Privacy Policy

We do not sell any user data. We never have and never will. We do not track you across other apps or websites.

Echoes Weather LLC (Echoes), a Utah limited liability company, is the data controller for the data this policy describes. In this policy, "we", "us", and "our" mean Echoes.

1. Information We Collect

Without an account, this app collects minimal, anonymous data to improve performance. If you create an account, we also store the account data described below.

• Usage Analytics (optional): Usage events, like which features you use and which parts of the app you visit, are sent to our analytics provider. Events do not include your name or email address. They carry a random device ID, which the web app keeps in your browser's local storage. If you sign in, we link your events to your account ID, a random identifier. Our analytics provider keeps this link after you delete your account, but the account ID then matches no record on our servers. Events include a rough geographical area so we can see aggregate patterns, such as which states use Echoes most. The app never sends your GPS location to analytics. The web app does not record your session, and it removes the map position and other settings from page addresses before it sends them. You can opt out with the Share Analytics switch, in the iOS app's Settings screen or under Privacy in the web app's account menu. The web app keeps this choice in your browser.
• Crash Reports: Automated crash reports go to our crash reporting service, to diagnose bugs. Reports include a random device identifier, your app version, and your iOS version, or your browser and operating system in the web app. The web app removes the map position and other settings from page addresses in reports. If you sign in, reports also include your account ID until you sign out or delete your account. The iOS app also sends performance traces and diagnostics from a sample of sessions. The Share Analytics switch does not turn off crash reports.
• Device Information: iOS version, app version, and install date for compatibility. In the web app, your browser and operating system.
• Location (optional): The app uses your live GPS position to show your position on the map and find the nearest radar site. When the app shows a forecast or sounding for your current location, it sends that position, rounded to about 1 km, to our weather service to get the data. We use it only to answer that request. We never send your position to analytics. The only other place your position goes is Spotter Network, if you use it (see below).
• Weather Alert Notifications (optional): If you turn on weather alert notifications, we store your device push token, the locations you choose for alerts, and your alert filter settings on our servers. We use this data only to send those alerts. We delete it when you turn notifications off.
• Spotter Network (opt-in only): If you enable Spotter Network position sharing in Settings, your location is sent directly to spotternetwork.org to share your position with other storm spotters. If you submit a severe weather report, the report and your location also go directly to spotternetwork.org. This data is not sent to or stored on our servers. We do retrieve publicly shared spotter positions (first name, last initial, and location) from the Spotter Network to display on the map. This data is refreshed every two minutes and only includes recently active spotters.
• Account (optional): The app works without an account. The first time you sign in with Apple or Google, we create an account. We identify the account by the user ID that Apple or Google gives us. If Apple or Google shares an email address, we store it as contact information for support and web receipts. Apple may share a private relay address instead of your real address. We never require an email address. Each sign-in session stores a device identifier and the times the session started and was last used. The account also stores your subscription status.
• Web App Beta (optional): While the web app is in private beta, you can ask for access after you sign in. We store the time of your request, the time we let you in, and the source the link you followed named, if any (for example, "reddit"). Each request goes to our support inbox by email, with your account's email address and the source. If your account has an email address, we use it to tell you when you are in.
• Subscription Data: App Store purchases go through Apple StoreKit, and your payment information stays with Apple. If you subscribe in the web app, Echoes sells the subscription, and Link (Sold through Link, LLC, a Stripe company) is the merchant of record. Link runs the checkout. It collects your payment details, email address, and billing address at checkout and handles them under the Link Privacy Policy. Your card details never reach our servers. Our subscription service starts the web checkout and processes your receipts and subscription status. Link shares the order details with us, including your email address and billing address.

2. How We Use This Information

• Improve app features and performance
• Diagnose crashes and bugs
• Understand which features are most useful
• Provide your account and your Premium subscription
• Tell you when your web app beta access is ready

3. Your Rights

• Disable analytics anytime in the iOS app's Settings screen, or with the Share Analytics switch under Privacy in the web app's account menu
• Revoke location permission in your device settings
• Delete your account (see Delete Your Account; cancel a web app subscription first)

4. Third-Party Services

• Analytics provider: Usage analytics (optional). Can be disabled in the iOS app's Settings screen or the web app's account menu
• Apple StoreKit: In-app purchases and subscription management
• Subscription service: Subscription receipt and status processing for App Store and web app purchases. Starts the web app checkout. Payment information stays with Apple or Link
• Link (a Stripe company): Merchant of record for web app subscriptions. Runs the checkout, takes the payment, and sends receipts. Card details go to Link, not to our servers. Link handles checkout data under the Link Privacy Policy
• Sign in with Apple: Account sign-in (optional). Apple receives your sign-in request. We receive a user ID and, if Apple shares one, an email address (possibly a private relay address)
• Google Sign-In: Account sign-in (optional). Google receives your sign-in request. We receive a user ID and, if Google shares one, an email address
• Email provider: Email you send to [email protected], and email we send you, goes through our email provider
• Crash reporting service: Crash and error reports for bug diagnosis (iOS app and web app), and performance traces from the iOS app
• Spotter Network: Spotter position sharing and retrieval of publicly shared spotter positions (opt-in only)

5. Data Retention

We keep analytics data only as long as we need it to improve the app.

We keep account data until you delete your account. Deletion removes your account, its sign-in identity (including any email address), its sessions, its web app beta request, and its subscription records from our servers. We also delete your account's record at our subscription service, which holds any web app purchases. Link and our subscription service keep transaction records as their policies and the law require. Deleting your account does not cancel an App Store subscription. See Delete Your Account for the steps.

6. Children's Privacy

This app is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. The app works without an account. Without one, it collects only anonymous, non-identifying data, so it is safe for users of all ages.

7. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy. Changes will be posted in-app and on our website with an updated date.

8. Contact

Questions? Email [email protected]