Privacy Policy

Last updated: January 25, 2026

Privacy-First by Design

Your photos never leave your device. BotanAI uses on-device AI (TensorFlow Lite) to identify plants locally. We do not upload, store, or process your photos on our servers. Your plant collection stays completely private.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

  • Account Information (Optional): If you choose to create an account for community features, we collect your email address and display name.
  • Support Communications: When you contact us for support, we collect the information you provide in your messages.
  • Community Content: Posts, comments, and plant photos you voluntarily share in community features.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

  • App Usage Analytics: Anonymous usage data (features used, session duration) to improve the app. This data cannot identify you.
  • Crash Reports: Technical information when the app crashes, helping us fix bugs.
  • Device Information: Device type, operating system version, and app version for compatibility purposes.

1.3 Information We Do NOT Collect

  • Photos: Plant photos are processed entirely on your device and are never uploaded to our servers.
  • Location: We do not access or track your location.
  • Contacts: We do not access your contacts or phone data.
  • Personal Files: We only access photos you explicitly choose to identify.

2. How We Use Your Information

  • To provide and maintain the BotanAI service
  • To enable community features (if you opt in)
  • To improve app performance and fix bugs
  • To respond to your support requests
  • To send important service announcements (with your consent)

We never sell your data. We do not share your personal information with advertisers or data brokers.

3. Plant.id API (Online Fallback)

BotanAI primarily uses on-device AI for plant identification. However, for enhanced accuracy, you may optionally enable the Plant.id API as a fallback feature.

  • Consent Required: This feature is opt-in only. You will be prompted before any photo is sent to Plant.id.
  • When Used: Only when offline identification confidence is low and you explicitly choose to use online verification.
  • Data Sent: Only the plant photo you are identifying. No other personal data is transmitted.
  • Plant.id Privacy: Plant.id processes images according to their privacy policy.

4. Data Storage and Security

  • Local Storage: Your plant collection, care schedules, and photos are stored locally on your device.
  • Cloud Storage (Optional): If you use backup features, data is encrypted and stored securely on Firebase.
  • Encryption: All data transmitted to our servers uses industry-standard TLS encryption.
  • Access Controls: Strict access controls limit who can access any stored data.

5. Data Retention

  • Local data remains on your device until you delete it or uninstall the app.
  • Account data is retained until you request deletion.
  • Analytics data is anonymized and aggregated within 30 days.
  • Support communications are retained for 2 years to provide better service.

6. Your Rights (GDPR and CCPA)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or California, you have additional rights:

Right to Access

Request a copy of your personal data we hold.

Right to Rectification

Request correction of inaccurate personal data.

Right to Erasure

Request deletion of your personal data.

Right to Portability

Receive your data in a portable format.

Right to Object

Object to processing of your personal data.

Right to Restrict

Request restriction of data processing.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@botanai.app.

7. Children's Privacy

BotanAI is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

8. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services:

  • Firebase: Authentication, cloud backup, and analytics (Google)
  • Plant.id: Online plant identification API (opt-in only)
  • Google Play: App distribution and in-app purchases

Each service has its own privacy policy governing their data practices.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. For significant changes, we will provide prominent notice in the app.

10. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or want to exercise your data rights, contact us:

Email: privacy@botanai.app

General Support: support@botanai.app

Response Time: We aim to respond to all requests within 30 days.