Your walking data stays on your devices.

The Short Version

Critter Walk does not sell your data, does not track you across apps or websites, and does not upload your walking history to a developer server. Health, walking, reminder, companion, and settings data are stored locally on your devices or handled by Apple system services.

Health and Motion Data

Critter Walk asks permission to read HealthKit data so it can show walking progress and goal status:

• The iPhone app reads step count totals for today and recent days.
• The Apple Watch app reads step count and recent heart rate while showing walk progress.
• The Apple Watch app may use on-device motion data to show live steps and distance during an active walk.

This data is used only for app features such as daily progress, streaks, Journey charts, walk sessions, distance estimates, and goal reminders. Critter Walk does not use HealthKit data for advertising and does not share HealthKit data with third parties.

Data Stored Locally

Critter Walk stores app data locally using Apple-provided storage such as SwiftData and UserDefaults. This includes:

• Daily step summaries synced from HealthKit for recent activity and streak calculations.
• Completed walk sessions, including start time, end time, duration, steps, distance, goal at start, and selected companion.
• Your daily step goal, distance unit, selected companion, reminder settings, haptic preference, and onboarding state.
• Small reminder bookkeeping values so Critter Walk does not send the same goal notification repeatedly in one day.
• Whether the Premium Companion Pack entitlement is currently unlocked.

This information is not sent to a Critter Walk server. If you delete Critter Walk, app-local data is removed by the system. Health data remains managed by Apple Health and can be reviewed or changed in the Health app.

iPhone and Apple Watch Sync

Critter Walk uses Apple's WatchConnectivity framework to send your selected companion and distance unit between your iPhone and Apple Watch. This is device-to-device app communication through Apple system APIs, not a developer-operated tracking service.

Notifications

Critter Walk schedules local notifications for walking goal reminders, progress nudges, goal completion, and active-walk reminders. Notification content is created and delivered by the operating system on your device. Critter Walk does not send push notifications through a developer server.

You can change Critter Walk reminder settings in the app and manage notification permission in iOS Settings.

Purchases

The Premium Companion Pack is processed by Apple's StoreKit and App Store systems. Critter Walk checks Apple-provided product and transaction information to unlock companions and restore purchases. Payment details are handled by Apple, not by Critter Walk.

What Critter Walk Does Not Do

• It does not collect your name, email address, contacts, photos, calendar, or precise location.
• It does not include third-party analytics, advertising SDKs, or third-party crash reporters.
• It does not use cookies or similar browser tracking technologies.
• It does not sell personal information.

Support Emails

If you contact support by email, the email address you use and the information you include in your message will be received so the support request can be answered. Please avoid sending sensitive health details that are not needed for support.

Children's Privacy

Critter Walk is designed as a general-audience app and does not knowingly collect personal information from children. The app does not contain advertising or third-party tracking.

Changes to This Policy

If this policy changes, the updated version will be posted here with a new effective date. Material changes may also be noted in the app's release notes.

Contact

Questions about this privacy policy? Reach out at stockwooddev@gmail.com.