Last updated: 2026-05-24 Effective date: 2026-05-24
Simple Ledger ("the App") is a personal income / expense and budgeting tool maintained by an independent developer. We take your privacy seriously. This Privacy Policy explains what we collect, how we use it, where it lives, and what rights you have.
1. Information We Collect
The App only collects information that you actively enter, or that is generated by functionality you trigger:
Financial records: transaction amount, category, note, date, and any receipt image you save (manually entered or via OCR).
Ledger and budget configuration: account names, category settings, budget thresholds, recurring expenses, savings plans, debt records.
Application preferences: currency symbol, date format, appearance theme, notification settings (stored locally in UserDefaults).
Apple ID identifier (only when you use "Sign in with Apple"): the App receives an anonymized user identifier provided by Apple. We do not receive your real name or email unless you explicitly choose to share them at the sign-in prompt.
Device ID: used only for in-app functionality (such as local-notification deduplication). It is never used for cross-app tracking and never shared with third parties.
The App does not collect:
Your location
Your contacts, calendar, or health data
Your browsing history or advertising identifier (IDFA)
Any data used for cross-app or cross-device tracking
Any form of device fingerprint
2. How We Use the Information
Only to deliver the App's own features:
Display and aggregate your financial data on your device
Sync between your own Apple devices via iCloud
Send local notifications at the times you configure (e.g. expense reminders)
When you explicitly enable the optional "AI Financial Advisor", send a summary of selected categories to an OpenAI-compatible endpoint you supply yourself, in order to generate spending advice
3. Data Storage and Transmission
Local storage: all financial data is stored on your device via Apple's SwiftData framework.
iCloud sync: if you enable iCloud sync, data is synced inside your CloudKit private database, scoped to your Apple ID. The private database is accessible only to you — even the developer of this App cannot read it.
Receipt OCR: processed entirely on-device via Apple's Vision framework. Neither the image nor the recognized text is uploaded to any server.
AI channel (optional): off by default. If you explicitly enable it in Settings → AI Financial Advisor and configure an OpenAI-compatible endpoint URL, the App will send a category-level summary of your finances (no detailed notes, no images) over HTTPS to that endpoint. You supply and maintain that endpoint yourself; we do not know it, do not participate in the transmission, and do not retain or cache any copy of the transmitted content. If you decline consent, no AI network request is ever made.
Third-party SDKs: the App integrates no third-party analytics, advertising, or crash-reporting SDK.
4. Data Sharing
We do not disclose, sell, rent, or share your personal information with any third party. The single exception is the AI endpoint you configure yourself, which is a relationship between you and that provider.
5. Your Rights
At any time you may:
Export all your data as CSV / JSON in Settings → Data Management
Delete individual or all local records in Settings → Data Management
Fully delete all local data associated with the App, and trigger cleanup of the App's records in your iCloud private database, in Settings → Delete Account (please follow the in-app instructions)
Turn off iCloud sync from System Settings → Apple ID → iCloud → Simple Ledger
Cancel a subscription from System Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions
Contact the developer for further information about your data (see § 9)
Under the GDPR, CCPA, China's PIPL, and other applicable laws, you also have rights of access, correction, deletion, consent withdrawal, and data portability. To exercise these rights, please use the contact methods in § 9.
6. Children's Privacy
The App is not directed at children under 13 and does not knowingly collect data from children. If you are a parent or guardian and become aware that a child has used the App without consent, please contact us so we can delete the data.
7. Security
Local data is protected by the iOS / macOS data-protection mechanisms provided by the operating system.
iCloud sync travels over Apple's encrypted channels.
We do not store your data anywhere outside the App.
No method of electronic transmission or storage is absolutely secure. We recommend you enable a device passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID to protect device access.
8. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Policy. Material changes (covering collection types, purposes, or third-party sharing) will be communicated via in-app notice or app update. Your continued use of the App after a change takes effect constitutes acceptance.
9. Contact Us
For any questions about this Policy, complaints, or rights requests, please email the developer via Settings → About → Contact Support in the App.
This English version is provided for reference. In case of any conflict, the Simplified Chinese version prevails.