Our promise
Once Upon a Pod is built for families. We collect the minimum information needed to run the app, we never sell your data, and we never show ads. Kid-facing surfaces have no free-text input, no social features, and no way for a child to share personal information.
What we collect
Account: When you install the app, an anonymous account is created automatically. If you sign in with Apple, Google or email, we store the email address it gives us (Apple can give a private relay address instead of your real one) so you can sync across devices. If you sign in with Google, Google also tells us your name. There are no passwords: email sign-in uses a one-time code, and sign-in is handled by our provider, Supabase.
Your family's profiles: For each child you set up, we store the first name you enter, the birth month and year you enter (and the day, if you choose to add it), any interests you pick, the content filters you set, and the character and world your child chooses in the app. We use the birthday for two things only: showing shows made for your child's age, and, if you give the day, saying happy birthday.
We ask for a first name only — never a surname — and these profiles are tied to your account, not to any identity we build for your child.
Listening progress: We store where you left off in episodes so you can resume. This stays on our server, tied to your account, so it syncs across devices. We also keep a daily total of how long each child listened to each show, so you can see their Listening report in the grown-up area. Only your family can see it, and deleting a child's profile deletes it.
Camera: If you set up a second device, the app can use the camera to scan a pairing code shown on your first device. The picture is never stored and never leaves the device — it is only read for the code. You can always type the code by hand instead, and the app never asks for the camera for any other reason.
Subscription data: Apple processes your payment. We receive only the transaction verification needed to unlock premium features. We never see your credit card number.
Analytics: Our hosting provider, Vercel, counts page visits for us in aggregate, so we can see which parts of the site people find useful. It uses no cookies, records no advertising identifiers, and cannot follow you to other websites. We never see who you are.
App usage: The app sends us a few anonymous counts so we can see whether it's working for families: when the app is opened, when setup is started and finished, when the subscription screen is shown and a plan is chosen, and when an episode starts or finishes (with the show and the listening child's age group). These are tied to a random code the app makes up for itself, never to your account, your email or your child's name or profile. They stay on our own servers and go to no analytics company.
Error reports: If something breaks on the site or in the app, it sends us a short technical note about what went wrong (the error message, the page or screen, and the browser or app version) so we can fix it. It never includes your name, email, account or anything you typed, and it stays on our own servers.
Waitlist: If you ask us to tell you when the app is ready, we store the email address you give us, and nothing else. We use it for that one email. We don't sell it, share it, or add you to any other list — and you can ask us to delete it at any time.
What we don't collect
- No surnames, addresses, or photographs of your children
- No advertising identifiers
- No cross-app tracking
- No third-party advertising, ever
- No microphone access
- No location data
- No messaging or chat, and nothing a child types is shared
- Anything that leaves the app, like sharing a show or opening a link, asks a grown-up first
Audio streaming
The app streams audio directly from each podcast's own RSS feed. Your listening data is sent to the podcast host (like any podcast app), not to us. We have no control over what podcast hosts collect — check their privacy policies if you're curious.
Data retention
We keep your account data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we remove your household data and listening progress within 30 days. Transaction records are kept as required for accounting and tax compliance.
Children's privacy
Children never type anything into Once Upon a Pod. A grown-up sets up each profile, and the only information about a child in the app — a first name, and a birthday if you give one — is entered by that grown-up, for that grown-up's own family. We do not ask children for information, and there is nowhere in the app for a child to enter any.
We never use a child's information to advertise to them, we never sell it, and we never share it with anyone outside the service that stores it for us. We keep it only while you keep the profile.
You are in control of all of it: you can change or delete any child's profile in the app at any time, which removes their name, birthday and listening history. If you would rather we did it, or you want to check what we hold, email hello@onceuponapod.com and we will take care of it.
Your rights
You can request a copy of your data or ask us to delete it at any time. Email hello@onceuponapod.com and we'll take care of it.
Contact
Questions about privacy? Email hello@onceuponapod.com.
