Privacy, Data, and Account Deletion

GardenBot includes privacy controls in the app and publishes a full Privacy Policy.

Privacy Controls

Open GardenBot > Settings > Privacy & Data to manage:

• Firebase Analytics consent;
• Crashlytics crash reports and diagnostics consent;
• account deletion for registered accounts;
• privacy policy access.

Analytics and crash reports are controlled separately.

Data GardenBot May Store

Depending on how you use the app, GardenBot may store:

• account and authentication identifiers;
• email address if provided by your sign-in method;
• garden name, rooms, plant names, plant species, care schedules, and care history;
• plant photos and chat image attachments;
• global and plant-specific chat messages;
• AI identification requests and related technical metadata;
• subscription entitlement status and RevenueCat identifiers;
• feedback messages, optional support email, device metadata, and optional feedback attachments;
• notification settings, timezone, and local app preferences;
• analytics and crash diagnostics if enabled.

Some data is stored locally on your device for offline use. Some data is synced through Firebase services so GardenBot can provide cloud-backed features.

Delete Your Account

For a registered account:

1. Open GardenBot > Settings.
2. Tap Delete account.
3. Re-authenticate with the linked provider shown by the app.
4. Confirm deletion.

GardenBot may ask you to continue with Apple, Google, or email/password before deletion. This protects the account from accidental or unauthorized deletion.

Account deletion is intended to remove your GardenBot account record, plants, rooms, plant photos, chat history, notification settings, usage and quota records, and account data stored under your GardenBot account, except where retention is required or permitted by law.

Deletion normally starts when you confirm the in-app deletion flow. Active account data is intended to be removed from GardenBot’s Firebase account, Firestore, and Storage records as part of that process. Some provider logs, backups, analytics, crash diagnostics, security records, subscription records, and support records may remain for limited periods where required or permitted for security, legal, accounting, fraud-prevention, or support reasons.

If deletion fails or the app says recent authentication is required, sign in again with the linked Apple, Google, or email/password method and retry. If the issue continues, contact support.

Delete a Guest Account

For a guest account:

1. Open GardenBot > Settings.
2. Tap Delete guest account.
3. Confirm permanent deletion.

Guest deletion removes the guest account and local data associated with it. Guest accounts can have limited recovery options.

Inactive anonymous guest accounts may be cleaned up after a period of inactivity, currently expected to be about 90 days where cleanup is enabled.

Because guest accounts have limited recovery options, convert a guest account to Apple, Google, or email sign-in before changing devices, deleting the app, or resetting the device if you want to keep the garden data.

Data Export and Access Requests

GardenBot currently does not provide a self-service export button in the app. You can request access to, correction of, deletion of, or export of personal data by contacting support.

For privacy requests, include the account email or sign-in method and whether the account is registered or guest. Do not send passwords, Apple ID credentials, Google credentials, payment card details, government IDs, or recovery codes by email. We may ask for additional verification before acting on a request.

Chat and Media Retention

GardenBot may prune chat collections to keep the newest messages and remove older messages. Current backend documentation describes keeping the newest 20 messages for pruned chat collections.

When plants, chats, or accounts are deleted, GardenBot also attempts to clean up related storage files such as plant photos and chat attachments.

Local caches on your device may remain until the app clears them, you sign out, delete account data, uninstall GardenBot, or iOS removes cached files. If you need to remove local device data immediately, delete the account from the app where applicable and then remove GardenBot from the device.

Privacy Requests

You can request access, correction, deletion, export, restriction, objection, or other privacy rights where applicable through Contact GardenBot.

We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling a privacy request.

We aim to respond to privacy requests within the time required by applicable law. Response times can depend on your location, request type, verification status, and whether the request involves data held by service providers.

Subscription Note

Deleting your GardenBot account does not cancel an App Store subscription. To stop renewal, cancel through Apple in iOS Settings.

Contact Support

For privacy or deletion help, include:

• the account email or sign-in method;
• whether the account is registered or guest;
• the request type;
• any relevant app error message;
• your app version.