Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 15, 2026

    SmartKartoffel is committed to protecting your privacy. We collect only what we need to make the app work and never sell your data to anyone.
  

1. Who We Are

SmartKartoffel ("we", "us", "our") is an AI-powered German language learning service operated at smartkartoffel.com. You can contact us at info@smartkartoffel.com.

2. What Data We Collect

We collect the following data when you use SmartKartoffel:

Account data: Your email address and (hashed) password when you sign up
Usage data: Number of messages sent, saved words, daily streak
Payment data: Handled entirely by Stripe — we never see or store your card details
Voice data: Audio recordings submitted for pronunciation grading are processed immediately and deleted — we do not store audio files
Photo data: Images submitted via the camera feature are processed immediately and not stored
Feedback: Messages you voluntarily send through the feedback form

3. How We Use Your Data

To provide and improve the SmartKartoffel service
To manage your subscription and process payments via Stripe
To send transactional emails (account confirmation, subscription updates) via Resend
To track usage limits (free plan: 10 messages total)
To sync your saved words across devices

4. Your Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area, you have the following rights:

Access: Request a copy of the data we hold about you
Correction: Ask us to correct inaccurate data
Deletion: Ask us to delete your account and all associated data
Portability: Request your data in a machine-readable format
Objection: Object to processing of your data for marketing purposes

To exercise any of these rights, email us at info@smartkartoffel.com.

5. Data Retention

We keep your account data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we remove your personal data within 30 days. Payment records are retained as required by law (7 years).

6. Cookies

We use minimal cookies for authentication and analytics. Google Analytics and Meta Pixel use cookies to track anonymous usage. You can disable cookies in your browser settings at any time.

7. Security

We use industry-standard security measures including HTTPS, encrypted passwords (bcrypt), JWT authentication, and secure database access. No system is 100% secure — if you believe your account has been compromised, contact us immediately.

8. Children

SmartKartoffel is not intended for children under 16. We do not knowingly collect data from children. If you believe a child has created an account, contact us and we will delete it.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify you by email if changes are significant. Continued use of the app after changes means you accept the updated policy.

10. Contact

Questions about this policy? Email us at info@smartkartoffel.com.