🔒 TL;DR: PokeScout is designed to work mostly on-device. We don't sell your data, don't run ads, and don't require an account. Card scans and your collection stay on your phone unless you opt into Trade Binder (a public feature).
Information We Collect
PokeScout is designed to minimize data collection. Here is exactly what we do and don't collect:
| Data Type | Collected? | Where Stored | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card scan images | ❌ No | Processed on-device only | Card identification uses on-device ML — images never leave your phone |
| Collection data | ✅ Local only | Your device (SwiftData) | Tracking your collection value and history |
| Trade Binder profile | ✅ Server (optional) | Vercel KV (opt-in) | Public trade profile — username + card listings you choose to share |
| Price data requests | ⚡ Transient | Not stored | Anonymous API calls to TCGPlayer to fetch card prices — no personal data sent |
| Crash reports | ✅ Anonymous | Apple Xcode Organizer | Fixing bugs — Apple's standard crash reporting, no personal data included |
📝 Note on Trade Binder Trade Binder is an opt-in feature. If you create a public trade profile, your chosen username and the cards you list are stored on our servers and visible to anyone with your link. You can delete this data at any time by emailing us.
Information We Do NOT Collect
- We do not require account creation — no name, email, or phone number needed
- We do not track your location
- We do not use advertising SDKs (no Google Ads, Meta Pixel, etc.)
- We do not use third-party analytics (no Mixpanel, Amplitude, Firebase Analytics)
- We do not sell or share your data with data brokers or advertisers
- We do not collect browsing history or cross-app behavior
- We do not store card images or photos you scan
How We Use Information
The limited data we collect is used only to make PokeScout work:
- Collection data — stored locally to show you your collection value, history, and stats
- Trade Binder data — stored on our servers to power your public trade profile URL
- Crash reports — used to identify and fix bugs in the app
- Price API calls — anonymous requests to fetch live card prices; no personal data included
We do not use any collected data for advertising, profiling, or any purpose beyond operating the app.
Third-Party Services
PokeScout uses a small number of third-party services. Each has its own privacy policy:
| Service | Purpose | Data Shared | Privacy Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCGPlayer API | Live card price data | Card names only (no personal data) | tcgplayer.com/privacy |
| Apple StoreKit | Pro subscription payments | Apple processes payments; we receive only purchase confirmation | apple.com/legal/privacy |
| Vercel | Trade Binder backend (optional feature) | Username + trade card list (only if you opt in to Trade Binder) | vercel.com/legal/privacy-policy |
| pokemontcg.io | High-resolution card images | Card IDs only (no personal data) | pokemontcg.io |
Purchases & Subscriptions
PokeScout Pro subscriptions are handled entirely by Apple via StoreKit. We never see your payment information.
When you subscribe:
- Apple processes the payment and manages your subscription
- We receive a confirmation that a valid subscription exists — nothing more
- You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time via Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions on your iPhone
💳 Your payment details (card number, billing address) are never stored by PokeScout. Apple handles all of this. See Apple's Privacy Policy for details on how they handle payment data.
Children's Privacy
PokeScout is rated 4+ on the App Store and is appropriate for all ages, including children.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Since we don't require account creation, there is no registration data to collect.
If a child uses the Trade Binder feature (which requires choosing a username), parents can request deletion of that data by contacting us at the email below. The Trade Binder can also be avoided entirely — it is an optional feature.
If you believe a child has provided us personal information, please contact us at pax.operations@gmail.com and we will delete it promptly.
Your Rights & Data Deletion
You have full control over your data:
- Collection data — stored only on your device. Delete it by uninstalling PokeScout.
- Trade Binder data — stored on our servers. Request deletion anytime by emailing us.
- Crash reports — anonymous; cannot be linked to you.
California residents (CCPA) and EU/UK residents (GDPR) may have additional rights. Since we don't collect personal information beyond optional Trade Binder usernames, these requests are simple: just email us and we'll delete your Trade Binder data within 5 business days.
Changes to This Policy
If we make material changes to this privacy policy, we will update this page with a new "Last updated" date. For significant changes, we may also display an in-app notification.
Continued use of PokeScout after changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy. If you disagree with changes, you may delete the app.
Contact
Privacy questions, data deletion requests, or general concerns — we're here:
🎴 PokeScout Privacy
Developer: Chris Karlin · Response within 2 business days
pax.operations@gmail.com