This Privacy Policy explains how ucookit ("ucookit", "we", "us", or "our") handles information in connection with the ucookit mobile application and website (together, the "Service"). By using the Service, you agree to the practices described here.
1.Information we collect
a) Content you create - stored on your device and synced to your account
Your library is stored on your device and synced to your ucookit account so it is backed up and available across your devices. This includes your saved recipes, collections and favorites, meal plans, shopping lists, pantry items, cooking preferences, and profile details such as your name, avatar photo, and app settings. We store this to provide the Service to you; we don't sell it or use it for advertising.
If you choose to enter optional health details (date of birth, height, weight, sex, and activity level) to get a personalized daily calorie target, those details are stored the same way - on your device and synced to your account - and used only to calculate your estimates.
b) Content you submit to AI features
ucookit's AI features require sending the content you provide to our servers for processing:
- Recipe import - the link, pasted text, dish search, or photo you provide is sent to our backend, which uses a third-party AI provider (OpenAI) and a web search provider to extract a clean, structured recipe.
- Snap a meal - the photo of your meal is sent to our backend and to our AI provider to estimate the calories shown to you.
This content is processed transiently to generate your result and is not stored on our servers after the request completes. It is handled by our AI provider under their API terms; OpenAI does not use data submitted through its API to train its models by default.
c) Device permissions
With your permission, ucookit accesses your camera and photo library so you can snap or upload a photo for recipe import, Snap-a-meal, or Snap-a-menu. Photos are used only for the action you request. You can change these permissions any time in your device settings.
With your permission, ucookit also uses your approximate location (accurate to roughly 3km, not precise GPS) for one purpose only: when you use Snap-a-menu, to help identify the local currency so we can show an approximate price conversion next to a scanned menu's prices. Your device resolves this to a country on-device; we only ever receive the resulting currency code (for example "EUR"), never your raw coordinates. This permission is optional - Snap-a-menu works without it, using the scanned menu's own printed currency symbol instead. Location is never used for tracking, advertising, or stored against your account.
d) Diagnostic and beta information
During the beta, if you submit feedback through Apple TestFlight, Apple shares your feedback (and may include a screenshot and basic device/OS information) with us so we can fix issues. Standard app-store analytics that Apple or Google provide to developers are aggregated and not individually identifying.
e) Feature usage counts
To understand which features are useful and where to improve, we keep a simple, first-party count of how often you use our core AI actions - for example how many times you snap a meal, describe a meal, snap a menu, import a recipe, or run a top-rated search. We store only running totals per feature, tied to your account. We do not store the photos, text, or results of those actions as part of this, and we do not collect any device, operating-system, or app-version details for analytics. We use no third-party analytics SDKs; these counts stay in our own database and are never sold or used for advertising.
What we don't collect: we don't sell or rent your personal information, we don't use third-party advertising or cross-app tracking, we don't track your location in the background or store it against your account, and we never send your precise coordinates to our servers - only an approximate, on-device-derived currency code for Snap-a-menu, and only with your permission.
2.How we use information
We use information solely to provide and improve the Service: to run the features you use, to process AI requests you initiate, to fix bugs and improve reliability, and to respond to your support requests. We do not use your content for advertising.
3.Service providers we rely on
We use a small number of reputable providers to run the Service. They process data only to perform services for us:
- OpenAI - AI processing for recipe extraction and meal calorie estimates.
- Brave Search - web search used by the "find top-rated recipe" feature.
- Render - hosting for our processing backend and website.
- Expo / EAS - app build and delivery infrastructure.
- Apple & Google - app distribution (App Store, TestFlight, Google Play) and, where applicable, subscription billing.
4.Payments
If you purchase a ucookit subscription, payment is handled entirely by the Apple App Store or Google Play under their terms. We never receive or store your full payment card details; we only receive confirmation of your subscription status.
5.Data storage, retention, and deletion
Your library lives on your device and syncs to your account, so you stay in control of it. You can clear recipes, meal plans, shopping lists, and pantry items from within the app at any time. Deleting the app removes the copy on your device, and you can permanently delete your account from Profile to remove your data from both your device and our servers. Content sent to our AI providers for a request is not retained by us after the result is returned. If you no longer have the app installed, you can also request account deletion here.
6.Security
We use industry-standard measures to protect information in transit (for example, encrypted HTTPS connections to our servers). No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we work to protect your information and limit what leaves your device to only what a feature needs.
7.Children's privacy
ucookit is not directed to children under 13 (or the minimum age required in your country), and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child has provided us information, contact us and we will delete it.
8.Your rights
Depending on where you live (for example, under the GDPR in Europe or the CCPA in California), you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or export your personal information, and to object to certain processing. Because your data is stored on your device and in your account, you can exercise many of these rights directly in the app - including permanently deleting your account and its data. For anything else, contact us using the details below and we will respond as required by law. We do not sell personal information.
9.International users
Our providers may process data in countries other than your own, including the United States. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards for such transfers.
10.Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date above and, where appropriate, notify you in the app. Your continued use of the Service after an update means you accept the revised policy.
11.Contact us
Questions or requests about this policy or your data? Email us at support@ucookit.app and we'll be happy to help.