Introduction
Explainly ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use the Explainly mobile application (the "App").
By using Explainly, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.
Information we collect
Information you provide
- Homework problem images — Photos you take or upload to get explanations. These are sent to our AI processing service to generate explanations and are not stored on our servers permanently.
- Language preference — The explanation language you select in Settings.
- Grade level — The grade level you select when correcting explanations.
Information collected automatically
- Usage data — We track the number of daily scans and monthly explanations locally on your device to enforce free tier limits. This data never leaves your device.
- Saved explanations — Problems you choose to save are stored locally on your device only. We do not have access to your saved explanations.
- App preferences — Dark/light mode and language settings are stored locally on your device.
- Anonymous analytics — If enabled, we collect anonymous events about which features you use (for example, "paywall shown" or "explanation generated") through PostHog. This contains no personal information and no homework content. You can disable this in Settings.
Information we do NOT collect
- We do not collect your name, email address, or any personal identifying information
- We do not require account registration to use the app
- We do not track your precise location
- We do not collect device identifiers for advertising purposes
- We do not sell your data to third parties
- We do not collect or transmit the content of your homework problems beyond what is needed to generate the explanation
How we use your information
We use the information collected solely to:
- Provide AI-powered homework explanations through our processing service
- Enforce free tier usage limits (stored locally on your device)
- Improve the accuracy and quality of explanations
- Send you optional study reminder notifications (only if you grant permission)
Third-party services
Explainly uses the following third-party services to deliver its features:
Anthropic (AI Processing)
Homework problem images are sent to Anthropic's API to generate explanations. Images are processed and not retained permanently. Anthropic's privacy policy is available at anthropic.com/privacy.
Cloudflare Workers
Our AI processing runs through Cloudflare Workers infrastructure. Cloudflare's privacy policy is available at cloudflare.com/privacypolicy.
RevenueCat (Subscription Management)
If you subscribe to Explainly Pro, your subscription is managed through RevenueCat. RevenueCat may collect device identifiers to manage your subscription status. RevenueCat's privacy policy is available at revenuecat.com/privacy.
PostHog (Analytics)
Explainly uses PostHog to understand how the app is being used and to improve features. PostHog collects:
- Anonymous usage events (which screens you visit, which buttons you tap, when you upgrade to Pro)
- Device information (model, OS version, app version, locale)
- An anonymous device identifier — no personal information is attached
- Approximate location (country/region inferred from IP address)
PostHog does not receive your homework images, saved explanations, or any personally identifying information. PostHog's privacy policy is available at posthog.com/privacy.
Data storage and security
- All personal preferences, usage counts, and saved explanations are stored locally on your device using AsyncStorage
- Homework images are transmitted securely over HTTPS to our AI processing service
- We do not operate databases that store your homework problems or personal information
- We implement industry-standard security measures to protect data in transit
Push notifications
Explainly may send you optional push notifications to remind you to review saved problems. These notifications are:
- Only sent if you grant notification permission
- Scheduled locally on your device
- Never used for advertising or marketing purposes
- Fully controllable through your device's notification settings
You can disable notifications at any time in your device Settings.
Children's privacy
Explainly is designed for students aged 13 and up. The app is not directed at children under 13, and we take children's privacy seriously:
- We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13
- We do not require account registration
- No personal identifying information is required to use the app
In-app purchases
Explainly offers optional Pro subscriptions through Google Play. Payment processing is handled entirely by Google Play and RevenueCat. We do not collect or store your payment information.
Subscription management, cancellation, and refunds are handled through your Google Play account settings.
Your rights
You have the right to:
- Access — Since we store no personal data on our servers, there is no account data to access
- Delete — You can delete all locally stored app data by uninstalling the app
- Opt out of analytics — Open Settings and turn off "Help improve Explainly" to stop all usage data collection
- Opt out of notifications — Disable notifications in your device settings at any time
- Contact us — Reach us at brittenlabs@gmail.com with any privacy concerns
Changes to this privacy policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
Continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:
- Email: brittenlabs@gmail.com
- App: Explainly — The pocket tutor
- Developer: Britten Labs