AnagrovePrivacy Policy
The short version
Anagrove has no accounts and no sign-in, and we don't ask for your email or real identity. Your stats, streak, history, and settings are stored only on your device. The exception is the shared leaderboard: your chosen display name, your score, and the words you found in the round are sent to our server (your daily result automatically when you finish it, and practice scores when you tap Save), tagged only with a random id generated on your device, never your real identity. A few features also rely on other third parties (ads, fonts, and on-tap word definitions), explained below.
Who we are
Anagrove ("the app", "we", "us") is a word game published by Harvey Kadyanji. For any privacy question, contact [email protected].
Information stored on your device
The following is saved in your device's local storage and stays on your device. We never receive it (except where you save a leaderboard entry, described in the next section):
- Your chosen display name and avatar color
- Game history and statistics (games played, best score, daily and practice scores, percentage of words found)
- Your streak and the day's progress
- Sound settings (music and sound effects on/off)
- Whether you've completed onboarding
- Frequency-control counters that space out ads
- A random, anonymous id used to attribute your leaderboard entries (not tied to your identity)
- Any score submission that hasn't reached our server yet (for example if you finished a round offline), kept until it can be sent
- Your daily-reminder preference (on/off and the time), if you set one
- Word definitions you've looked up (cached so they load instantly next time)
Clearing the app's data or uninstalling the app permanently removes all of this from your device.
Leaderboard
Anagrove has a shared leaderboard. Your daily Word-of-the-Day result is submitted automatically when you finish it (it's the day's competition); your practice scores are sent when you tap Save. Each submission contains your chosen display name, the words you found in that round, and the puzzle word, tagged with a random, anonymous id generated on your device and a random one-time token that stops the same round being counted twice.
- The list of words you found is used by our server to verify the score (this keeps the board fair). We then store only the resulting score, the word count, the puzzle, your display name, and the ids above, not the word list itself.
- If a submission can't reach our server (for example you finish a round offline), it's kept on your device and sent automatically the next time the app can connect.
- We don't ask for, or need, your real name: use any display name you like, and the random id can't be used to identify you.
- Practice saving is optional; the daily auto-submits as part of playing it.
- To have a leaderboard entry removed, contact us at the address above.
Information shared with other third parties
Beyond our own leaderboard, three features send limited data to third-party services:
1. Advertising (Google AdMob)
We show ads through Google AdMob. To serve and measure ads, Google and its partners may collect and process device and advertising identifiers, IP address (from which approximate location may be inferred), and ad interaction and diagnostic data, as described in Google's policies.
- Where required (for example the EEA and UK), we show Google's consent prompt (UMP) before any personalized ads are served.
- On iOS, we request App Tracking Transparency permission. If you decline, ads are non-personalized.
- You can choose non-personalized ads where offered, and reset or change your choice at any time.
Google's handling of this data is governed by the Google Privacy Policy and How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services.
2. Word definitions (Free Dictionary API)
When you tap a word on the practice results screen to see its meaning, that single word is sent to the Free Dictionary API (dictionaryapi.dev) to retrieve a definition. No personal data, identifier, or account information is sent, only the word itself. If you're offline or the word isn't found, the app falls back to a small dictionary bundled inside the app, with no network request.
3. Fonts (Google Fonts)
The app loads its display fonts from Google Fonts. As with any web font request, your device's IP address is visible to Google to deliver the fonts. See the Google Privacy Policy.
Daily reminder (notifications)
On the app (iOS/Android) you can opt in to a daily reminder that the new Word of the Day is ready. If you enable it, the app schedules a local notification on your device at the time you choose. This runs entirely on your device — the reminder is not sent from any server and no notification data is collected by us. Turn it off anytime in Settings. The website does not use notifications.
What we do not do
- We do not ask for your email, phone number, or real identity.
- We do not sell or rent your personal information.
- We do not use our own analytics or tracking SDKs.
- We do not collect your contacts, photos, files, or precise GPS location.
- We do not require you to create an account.
Data collection summary
This summary mirrors what we declare in the App Store privacy labels and the Google Play Data safety form.
| Data | Collected by | Purpose | Linked to you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display name, found words, puzzle | Anagrove (our leaderboard server) | Verify the score from your found words, then show your entry on the shared leaderboard (the word list itself is not stored) | A pseudonymous display name + a random per-device id, not your real identity |
| Advertising ID and device identifiers | Google AdMob | Advertising | Not linked to your identity |
| IP address and approximate location | Google AdMob, Google Fonts | Advertising; font delivery | Not linked to your identity |
| Ad interaction and diagnostic data | Google AdMob | Advertising; performance | Not linked to your identity |
| Word you look up | Free Dictionary API | Show the definition you requested | Not linked to your identity |
| Name, scores, streak, settings (not submitted) | Stored on device only | Game functionality | Stays on device; not collected by us |
We do not knowingly collect data that personally identifies you.
Children's privacy
Anagrove is intended for a general audience and is not directed at children under 13 (or the equivalent minimum age in your country). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. Where the app is made available to children under applicable rules (for example Google Play Families or COPPA), only non-personalized ads are served. If you believe a child has provided personal information, contact us and we'll help.
Legal bases (EEA and UK)
Where the GDPR applies, we rely on: your consent for personalized advertising (collected via Google's consent prompt), and our legitimate interests in operating the shared leaderboard and in securing and improving the app for core functionality and non-personalized ads. Leaderboard entries carry only a chosen display name and a random id, not personal data.
Your rights and choices
- On-device data: You can view, change, or erase it directly. Edit your name and settings in the app, or clear the app's data or uninstall to remove everything stored on the device.
- Leaderboard entries: Contact us to have an entry you submitted removed.
- Advertising controls: Manage ad personalization in your device settings (Android: Ads settings or reset advertising ID; iOS: App Tracking Transparency and Settings, Privacy). You can reset your consent choice in the app where offered.
- GDPR (EEA and UK): You have rights to access, rectify, erase, restrict, and object to processing, and to lodge a complaint with your data protection authority.
- California (CCPA and CPRA): We do not sell or share personal information. You have the right to know, delete, and not be discriminated against for exercising your rights.
Data retention
Data stored on your device persists until you clear the app's data or uninstall. Leaderboard entries you submit are kept on our server so the board stays populated, until you ask us to remove yours. Third parties (such as Google) retain ad-related data per their own policies.
Security
Most of your game data never leaves your device. Network requests (leaderboard submissions, ads, definitions, and fonts) use encrypted connections (HTTPS). No method of storage or transmission is 100% secure, but we keep the data we touch to a minimum.
International users
Our service providers and the third parties we use (Google, the Free Dictionary API) may process data in countries other than yours, including the United States, under their own safeguards and policies.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy as the app evolves or as laws change. We'll revise the "Last updated" date above and, for material changes, provide notice in the app or store listing. Continued use after an update means you accept the revised policy.
Contact
Questions or requests about your privacy? Email [email protected].