Privacy Policy
Last updated: June 2026 · We believe privacy is a right, not a feature.
Our Commitment
We do not sell your personal data. We never have and never will.
This Privacy Policy explains what information VibeCheck collects, how we use it, and the choices you have. We collect only what we need to provide the Service and keep you informed about places around you.
Information We Collect
Account information — when you register, we collect your username, email address, full name (optional), and a securely hashed password. We never store your plain-text password.
Check-in data — when you check in, we store the place, vibe score, mood tags, crowd level, optional text note, optional voice note, and optional photo. This information may be visible to other users.
Location data — we request device location to show nearby places. Your precise location is used only on your device to fetch nearby places; we store only the location of places you explicitly check in to.
User-added places — if you add a place to the map, we store the place name, category, address, and coordinates, linked to your account.
Usage data — we may collect anonymous usage statistics (pages visited, features used) to improve the Service. This data is not linked to your identity.
How We Use Your Information
- To provide and improve the Service
- To send account-related emails (verification, password reset)
- To display your check-ins and contributed places on the map
- To calculate and display vibe scores for locations
- To detect and prevent fraud or abuse
- To respond to your support requests
We do not use your data for advertising profiling or sell it to third parties.
Information Shared with Others
Public by design — your check-ins (score, mood, place, photo, note) are visible to other users on the Service. Your username is shown alongside your check-ins.
Third-party services — we use the following services that may process data:
- OpenStreetMap / Nominatim — map tiles and reverse geocoding. Queries include approximate location. See OSM Privacy Policy
- Google Analytics (optional) — anonymous usage analytics if configured. See Google Privacy Policy
We do not share your data with any other third parties without your explicit consent, except where required by law.
Photos & Voice Notes
Photos you upload are resized and stored on our servers. Voice notes are stored as audio files. Both are associated with your check-in and may be visible to other users. You can request deletion of specific check-ins by contacting us.
We do not use your photos or voice notes for any purpose other than displaying them as part of your check-in.
Data Security
- Passwords are hashed using PBKDF2 with a random salt — we cannot recover your password
- Email verification tokens and password reset tokens expire (24 hours and 24 hours respectively)
- All connections to the Service use HTTPS/TLS encryption
- Database access is restricted to application servers only
Despite our best efforts, no system is 100% secure. Please use a strong, unique password and notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorised access to your account.
Data Retention
We retain your account information for as long as your account is active. Check-in data, contributed places, and associated media are retained to maintain the integrity of the vibe scores and place database.
If you delete your account, your personal information is removed. Check-ins become anonymous rather than deleted, as they contribute to historical vibe data for places.
Your Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:
- Access — request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Correction — request correction of inaccurate data
- Deletion — request deletion of your account and personal data
- Portability — request your data in a machine-readable format
- Objection — object to certain processing of your data
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at mail@vibescheckin.com. We will respond within 30 days.
Cookies
VibeCheck uses session cookies essential for authentication — these are deleted when you close your browser. We do not use tracking cookies or advertising cookies. If Google Analytics is enabled, it sets its own cookies for anonymous analytics; you can opt out via browser settings or the Google Analytics Opt-out.
Children's Privacy
VibeCheck is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.
International Users
VibeCheck operates globally. Your information may be processed in countries other than where you reside. By using the Service, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries that may have different data protection laws than your country.