Privacy Policy

Last updated: June 24, 2026

ChapterPals is a small, independent app for running cozy book clubs. We try to collect as little as possible and to be plain about what we do with it. If anything here is unclear, you can reach us from Settings → Help in the app.

Information we collect

We only collect what we need to run the service:

• Account information — your email address (used for passwordless sign-in) and the name, photo, and profile details you choose to add.
• Club activity — the clubs you create or join, your reading progress and shelves, ratings and reviews, book votes and meeting RSVPs, and the messages you post in club discussions.
• Imported data — if you import a library export (e.g. Goodreads, StoryGraph, Libby), the book and shelf data in that file.
• Basic usage data — privacy-respecting, aggregated analytics about which features are used, plus standard technical logs (such as IP address and device/browser type) needed to operate and secure the service.

We do not ask for, or store, passwords.

How we use your information

Your data is used to operate and improve ChapterPals: showing your clubs, coordinating meetings, tracking group reading progress, generating recommendations, sending the reminders and digests you've opted into, keeping the service secure, and understanding which features help clubs most. We do not sell your data or share it with advertisers.

Email & notifications

We email you sign-in links and any club notifications you've enabled — meeting reminders, new-book votes, club messages, and reading milestones. Each category is a toggle in Settings → Notifications, and you can turn them off at any time. Sign-in emails are essential to the service and can't be disabled while your account is active.

Third-party services

We rely on a small number of infrastructure providers to run ChapterPals, including hosting and serverless compute, a managed database, transactional email delivery, and book metadata/cover lookups. These providers process data only to provide their function to us, and are not permitted to use it for their own purposes. We don't use third-party advertising or cross-site tracking.

Data retention

We keep your information for as long as your account is active so the app keeps working as expected. When you delete your account, we remove your personal data and content, except where we're required to retain limited records to comply with the law or resolve disputes. Backups are rotated on a regular schedule.

Security

We use industry-standard measures — encrypted connections, scoped access, and reputable infrastructure — to protect your data. No online service can be perfectly secure, but we work to limit what we collect and to guard what we hold.

Your choices and rights

You can view and edit your profile, manage your notification preferences, and control what you share with your clubs at any time. You may request a copy of your data, or deletion of your account and associated data, from Settings → Help in the app. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights over your personal data; we honor valid requests.

Children

ChapterPals isn't directed to children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child has provided us data, contact us through the app and we'll remove it.

Changes to this policy

As the product matures, we may update this policy. When we make material changes, we'll update the date above and, where appropriate, let you know in the app.

Contact

Questions about privacy? Reach us from Settings → Help in the ChapterPals app and we'll be glad to help.