Gentle Screen Time is built to pace your apps — not to watch you. Here is exactly what we collect on iPhone and Android, what we never do, and how subscriptions are handled.
last updated · 15 october 2026
If you use Gentle Screen Time for yourself, you don't create an account. We collect a limited amount of anonymous usage information through our analytics provider, and on iPhone we send the technical data needed for Live Activity timers.
If you use family mode, a parent signs in so we can run the family account and connect it to their children's phones. The sections below describe these practices in detail.
To improve Gentle Screen Time we use Mixpanel, a privacy-compliant analytics service. The app sends anonymous usage analytics — app events such as completing onboarding steps, viewing the premium upgrade screen, or making a purchase — so we can understand general usage trends.
These analytics are anonymous. We never send personal information (such as your name, email address, or browsing history) to Mixpanel. Mixpanel is fully GDPR and CCPA compliant.
Family mode is for parents. A parent signs in with Sign in with Apple on iPhone or Sign in with Google on Android. From that sign-in we receive your Apple or Google account identifier and your email address, and we use them only to run your family account.
To make family mode work, we also store what connects your family together: the children you add, the phones you pair, and the pace you set for each child. A child's paired phone sends its session activity and screen-time totals to your family account so you can see them.
On Android, Gentle Screen Time asks for two system permissions. Here is exactly what each one is used for.
Gentle uses Android's Accessibility service only to know which app is in the foreground, so it can time and pause the apps you chose. It never reads what is on your screen, what you type, or any other app's data.
Which app is in the foreground stays on your device. On a child's paired phone, only session activity and screen-time totals are sent to the parent.
Usage access lets Gentle build the activity report you see in the app. That information is used on your device and stays on your device.
Most functionality is handled locally on your device. To support Live Activity updates (such as cooldown timers displayed on your Lock Screen), Gentle Screen Time sends limited technical data to our secure servers hosted on Microsoft Azure. This data includes:
This data is used exclusively to send push notifications that update your Live Activity widget. Live Activity push tokens are not linked to any identifying information and are only used for the duration of an active session.
When a parent changes a setting, we need to tell the right phones. To do that we store a push registration token for each device in a family account: an Apple Push Notification service token on iPhone, or a Firebase Cloud Messaging (Google) registration token on Android. These tokens are linked to that device in your family account and are used only to tell devices when settings change.
Gentle Screen Time relies on a small number of services:
All data is processed in accordance with Apple's and Google's privacy guidelines and applicable laws.
Gentle Screen Time offers premium features — a monthly subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase — processed entirely through Apple's App Store on iPhone and Google Play on Android.
We do not collect, store, or process any payment information, billing addresses, credit card details, or other financial data. To confirm that you have premium, we receive purchase information from Apple or Google — such as a Google Play purchase token and the status of your purchase or subscription — and use it only to verify and unlock premium.
Apple and Google act as the sole payment processors for all purchases. When you buy premium, your payment information (credit card, billing address, payment methods) is transmitted directly to Apple or Google and is governed by their privacy policies. We never receive or have access to your payment details.
Your purchase history is managed within Apple's or Google's systems and can be viewed in your Apple ID settings or your Google Play account.
Subscriptions automatically renew at the end of each billing period unless canceled at least 24 hours before the renewal date. Renewal charges will be processed by Apple or Google according to your chosen subscription plan. A lifetime purchase is a one-time payment and never renews.
You can cancel your subscription at any time through your device's Settings app or through the App Store. To cancel:
You can cancel your subscription at any time in the Google Play Store. To cancel:
You will continue to have access to subscription features until the end of your current billing period.
All refund requests are handled by Apple or Google according to their standard refund policies. For App Store purchases, visit reportaproblem.apple.com or contact Apple Support. For Google Play purchases, request a refund through Google Play.
A parent can delete their family account at any time, in the app or by email. This permanently deletes the account, children's profiles and activity, and unpairs every child device. See how to delete your account for the full steps.
Deleting your account, or deleting Gentle Screen Time from your device, does not cancel a subscription. Cancel it through your Apple ID settings or Google Play, as described above.
Gentle Screen Time is often used by parents to manage screen time for their family. Children don't sign in or create accounts. When a parent pairs a child's phone, that phone sends only its session activity and screen-time totals to the parent's family account, along with the push token it needs to receive the parent's settings. A parent can delete this information at any time by deleting their account.
If any changes are made to this privacy policy, the updated version will be posted on our website with the new effective date.
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at hello@gentlescreentime.app.
