Privacy
Policy.
Your thoughts are sacred. Here's exactly how we handle your data — written in plain English, with complete transparency.
The Short Version
Local-First Storage
Journal storage is local-first by default
AI Processing Is Separate
AI features may send relevant journal content to AI services
Optional Cloud Backup
Google Drive & iCloud backup to YOUR accounts
Delete Anytime
Your data is permanently removed when you ask
Important: AI Feature Disclosure
When you use AI features, relevant journal content may be sent to an external AI service to generate a response, reflection, or analysis. Journal storage and AI processing are separate: local-first storage does not mean AI features run only on your device.
Introduction
Welcome to ZenDiary (also known as "My Diary: AI Journal with Lock") — your private digital sanctuary for journaling and self-reflection.
We believe in plain-language transparency. This document explains what data we collect, where it is stored, and how our AI features process journal content when you choose to use them.
Our Core Principle: Local-First
By default, your journal entries are stored only on your device. We don't automatically upload your private thoughts to any server. Cloud backup is entirely optional and goes to YOUR personal Google Drive or iCloud account.
Data Overview at a Glance
| Data Type | Your Device | Our Servers | AI Processing | Your Cloud* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journal entries (text) | ✅ | — | ⚠️ | ✅ |
| Photos/Images | ✅ | — | — | ✅ |
| Mood data | ✅ | — | ⚠️ | ✅ |
| Chat messages with Zeni | ✅ | — | ⚠️ | — |
| Account info (email, name) | ✅ | ✅ | — | — |
| Profile picture | ✅ | ✅ | — | — |
| App usage analytics | — | ✅ | — | — |
| PIN/Security settings | ✅ | — | — | — |
*Only if you enable Google Drive or iCloud backup. AI processing means content may be sent to an external AI service when you use an AI feature; it does not mean the content is stored there permanently.
Data Stored on Your Device
The following data is stored locally on your device by default. It may leave your device only when you choose a feature that requires it, such as optional cloud backup, sharing/exporting, or AI features that process relevant journal content to generate a response.
Journal Content
- Entry text: Your full journal entries
- Photos: Any images attached to entries
- Mood: The mood emoji you select for each entry
- Date & time: When entries were created
- Stickers: Decorative stickers you add to entries
AI Chat History
- Messages: Your conversations with Zeni (our AI companion)
- Chat settings: Your preferences for AI response tone, length, etc.
- Message timestamps: When messages were sent
Security Settings
- PIN code: Your app lock PIN (stored securely on device)
- Preferences: Your app settings and customizations
✓ Privacy Note: This local data stays on your device. We cannot access it. If you uninstall the app without backing up, this data is permanently deleted.
Data Stored on Our Servers
We store minimal account information on our servers (Firebase/Google Cloud) to enable core app functionality:
Account Information
- Email address: For login and account recovery
- Display name: Your chosen username
- Profile picture: If you upload one
- Account creation date: When you signed up
- Authentication provider: Whether you use Google, Apple, or email login
Subscription Information
- Premium status: Whether you have an active subscription
- Subscription type: Monthly or yearly plan
Note: Payment processing is handled entirely by Apple (App Store) or Google (Play Store). We never see or store your credit card information.
What We DON'T Store on Our Servers as Journal Storage
- ❌ Your journal entries
- ❌ Your photos or images
- ❌ Your mood data
- ❌ Your chat conversations with Zeni
- ❌ Your PIN or security settings
- ❌ Your payment information
This means we do not keep a hosted journal database for these items. It does not mean content is never transmitted: AI features, optional backup, sharing, and support requests may involve transmission as described in this Policy.
AI Processing & Consent
AI processing is separate from journal storage
Your journal is stored locally by default. When you use AI features, relevant journal content may be sent to an external AI service to generate a response, reflection, summary, recommendation, or analysis.
ZenDiary may use different external AI services over time, including different services for different features, platforms, regions, or availability needs. For that reason, this Policy uses the term "external AI service" instead of naming one service as if it is always the only one.
Journal Storage vs. AI Processing
Journal storage: Your saved entries, photos, moods, and chat history are stored locally on your device by default, with optional backup to your own cloud account if you enable it.
AI processing: When an AI feature needs to generate a result, the app may transmit the minimum relevant content needed for that request to an external AI service. That transmission is not the same as ZenDiary storing your journal on our own servers.
AI Notice and Your Choice
The current app may not show a separate in-app AI notice before every AI feature. This Policy explains the current AI processing in plain language while we work on making the in-app notice clearer.
If you are not comfortable with AI processing, do not use Zeni, AI Insights, mood detection, recommendations, or other AI-powered features. You can continue using non-AI journaling features, and you can request account or data deletion by emailing hi@zendiary.in.
AI processing information: AI processing and provider-policy information.
AI Features That May Process Journal Content
- Mood detection: may process the current journal entry to suggest a mood.
- Zeni chat: may process your chat message, recent chat history, mood context, and relevant journal snippets.
- AI Insights and analysis: may process recent entries or selected entries to generate themes, summaries, patterns, prompts, recommendations, or reflections.
- Book recommendations and other discovery features: may process short excerpts or summaries from relevant entries to personalize suggestions.
What May Be Sent to AI Services
Depending on the feature, the request may include:
- The text you typed into the current AI prompt or chat.
- Relevant journal entry text or excerpts needed to answer your request.
- Mood labels, timestamps, tags, or other context needed to produce the requested insight.
- Technical metadata needed to operate, secure, debug, or rate-limit the AI feature.
We try to avoid sending more journal content than is needed for the specific feature, but AI features cannot work without processing some relevant content.
External AI Services
External AI services have their own terms, privacy policies, security practices, retention rules, abuse-monitoring systems, and infrastructure. Depending on the service and settings, they may temporarily retain prompts, outputs, or related metadata for security, abuse prevention, debugging, legal compliance, or service operations.
This does not mean we sell your journal or publish it. It means AI features require sending relevant content to an AI service so the feature can respond. If you do not want that, avoid AI features and use the non-AI journal features instead.
More detail: AI processing and provider-policy information.
Our AI Data Commitments
- We do not sell your journal content to advertisers.
- We do not use your personal journal content to train our own AI models.
- Where service controls are available, we aim to configure AI processing to limit retention and training use.
- We do not claim that external AI services never store, log, or retain content unless that is true under the applicable contract, service settings, and law.
- AI requests are transmitted using HTTPS/TLS or comparable secure transport.
Important Health Disclaimer
AI features can help you reflect, but they are not medical, mental health, legal, or financial services.
- • AI-generated content may be incomplete, inaccurate, or inappropriate for your situation.
- • Mood detection is an approximation based on text analysis.
- • Zeni is an AI companion, not a therapist, counselor, doctor, or crisis service.
- • For health, safety, or emergency concerns, contact qualified professionals or local emergency services.
Backup Services
We offer optional backup to your personal cloud storage accounts. This is entirely your choice — the app works fully offline without backup.
Google Drive Backup
When you enable Google Drive backup:
- What's backed up: Journal entries, photos, mood data, stickers
- Where it goes: A file called
zendiary_backup.jsonin YOUR Google Drive - Who can access it: Only you, through your Google account
- Auto-backup: Optional — can sync after each new entry
✓ We cannot access your Google Drive backup. It's in YOUR account.
iCloud Backup (iOS only)
When you enable iCloud backup:
- What's backed up: Same as Google Drive — journal entries, photos, mood, stickers
- Where it goes: Your personal iCloud storage
- Who can access it: Only you, through your Apple ID
- Auto-backup: Optional — can sync after each new entry
✓ We cannot access your iCloud backup. It's in YOUR account.
Google Account Permissions
When you connect Google Drive, we request access to create and read files in your Drive. We only access the ZenDiary backup file — we cannot see your other Drive files, emails, or any other Google data.
Analytics & Third-Party Services
We use certain third-party services to improve your experience and understand how ZenDiary is used. Here's what we collect and why:
Firebase Analytics
We use Firebase Analytics to understand app usage patterns. This helps us improve features and fix issues.
Events we track:
- Feature usage (which AI insights are popular, sharing activity)
- App navigation patterns
- Error occurrences (to fix bugs)
- Premium subscription events
✓ We do NOT track: Your actual journal content, personal information, or anything that could identify you personally.
External Links
Some features link to external websites. When you tap these links, you leave ZenDiary and are subject to those websites' privacy policies.
External services we link to:
- Book Recommendations: Google Search, Amazon, Goodreads
- Support: Email client, social media
We don't share any of your data with these external services. The links simply help you find recommended books.
Sharing Features
ZenDiary includes features to share your journal entries:
- Share as Text: Exports entry content to your device's share sheet
- Share as Image: Creates a beautiful card image of your entry
- Word Cloud Share: Exports your topics visualization
- Monthly Digest: Shareable summary of your month
Note: When you share content, it leaves ZenDiary. Be mindful of what you share and with whom — shared content cannot be "unshared" by us.
Third-Party Services
ZenDiary integrates with the following third-party services. Here's exactly what each service does and what data they may receive:
Firebase (Google)
Authentication, Database, Analytics
- Firebase Auth: Handles login/signup securely
- Firestore: Stores your account info (email, name, profile pic)
- Analytics: Anonymous usage statistics
External AI services
Zeni, AI Insights, recommendations, and analysis
- Purpose: Generates AI responses, reflections, summaries, recommendations, and insights
- Data sent: Relevant prompts, chat messages, mood context, and journal excerpts needed for the requested AI feature
- When: When you opt in to or actively use an AI feature that requires processing
- Provider: May vary by feature, platform, region, model availability, or configuration
RevenueCat
Subscription Management
- Purpose: Manages premium subscriptions
- Data: Anonymous user ID, subscription status
- Note: Payment details handled by Apple/Google, not us
Google Drive API
Optional Cloud Backup
- Purpose: Backup your journals to YOUR Drive
- Data: Your journal content (encrypted, stored in your account)
- Permission: Limited to creating/reading ZenDiary backup file only
Apple iCloud
Optional Cloud Backup (iOS)
- Purpose: Backup your journals to YOUR iCloud
- Data: Your journal content (stored in your iCloud account)
- Availability: iOS only, requires iCloud to be enabled
Your Rights & Data Deletion
Your data, your rules. Here's what you can do:
Right to Access
Request a copy of all data we hold about you
Right to Delete
Permanently erase your account and all data
Right to Export
Download your journals via backup feature
Right to Correct
Update any inaccurate profile information
How to Delete Your Data
Option 1: Delete All Journals (In-App)
- 1Go to Settings → Account
- 2Tap "Delete All Journals"
- 3Confirm deletion — this is immediate and irreversible
Option 2: Complete Account Deletion
- 1Email hi@zendiary.in with subject "Account Deletion Request"
- 2Include the email address associated with your account
- 3We'll delete your account and server data within 30 days
Important Notes on Deletion
- • Local data: Deleted immediately from your device
- • Server data: Removed within 30 days of request
- • Google Drive/iCloud backups: You must delete these yourself from your cloud storage
- • AI conversations: Stored locally in the app by default; AI requests may still be processed by external AI services as described above
Data Retention
- Active accounts: Data retained while account is active
- Deleted accounts: Server data purged within 30 days
- Analytics data: Anonymized and retained for up to 14 months (Google's default)
- Backup files: Retained in YOUR cloud storage until you delete them
Children's Privacy
ZenDiary is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at hi@zendiary.in and we will delete such information.
Questions? We're here.
We're real people building this with care. Reach out anytime with questions about your privacy.