Privacy Policy

Introduction

Protecting your private information is our priority. This Privacy Policy applies to LingoWise.ai (the "Site") and the LingoWise application (the "App"), operated by SandDollarApps LLC. We want you to understand what information we collect, how we use it, and what choices you have. By using LingoWise, you consent to the data practices described in this policy. This Privacy Policy is part of our Terms and Conditions.

Local-First Architecture

LingoWise is built local-first. By default, all your learning data (vocabulary packs, cards, and conversation history) stays entirely in your browser using IndexedDB. We don't store Free user data on our servers.

Free Users: Your data never leaves your device. Be aware: clearing your browser cache will result in clearing out your packs and cards at the same time. The browser cache is only accessible on the single device you are using.

Pro Members: Your data is securely stored in the cloud for your benefit:
• Unlimited storage for your packs and cards, so your hard work is protected
• Consistent experience across devices (gather new words on mobile, use them later in AI chat)
• Conversational context saved for a bespoke chat experience
• Quiz history and linguistic progress tracked over time

We never sell your data and never read your conversations. Your data is not used to train AI models. Google's paid APIs explicitly prohibit using customer data for model training.

Information We Collect

Account Information: When you sign up, we collect your email address and create a unique user ID. If you sign up through Google or Apple, we receive basic profile information they provide (name, email, profile picture).

Learning Data:
• Free Members: Your data remains entirely in your browser's local database (IndexedDB). We never transmit or store it on our servers. Note: this data will be lost if you clear your browser cache.
• Pro Members: We store your vocabulary packs, cards, conversation context, and learning history in the cloud. This protects your work from data loss and enables more nuanced, contextually aware conversations with the AI tutor.

Payment Information: For Pro Member subscriptions, payment processing is handled entirely by Stripe. We don't store your credit card details. We only retain a customer ID that lets us manage your subscription.

Usage Data: We collect minimal analytics about how you use our service to help us improve it. This does not include the content of your vocabulary cards or conversations.

How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:
• Provide and personalize the language learning experience
• Track your vocabulary progress and show analytics
• Process payments and manage subscriptions
• Send important service updates (not spam, we promise!)
• Improve our service based on usage patterns
• Comply with legal obligations

We do not sell, rent, or lease your personal information to third parties. Period.

AI and Content Generation

Conversation practice is powered by Google Gemini AI. Your conversation topics and responses are processed to generate educational content, but this data is not used to train AI models. Translation features use Google Cloud Translation API. All interactions remain within our service and are not shared beyond what's necessary for content generation.

Data Storage and Security

Free Members: All learning data is stored locally in your browser using IndexedDB. This data never touches our servers. Clearing your browser cache will also clear your packs and cards. Your data is only accessible on the device where you created it.

Pro Members: Your learning data is securely stored in the cloud using industry-standard encryption:
• Database hosted on Firebase with encrypted connections
• All data transmission uses HTTPS/SSL encryption
• Your data is protected from browser cache clearing and accessible across devices

All Users:
• Authentication managed through Clerk
• Payment information secured by Stripe's PCI-compliant infrastructure

While no system is 100% secure, we work hard to protect your information using industry best practices.

Third-Party Services

We use trusted third-party services to operate LingoWise:
• Stripe: Payment processing (they have their own privacy policy)
• Firebase: Cloud database and storage (Pro Members only)
• Clerk: Authentication
• Google Cloud: AI conversation and translation services
• Vercel: Website hosting

Each service has its own privacy policy, and we encourage you to review them.

Cookies and Tracking

We use essential cookies to keep you logged in and remember your preferences. We don't use advertising cookies or sell data to advertisers. Analytics cookies may be used to understand how you use our service, helping us make it better for everyone.

Your Rights and Choices

You can view your learning history and vocabulary packs in the app. To manage your Pro Member subscription, use the subscription management option in Settings, which will direct you to Stripe's secure customer portal. There you can update payment methods, suspend your subscription to pause billing while keeping your data safe, or cancel anytime. Low risk, high flexibility.

Data Retention

We maintain your account data and learning history to track your language progress over time. This allows you to see your improvement and pick up where you left off, even if you take a break from the service. We may retain anonymized usage data for analytics and service improvement. Legal requirements may require us to retain certain information for specified periods.

Children's Privacy

LingoWise is not intended for children under 13. We don't knowingly collect information from children under 13. If we discover we've inadvertently collected such information, we'll delete it immediately.

International Users

LingoWise is operated from the United States. If you're accessing our service from outside the US, please be aware that your data may be transferred to and processed in the US, which may have different privacy laws than your country.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We'll notify you of significant changes via email or a prominent notice on our Site. The "Last Updated" date below shows when this policy was last revised.

Contact Us

Questions or concerns about your privacy? We're here to help. Email us at support@lingowise.ai and we'll respond within 24 hours.