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HabitBuffer Privacy Policy

Effective 23 September 2026. Last updated 23 September 2026.

HabitBuffer is made by Small Hours Software, based in the United Kingdom ("we", "us"). This policy covers the HabitBuffer app on Android (Google Play), the HabitBuffer web app, and the HabitBuffer website. If anything here is unclear, email HabitBuffer@proton.me.

The short version

• Everything you enter in HabitBuffer stays on your device. We never receive it and cannot see it.
• There is no account, no adverts, no analytics, no tracking, and we never sell data.
• You can delete everything at any time: Settings → Delete all data, or uninstall the app.

Information the app keeps on your device

When you use HabitBuffer you create:

• Habits — the name you give each one, your weekly allowance, the unit, an optional cost per unit, a colour and the day your week starts.
• Logs — how much you logged and when.
• Progress — weekly summaries, your buffer (hours back and money kept), rewards and milestones.
• Settings — theme, currency, timezone, and your notification and app lock choices.

This is stored only in the app's private storage on your device (on Android, the app's own database; on the web, your browser's storage). It is not sent to us, so we cannot see it, use it or recover it. If Android backup is switched on for your phone, Android may include it in your own Google account backup and restore it to a new phone; that backup is yours and we never see it. Habit logs can say something about your health or your spending, which is one reason they never leave your device.

Information we collect

From the app: none. HabitBuffer has no account, no analytics or crash-reporting tools, no advertising ID and no advertising networks, and it does not send your information over the internet.

Google Play. When you install HabitBuffer from Google Play, Google may give us anonymous, aggregated statistics such as install numbers, ratings and crash reports through the Google Play Console. These cannot identify you and are handled under Google's privacy policy (https://policies.google.com/privacy).

The mailing list on our website. If you sign up, we store your email address, the date you signed up and the country detected from your connection. We use your email to send you founder discounts and information about HabitBuffer, including when it opens. Every email has a way to unsubscribe. Our lawful basis under UK GDPR is your consent. The list is stored with Cloudflare, which hosts our website.

Emails you send us. If you email us, we use your email address and message only to reply, and delete them within 12 months.

Permissions the app asks for

• Notifications (optional). For the Friday summary. It is created and scheduled on your device.
• Fingerprint, face or screen lock (optional). For app lock. Android handles the check; HabitBuffer never receives your fingerprint, face or passcode.
• Saving images (only when you tap Save). To save a share card to your photos. HabitBuffer does not read your photos.

HabitBuffer does not use your location, contacts, camera, microphone, phone or messages.

Sharing and exports

When you share a card or export your data (CSV or JSON), it goes through Android's share sheet to the app you choose, and that app's privacy policy then applies. Share cards have switches to hide the habit name and amounts. Nothing is shared unless you do it.

Who we share data with

We do not sell, rent or share personal data, and we do not work with advertisers or data brokers. The only other companies involved are Google (distributing the app through Google Play) and Cloudflare (hosting our website and the mailing list). We would only disclose data if the law required it.

Security

Your app data is protected by Android's app sandbox, which stops other apps from reading it, and you can add app lock in Settings. Our website uses HTTPS, and only we can access the mailing list.

How long we keep data, and how to delete it

• App data stays on your device until you delete it. Settings → Delete all data (type DELETE to confirm) erases it straight away; uninstalling the app or clearing its storage also deletes it. We hold no copy; only your own Android backup, if you use one, could restore it.
• The mailing list: your email is kept until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete it, and removed within 30 days of that.
• Emails are deleted within 12 months.

To have us delete anything we hold about you, email HabitBuffer@proton.me. You don't need an account.

Your rights

Under UK data protection law you can ask to see, correct or delete the data we hold about you, to restrict or object to how we use it, to receive a copy, and to withdraw consent at any time. Email HabitBuffer@proton.me and we will reply within one month. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at https://ico.org.uk. Because your app data lives only on your device, you can export it (Settings → Export) or delete it yourself whenever you like.

Children

HabitBuffer is for adults aged 18 and over and is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect information from children. If you think a child has joined our mailing list, email us and we will delete it.

Not medical advice

HabitBuffer helps you keep track of your own habits. It is not a medical device and does not give medical, therapeutic or financial advice. If cutting back feels hard, the Getting support page in the app lists NHS Every Mind Matters, MoneyHelper and how to speak to your GP.

Changes to this policy

We plan to add optional accounts (with backup and sync) and an optional paid Pro plan. Those would involve storing some data on servers. Before any of them go live, we will update this policy, change the date at the top, and tell you in the app. If we change this policy for any other reason, we will update the date and, where the change matters, tell you in the app.

Contact

Small Hours Software, United Kingdom
HabitBuffer@proton.me