Privacy Policy
Last updated: March 2026
HearAI is designed with privacy as a foundation. We built this app for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community and we take the responsibility of handling sensitive audio data seriously.
What We Collect
HearAI processes audio from your microphone to detect sounds and transcribe speech. Here is exactly what happens with that data:
- Microphone audio — processed locally on your device in real time. Audio is never recorded or stored on our servers.
- Speech transcription — performed using Apple's on-device Speech Recognition framework. Transcriptions stay on your device.
- Sound detection — uses Apple's SoundAnalysis framework, processed entirely on-device.
- App settings and preferences — stored locally on your device using iOS UserDefaults.
What We Do Not Collect
- We do not record, store, or transmit your voice or audio to any server
- We do not collect personally identifiable information
- We do not sell your data to third parties
- We do not use your data for advertising
- We do not track your location
Microphone Access
HearAI requires microphone access to function. This permission is used exclusively to detect environmental sounds and transcribe speech in real time. You can revoke microphone access at any time in your iPhone Settings → HearAI → Microphone.
Speech Recognition
Speech transcription is powered by Apple's Speech Recognition framework. Depending on your device and iOS version, some processing may occur on Apple's servers via Apple's standard privacy-preserving pipeline. We do not have access to this data. You can review Apple's privacy policy at apple.com/privacy.
Subscriptions
HearAI offers auto-renewable subscriptions. Subscription management and billing is handled entirely by Apple through the App Store. We use RevenueCat to manage subscription status — RevenueCat receives anonymized purchase data only. No payment information is ever shared with us directly.
You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time in iPhone Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions.
Notifications
If you grant notification permissions, HearAI will send local notifications when specific sounds are detected. These notifications are generated on-device and no notification content is transmitted to external servers.
Children's Privacy
HearAI is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect any personal information from children.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by updating the date at the top of this page. Continued use of HearAI after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us: