Privacy Policy
Last updated: December 15, 2025
The short version: Your beer ratings stay on your device and in your private iCloud account. We don't collect, sell, or share your personal data. Period.
Introduction
BeerRate ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle information when you use the BeerRate mobile application ("App").
Information We Collect
We collect minimal information to provide the App's functionality:
- Beer Ratings & Photos: The beers you rate, photos you take, and notes you write are stored locally on your device and synced to your personal iCloud account. We do not have access to this data.
- Friend Connections: If you use the social features, we store your friend code and friend connections in CloudKit to enable sharing. This is stored in Apple's infrastructure, not ours.
- No Account Required: We do not require you to create an account with us. Authentication is handled entirely through your Apple ID and iCloud.
Information We Do NOT Collect
- Your name, email, or contact information (unless you email us directly)
- Your location data
- Analytics or usage tracking
- Advertising identifiers
- Your beer preferences for marketing purposes
How Your Data is Stored
All your beer ratings, photos, and personal data are stored using Apple's technologies:
- On-Device: Your data is stored locally using SwiftData
- iCloud Sync: If you have iCloud enabled, your data syncs across your devices using your private iCloud storage
- CloudKit: Social features (friend codes, shared beers) use Apple's CloudKit infrastructure
We do not operate servers that store your personal data. We cannot access your beer ratings or photos.
AI Features
BeerRate uses on-device AI (Apple's Foundation Models) to read beer labels from photos. This processing happens entirely on your device — your photos are never sent to external servers for analysis.
Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party services:
- Apple iCloud/CloudKit: For data storage and sync (governed by Apple's privacy policy)
- UPCitemdb API: For optional barcode lookups (only the barcode number is sent, not personal data)
Data Sharing
We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. Ever.
The only sharing that occurs is:
- When you explicitly choose to share a beer rating with friends in the app
- When required by law or to protect our rights
Data Retention
Your data remains on your device and in your iCloud account until you choose to delete it. If you delete the app, local data is removed. iCloud data can be managed through your iCloud settings.
Children's Privacy
BeerRate is intended for users of legal drinking age. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 21 years of age (or the legal drinking age in their jurisdiction).
Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Access your data (it's all on your device/iCloud)
- Delete your data (delete individual beers or the app itself)
- Export your data (contact us for assistance)
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.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:
Email: support@getbeerrate.com
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