Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 14, 2026

The short version: HowLong stores your data on your device. We do not collect personal information, run analytics, or share your data with third parties.

Who We Are

HowLong ("the App") is developed by GDW Entertainment, LLC. This policy describes how the App handles your information.

Data Stored on Your Device

All of the following data is stored locally on your device and is never sent to our servers:

Places - Names, coordinates, radius, and settings for locations you track.
Visits - Entry and exit timestamps for each visit to a saved place.
Photos - Images you attach to places are stored on-device only, compressed and resized. They are never uploaded to any server.
Wi-Fi network names - If enabled, the App stores the name (SSID) of a Wi-Fi network associated with a place for low-power detection. No passwords, MAC addresses, or other network data are collected.
Preferences - Your notification, goal, and reminder settings.
Suggested places - Coordinates of frequently visited locations detected by the App, stored locally until you save or dismiss them.

Location Data

HowLong uses your device's location services to detect when you arrive at or leave a saved place. The App uses geofencing, significant location changes, and Wi-Fi matching to do this efficiently with minimal battery impact.

Your location data is stored on your device only. It is not sent to GDW Entertainment or any third party.

You can revoke location access at any time in your device's Settings.

Feature Board (CloudKit)

The App includes an optional feature request board powered by Apple's CloudKit. If you choose to submit or upvote a feature request, the following is stored in Apple's public CloudKit database:

Your feature request title and description.
An anonymous, device-specific identifier (not your name or Apple ID).
A timestamp of when the request was submitted.

An iCloud account is required to submit requests. Browsing approved requests does not require sign-in. No personal information is associated with submissions.

In-App Purchases

Purchases are processed entirely by Apple through StoreKit. GDW Entertainment does not collect or store any payment information. Purchase records are managed by Apple and your Apple ID.

Third-Party Services

HowLong does not include any third-party analytics, advertising, or tracking SDKs. The App uses only Apple-provided frameworks.

Data Export and Backup

Pro users can export visit data as CSV or create a full JSON backup (including images). These files are generated on your device and shared only through the method you choose (AirDrop, Files, email, etc.). No automatic uploads occur.

Data Deletion

You can delete individual places, visits, or all data from within the App at any time. Uninstalling the App removes all locally stored data.

Children's Privacy

HowLong is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated date.

Contact

If you have questions about this policy, contact us at support@gdwentertainment.com.