Privacy Policy
Last updated: May 15, 2026
The short version: Your photos never leave your device. We read location metadata from your photos to find your trips, but we never upload your photos or their content to any server. All processing happens on your iPhone.
Overview
Atlas ("we," "our," or "us") is a travel journal app that automatically organizes your travel history from your photo library. We are committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and your rights as a user.
Information We Collect
1. Photo Library Access
With your permission, Atlas reads your photo library to find trips you have taken. Specifically:
- We read GPS coordinates embedded in photo metadata (EXIF data) to identify locations you have visited
- We read photo timestamps to determine when you visited those locations
- We display your photo thumbnails within the app to show highlights from your trips
- We never upload your photos to any server
- We never read the visual content of your photos — only location and time metadata
- All photo processing happens entirely on your device
We use shouldDownloadFromNetwork: true when reading EXIF data, which may cause iCloud photos to temporarily download to your device for processing. This download goes to your device only — not to our servers. You can revoke photo access at any time in iOS Settings → Privacy → Photos → Atlas.
2. Trip Data You Create
When you use Atlas, the following data is stored locally on your device only:
- Trip names, dates, and locations identified from your photos
- Journal notes and memories you write about your trips
- Countries and US states you have visited
- Your traveler profile and preferences
This data is stored using encrypted local storage on your device. It is never transmitted to our servers.
3. Anonymous Analytics
We use PostHog to collect anonymous, aggregated analytics about how people use Atlas. This helps us improve the app. We collect:
- App screens viewed and features used
- Onboarding completion rates
- Feature interaction counts
- Crash and error reports via Sentry
We never collect your journal note content, photo content, specific GPS coordinates, or any personally identifiable information. Analytics data cannot be linked back to you as an individual.
4. Purchase Information
If you subscribe to Atlas Pro, purchases are processed by Apple through the App Store. We use RevenueCat to manage subscription status. We receive only whether you have an active subscription and your plan type. We never receive or store your payment card information.
5. Crash Reports
We use Sentry to automatically collect crash reports when the app encounters an error. Reports include the type of error, the app screen where it happened, your device type, iOS version, and app version. Crash reports are automatically scrubbed to remove any photo URIs or location data before being sent.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Organize your photos into trips automatically
- Display your travel history on your passport map
- Generate your traveler profile and stats
- Improve app performance and fix bugs
- Process your subscription and verify Pro status
We never sell your data, use your data for advertising, or share personal information with third parties except as described in this policy.
Third-Party Services
| Service | Purpose | Data Shared |
|---|---|---|
| Apple App Store | App distribution and purchases | Purchase receipts only |
| RevenueCat | Subscription management | Subscription status |
| Sentry | Crash reporting | Anonymous error reports |
| PostHog | Analytics | Anonymous usage events |
| Mapbox | Map display | Map tile requests — no personal data |
| Anthropic (Claude AI) | AI trip organization | Place names and dates only — never photo content or journal notes |
Anthropic / Claude AI
Atlas uses Claude AI to intelligently group your trips. When organizing your trips, we send place names and dates identified from your photo metadata. We never send photo content, images, or journal notes. This data is processed according to Anthropic's privacy policy at anthropic.com/privacy.
Data Storage and Security
- All your personal travel data is stored locally on your device only
- We use encrypted local storage (MMKV) for all app data
- We do not operate servers that store your personal travel data
- If you delete the app, all locally stored data is permanently deleted
Data Retention
Since your travel data is stored locally on your device, you control how long it is retained. You can delete all app data at any time by deleting Atlas from your device.
Anonymous analytics data is retained by PostHog for 12 months. Crash reports are retained by Sentry for 90 days.
Your Rights
All Users
- Right to Access — You can access all your travel data directly within the Atlas app at any time.
- Right to Delete — Delete all data by deleting the app from your device. For anonymous analytics data, contact us below.
- Right to Portability — Your trip data is stored on your device. Contact us if you need assistance exporting it.
California Residents (CCPA)
We do not sell personal information. California residents have the right to know what personal information is collected and to request deletion. Contact us at the email below to exercise these rights.
EU / UK Residents (GDPR)
Our legal basis for processing anonymous analytics data is legitimate interest in improving our app. You may object to this processing by contacting us. We do not transfer personal data outside your region.
Children's Privacy
Atlas is not directed at children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it immediately.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy. Continued use of Atlas after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your data:
- Email: hello@atlastravels.app
- Website: atlastravels.app
- Developer: Anish Aggarwal
- Address: Santa Monica, CA, United States
This privacy policy applies to the Atlas: Travel Journal iOS application.