Privacy Policy

This policy describes how Walking Buddy (“the app”, package com.walkingbuddy.app) handles information. It reflects current app behavior and is not legal advice.

Who we are

Walking Buddy is a fitness companion app: you hatch and care for a buddy by walking. Questions about this policy can be sent through our support page.

Information we collect

• Account. Email and password, or Google Sign-In, through Firebase Authentication.
• Profile. Age, height, weight, preferred units, and daily step goal stored in Cloud Firestore under your user document.
• Activity. Step counts from on-device sensors, Apple Health / Health Connect where you grant permission, and treadmill sessions. Home screen widgets read a local snapshot of this data.
• Companion state. Hatch progress, pet seed and name, feeding, and related gameplay stored in Firestore.
• Hall of Fame. If you join the leaderboard, a public nickname, pet name, and survival stats may be shown to other players.
• Purchases. Coin packs are processed by Apple or Google. We receive a purchase token to credit coins; we do not store full payment card details.
• Analytics and diagnostics. Firebase Analytics (Google Analytics 4) collects app interaction events (for example screen views, feature use, purchase outcomes) and a Firebase user ID. Firebase Crashlytics collects crash and error diagnostics to keep the app stable. Events do not include your email, pet name, or nickname.

Camera (treadmill mode)

The camera is used only while treadmill mode is active, to estimate steps from head motion on the device. Video is processed in memory and discarded immediately. Counting pauses when the app is not visible. Nothing from the camera is saved or uploaded.

Advertising

The app may show Google AdMob app-open ads. On iOS, App Tracking Transparency may ask for permission to use an advertising identifier. Ad networks can collect device and usage signals according to their own policies.

How we use information

• Sign you in and keep your buddy, steps, and wallet in sync.
• Estimate calories from steps and your body metrics.
• Operate the Hall of Fame and in-app purchases.
• Show ads that keep the app free.
• Understand which features are used and fix crashes (Analytics and Crashlytics).

We do not sell your personal information.

Processors

We use Google services including Firebase Authentication, Cloud Firestore, Google Sign-In, Firebase Analytics, Firebase Crashlytics, and AdMob. Those providers process data under their own terms and privacy policies. Analytics collection follows the consent choices gathered where required (for example via Google’s UMP consent form).

Retention and your choices

Account and gameplay data stay until you delete them or we close the service. You can sign out in Settings. Health, motion, camera, and tracking permissions can be revoked in system settings. An in-app account-deletion flow is planned; until then, request deletion via Delete your Walking Buddy account.

Children

Walking Buddy is not directed at children under 13 (or the equivalent age in your country). Do not create an account for a child under that age.

Changes

We may update this policy as the app changes. The effective date at the top will be revised when we do.