Privacy Policy

Last updated: 9 August 2026

This Privacy Policy explains what information NextShelf ("the App", "we", "our") collects, why we collect it, and how it is used. The short version: NextShelf does not collect, store, or transmit your personal data to any server we control. Everything you log lives on your device (and your own iCloud, if you choose to sync).

1. Information we do not collect

NextShelf does not collect:

Your name, email address, or any account credentials.
Your location.
Analytics, usage data, or telemetry of any kind.
Crash reports beyond what iOS itself sends to Apple (we do not run a third-party crash reporter).
Advertising identifiers (IDFA / IDFV).

NextShelf has no user accounts, no sign-in, and no servers that store your data.

2. Information stored on your device

The following information is stored locally on your iPhone (and shared with the NextShelf widget extension via an App Group container on the same device):

Books you add to your library, including title, author, cover image, status, series, genre, tags, pages, dates, and any notes or highlights you record.
Reading sessions you log, including timestamps, duration, and page progress.
Reading goals and preferences you set.
Automatic and manual backups of the above, saved to your device's Documents folder.

This data never leaves your device unless you take an explicit action to share or export it (see Section 5).

3. iCloud Backup and Sync

If you have iCloud Backup enabled in iOS Settings, Apple may include NextShelf's data in your overall device backup. That backup is stored in your iCloud account and is encrypted end-to-end by Apple. We have no access to it.

If you have iCloud Drive enabled and are signed into iCloud, NextShelf uses Apple's CloudKit private database to sync your library and reading sessions across your own devices (for example, between your iPhone and iPad). This data is stored in your personal iCloud account, transmitted over encrypted connections managed by Apple, and inaccessible to NextShelf or its creator. You can disable this sync by signing out of iCloud on your device.

4. Third-party services

NextShelf communicates with one third-party service in limited circumstances:

Open Library (openlibrary.org), an open-source book metadata project. When you scan an ISBN or search for cover art, the App sends only the ISBN or search query to Open Library. We do not send any of your personal information or library data. Open Library's privacy policy is at openlibrary.org/about/privacy.

We do not use any analytics SDKs, advertising networks, social-media SDKs, or third-party crash reporters.

5. Sharing & exporting your data

NextShelf offers several ways for you to export or share your data:

CSV exports of books and reading sessions, saved by you to a location of your choice via iOS' standard share sheet.
Full JSON backups, similarly saved by you to a location of your choice.
Shareable session and monthly-report images, generated on-device and offered to iOS' share sheet (no data is sent anywhere automatically).

In all cases, the destination of the shared file is chosen by you. NextShelf does not transmit data to any third party on its own.

6. In-App Purchases

NextShelf offers an optional auto-renewable subscription ("NextShelf Pro") and optional one-time tip purchases through Apple's In-App Purchase system. Payment is handled entirely by Apple; NextShelf never sees your payment details. Apple's privacy policy governs payment processing: apple.com/legal/privacy.

The only purchase information visible to NextShelf is whether an active Pro subscription or tip purchase is associated with your Apple Account — used to unlock Pro features and show a "Supporter" badge in Settings.

7. Children

NextShelf is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect any personal information from anyone, including children.

8. Changes to this policy

If we change this policy materially, we will update the date at the top and post the new version at the same URL. For substantive changes, we will also note the change in the next App Store release notes.

9. Contact

Questions about this policy can be sent to support@nextshelf.in.