Privacy, in plain language.

What I collect

When you use a Hola Means Hola mobile app, your reading progress, listening progress, and daily word activity are saved on your device. On iOS, reading progress is synced through iCloud when available. On Android, app preferences, progress, daily activity, and listening position may be included in Android's encrypted backup or device-transfer system when you enable those platform features. These synced or backed-up copies stay on Apple or Google's infrastructure.

If you report a problem with a dictionary entry from inside the app, I receive the entry you flagged, the reason you selected, any optional notes you type, a random app-generated identifier, the app version, and your iOS or Android version. I use this only to fix dictionary, example, translation, and audio issues.

I collect limited first-party app analytics to understand whether core features are used and to improve the apps. This can include searches submitted, reading levels viewed, words read or listened to, listening activity and settings, and attempts to show the platform rating prompt. The iOS app can also report offline-audio download activity; the Android app does not currently offer offline-audio downloads.

Analytics events can include a random app-generated identifier, app version, build number, iOS or Android version, event name, level or page number when relevant, daily word totals, and small event-specific details. Successful search analytics include the query length, result count, and result status, not the search text itself.

When a dictionary search returns no results, I may collect the normalized lookup text separately so I can find missing Spanish words to add. These missing-search reports do not include the app-generated analytics identifier, page, session identifier, or other event context. Search strings are filtered before being sent so obvious emails, URLs, long text, and other input that does not look like a short dictionary lookup are omitted.

If you contact me by email, I'll have your email address and whatever information you choose to include in the message. I don't add it to any mailing list.

I use standard Apple and Google Play reporting to see aggregate install and crash data. This does not identify you individually.

On this website, I use PostHog in cookieless, anonymous mode to understand page visits and whether people use search, follow the App Store link, or download a Kindle dictionary. Website search events include only the result status and count, never the text you searched for. Page analytics include the site origin and path, but query strings and referrers are not sent because they can contain search text.

What I don't collect

No account or password. No location. No contacts. No advertising identifiers. No advertising analytics. No tracking across apps or websites. In-app issue reports and analytics are not used for advertising or tracking.

Data storage

Your progress and daily activity are stored locally and may also be held by the platform backup service described above. I don't have a server that holds a copy of this progress. You can reset reading progress inside the app, delete downloaded dictionary content in Settings, delete downloaded audio on iOS, and manage platform backups through your Apple or Google account settings.

App analytics, missing-search reports, and in-app issue reports are automatically deleted from my app backend within 90 days. I use them during that period to understand feature usage, investigate problems, and improve the dictionary, search, reading, and audio experience.

Anonymous website analytics are processed by PostHog. The website does not use analytics cookies or persistent browser storage, create person profiles, or record sessions.

Analytics

The iOS and Android apps use first-party analytics collected through my app backend and do not include a third-party analytics SDK. The website uses PostHog only for the limited anonymous analytics described above. I do not sell analytics data, use it for advertising, or use it to track you across other apps or websites.

You can email me to request deletion of in-app issue reports or analytics associated with your app-generated identifier where I can reasonably identify it. Deleting the app removes its locally stored identifiers and activity from that device; platform-synced or backed-up data can be managed through your Apple or Google account settings.

Children

The app is not directed at children under 13. I don't knowingly collect data from anyone under 13.

Changes

If I change this policy in a meaningful way, I'll update the date above. The app is simple enough that I don't expect this to change much.

Contact

Questions? Email patrick@sortazen.com.