This policy explains what information Nihongo Amigo: Learn Japanese (the "App", for iPhone, iPad and Android) collects, why, and the choices you have. In short: the App works offline, an account is optional, we show no ads, we do not track you across other companies' apps or websites, and we never sell your data.
The App is made by TinyAmigo, the studio name of independent developer Neeraj Solanki ("we", "us"). We are responsible for the personal data described here. Contact us at any time at support@tinyamigo.com.
Your study progress (flashcard reviews, streaks, writing scores, mock exam results, Mistake Vault, stories, games, achievements and conversation progress), your saved words and phrases, the cards you make yourself and your settings are stored on your device. If you don't sign in, they never leave your device, and deleting the App deletes them.
You can use the App without an account. If you choose to sign in to back up your progress and use it on several devices, we use Google Firebase Authentication and receive:
We use these only to run your account and, if you write to us, to find your account. We never send you marketing email.
When you are signed in, a copy of your study progress is stored in your account in Google Cloud Firestore: flashcard progress, daily study activity (streak), mock exam results and Mistake Vault entries, completed stories, conversations, topics and games, writing best scores, badges, your chosen level and study buddy. Saved words, your own cards and your settings are not uploaded. This data is used only to sync your progress between your devices. It is encrypted in transit and is not used for advertising or shared with anyone else. You can sign out at any time (your progress stays on the device).
If you are signed in and choose to join the Weekly Mock League, we store a leaderboard entry for the current week: the nickname you pick (or a default such as "Amigo1234"), your chosen Amigo character, your JLPT level, your best first-try mock exam score, how many mocks you finished that week and your platform (iOS or Android). Other learners in the league can see your nickname, Amigo and score. Your real name, email address and account ID are never shown. Please don't use your real name or anything offensive as a nickname. Leaving the league or deleting your account removes your entry.
We use Firebase App Check to make sure requests to our servers come from the genuine App and not from bots or modified copies. It uses Apple App Attest / DeviceCheck on iPhone and iPad and Google Play Integrity on Android, which send an integrity token about the device and App, not your personal information.
Nihongo Amigo Pro is sold through Apple's App Store on iPhone and iPad and through Google Play on Android. Payments are handled by Apple or Google; we never see your card or payment details. We use RevenueCat to confirm whether your purchase is active. RevenueCat receives an app user ID (a random ID, or your account's user ID when you are signed in so Pro follows your account), your App Store or Google Play transaction details (product, price, currency, purchase and renewal dates), your Firebase app-instance ID, and basic device information. RevenueCat processes this under its own privacy policy (revenuecat.com/privacy).
We use Google Analytics for Firebase to understand how the App is used and to make it better: for example which screens are opened, which lessons, stories, games and tests are started and completed, scores, whether the paywall was viewed and whether a purchase was made. Firebase also collects an app-instance identifier, device model, OS version, app version, language and approximate country (derived from your IP address), plus settings such as your study level and app language.
When you are signed in, these events are linked to your account's user ID so that your usage on different devices counts as one learner. Analytics never receives your name, email address, contacts, voice, photos or anything you type. We do not use analytics data for advertising, we do not share it with advertisers or data brokers, and we never sell it.
We use Firebase Crashlytics to find and fix crashes and errors. When the App crashes or hits a serious error, Crashlytics sends a report with the error details, the screens visited just before, device model, OS version, app version, free disk and memory, a crash-reporting installation ID and, when you are signed in, your account's user ID. Crash reports do not contain your study content, email address or name.
We use Firebase Remote Config and A/B Testing to adjust some settings without an App update and to compare small variations (for example the order of items on the Pro screen or a default daily goal). Remote Config uses your app-instance identifier to decide which variant you see, and the variant is recorded in analytics.
You can turn off usage analytics and crash reports at any time in the App under Profile › Settings › Privacy (the "Share anonymous usage" switch). While it is off, the App stops sending analytics events and crash reports. Account sync and purchase checks keep working.
Daily study reminders are local notifications scheduled on your device; no server is involved. If you allow notifications, the App also registers with Firebase Cloud Messaging and receives a push token (a device identifier) so we can occasionally send notifications about the App. The token is used only to deliver those notifications. You can turn notifications off at any time in your device settings.
Speaking practice uses the microphone only while you are speaking to the App, after you give permission. Your speech is turned into text by your device's speech recognition: Apple's Speech framework on iPhone and iPad, and the device's speech service (usually Google) on Android. Where the device supports it this happens on the device; otherwise Apple or Google process the audio under their own privacy policies. We never receive or store your voice or the recognised text.
Camera reading uses the camera, or a photo you pick, only when you ask it to. Text is recognised and translated on your device (Apple Vision and Translation on iPhone and iPad, Google ML Kit on Android; a language model may be downloaded once). Photos are never uploaded or kept by the App.
All Japanese voices are recordings bundled inside the App (made with Microsoft Azure AI Speech); anything not recorded is spoken by your device's speech synthesizer. Playing audio sends nothing to anyone. The home-screen widget reads a small snapshot (word of the day, streak) stored on your device. On iPhone and iPad, Game Center is optional: if you connect it, achievements and your streak are sent to Apple under Apple's terms. We do not receive your Game Center details.
The App shows no ads, does not access the device advertising identifier (IDFA on iOS, Advertising ID on Android) and does not track you across other companies' apps or websites.
We share data only with the service providers that run the App for us: Google (Firebase Authentication, Cloud Firestore, Analytics, Crashlytics, Remote Config, Cloud Messaging, App Check, and Play Integrity on Android; firebase.google.com/support/privacy), RevenueCat, and Apple or Google for purchases and sign-in. These providers may process data in the United States and other countries. Where data is transferred out of the UK, EEA or Switzerland, they rely on safeguards such as the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses. We may also disclose information if required by law.
You can delete your account in the App on iPhone, iPad or Android under Profile › Account & sync › Delete account. This permanently deletes your account and the progress stored in it; progress on the device you are using stays until you delete the App. If you no longer have the App, you can ask us to delete your account by email. See how to delete your account for details.
Depending on where you live (for example under the GDPR in the UK and EEA, or the CCPA/CPRA in California), you may have the right to access, correct, delete or receive a copy of your personal data, to object to or restrict its processing, and to withdraw consent at any time. We do not sell or "share" personal information for cross-context behavioural advertising. To use any of these rights, email support@tinyamigo.com from the address linked to your account (or tell us which address it is); we reply within 30 days and will not treat you differently for using your rights. You can also complain to your local data protection authority.
Our legal bases under the GDPR: providing the App and your account (contract), analytics, crash reports and experiments to improve the App (our legitimate interests, and you can switch them off), and complying with the law.
The App is suitable for learners of all ages, but it is not directed at children under 13 and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (or the minimum age in your country). Children under that age should use the App without signing in. If you believe a child has created an account, email us and we will delete it.
Data is sent over encrypted connections and stored by Google Firebase with access limited to your own account. No system is perfectly secure, but we take reasonable steps to protect your information.
If this policy changes, the updated version will appear in the App and at tinyamigo.com/japanese-jlpt/privacy with a new effective date. For important changes we will also let you know in the App.
Questions or requests? Email support@tinyamigo.com.