Privacy Policy

Last updated: June 30, 2026

Homeward ("we", "our", "the app") is built by Ratio et Ars. This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your family's information.

What we collect

When you use Homeward, we store the following in Firebase (Google Cloud):

• Account information — email address, display name, and profile photo (if provided)
• Household data — events, chores, meal plans, grocery lists, and messages you create
• Photos — profile photos, meal photos, and message photos you upload
• Device tokens — Firebase Cloud Messaging tokens for push notifications
• Purchase records — in-app purchase verification data

What we don't collect

• We don't sell your data to anyone
• We don't serve ads
• We don't track your location
• We don't use your data for AI training
• We don't share your household data with other households

How we use your data

Your data is used solely to provide the Homeward service to your family:

• Syncing your calendar, chores, meals, and lists across family devices
• Sending push notifications you've opted into (event reminders, messages, chore completions)
• Processing your one-time purchase through Apple App Store or Google Play

Google Calendar import

Homeward offers an optional, one-time import of events from your Google Calendar. If you choose to use it, you grant Homeward read-only access to your Google Calendar (the https://www.googleapis.com/auth/calendar.readonly scope). Here is exactly how that access is handled:

• Only when you ask — we read your calendars and events only while you are actively running an import. There is no background sync and no standing connection afterward.
• Read-only — we never create, edit, or delete anything in your Google Calendar.
• You choose what's saved — the import shows you every event first; only the events you select are copied into your Homeward household calendar. No other calendar data is retained.
• Never sold or shared — Google Calendar data is never sold, never used for advertising, and never used to train AI or machine-learning models. It is not transferred to anyone except as needed to provide this feature to your own household.
• Revoke anytime — you can revoke Homeward's access at any time from your Google Account permissions page.

Limited Use of Google user data

Homeward's use and transfer of information received from Google APIs to any other app will adhere to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.

Data storage and security

Your data is stored in Google Firebase (Firestore, Firebase Storage, Firebase Auth). Data is encrypted in transit (TLS) and at rest. Firestore security rules restrict access to authenticated household members only.

Analytics and crash reporting

We use Firebase Analytics and Firebase Crashlytics to understand how families use Homeward and to fix bugs. This data is anonymous and aggregated — we track events like "chore completed" or "meal planned" but never the content of your family's data. We do not use any advertising or third-party tracking services.

Third-party services

• Firebase (Google) — authentication, database, storage, messaging, analytics, crashlytics
• Apple / Google — in-app purchase processing, sign-in
• Google Calendar API — read-only event import, only when you start one

Children's privacy

Homeward is designed for families. Children may appear as household members (added by a parent) but they don't need their own accounts. We don't knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent.

Data deletion

You can delete your account directly in the app from Settings. This permanently removes your account, profile, and household membership. You can also request deletion by emailing support@homeward.family.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy occasionally. We'll notify you in the app if we make significant changes.

Contact

Questions? Email us at support@homeward.family.