

We protect the limited information we collect using industry-standard measures, including:

TLS 1.2+ encryption for all data in transit
Encryption at rest provided by Google Cloud and our other infrastructure providers
Firestore security rules restricting each user's data to that user's own anonymous ID
Anonymous identifiers — no real-name linkage
Regular security review of third-party providers

No system is perfectly secure. If you become aware of a security incident affecting your data, please contact us immediately at [email protected].

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will:

Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy
Notify users via in-app message if appropriate
For significant changes, provide a plain-language summary of what changed

Continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your data, contact us at:

Email: [email protected]
Subject: Charge — Privacy Inquiry

We will respond as soon as possible, typically within 7 business days.