Privacy Policy

Last updated: December 2025

Overview

7 Journal ("we", "our", or "the app") is designed with privacy as a core principle. Your journal entries are private and belong to you.

Data Collection

What we collect:

  • Journal entries (stored locally on your device or in your iCloud account)
  • App preferences and settings
  • Anonymous usage analytics (crash reports, feature usage)

What we do NOT collect:

  • Your name or contact information
  • The content of your journal entries on our servers
  • Location data
  • Advertising identifiers

Data Storage

Your journal entries are stored:

  • Locally on your device, protected by your device passcode
  • In iCloud (if enabled) using Apple's encrypted CloudKit service

We do not have access to your journal content. Only you can read your entries.

⚠️ Important: AI Processing & OpenAI

Your journal content is sent to OpenAI for processing.

When you use the app's AI features (voice transcription, mood analysis, insights), the following data is transmitted to OpenAI's servers:

  • Voice recordings are sent to OpenAI's Whisper API and converted to text
  • Your journal text is sent to OpenAI's GPT API for analysis (mood extraction, formatting, insights)
  • This means OpenAI receives the full content of your journal entries

What this means for your privacy:

  • OpenAI processes your data according to their Privacy Policy
  • As of December 2025, OpenAI states they do not use API data to train their models
  • We have no control over how OpenAI handles data once transmitted
  • We do not store your journal content on our own servers

If you're uncomfortable with this:

  • You can disable "Use Cloud Transcription" in Settings to use Apple's on-device transcription instead (less accurate but fully private)
  • You can bring your own OpenAI API key (BYOK) if you prefer direct control

Optional Encryption

7 Journal offers end-to-end encryption for your entries. When enabled:

  • Entries are encrypted using AES-256 before storage
  • Encryption keys are stored in your device's Secure Enclave
  • Keys are not synced to iCloud

Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services:

  • Apple iCloud - For optional cloud sync
  • OpenAI - For voice transcription and AI analysis
  • Apple StoreKit - For subscription management

Children's Privacy

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

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new policy in the app.

Contact

If you have questions about this privacy policy, please contact us at:

Email: support@7journal.app