Privacy Policy

Effective Date: March 10, 2026

Your data stays on your device. Cortex is designed with privacy at its core. We do not collect, transmit, or store any of your personal data on external servers.

1. Overview

Cortex ("we", "our", "the app") is a screen time management app that helps you build healthier smartphone habits through mindful interventions. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle your information.

2. Data We Do Not Collect

Cortex does not collect, store, or transmit any of the following to external servers:

Your name, email, or personal identifiers
Screen Time or app usage data
Which apps you monitor or block
Your breathing exercise or intervention history
Analytics, crash reports, or usage telemetry
Location, contacts, photos, or any other device data

3. Data Stored Locally on Your Device

The following data is stored only on your device and is never transmitted externally:

App selections: Which apps you choose to monitor, stored as opaque tokens provided by Apple's Screen Time API. These tokens cannot be used to identify specific apps outside of your device.
Schedule preferences: Your blocking schedules and usage limit configurations.
Intervention history: Records of completed breathing exercises and reflections.
App settings: Your preferences, theme choices, and configuration options.
Streak and score data: Your progress tracking information.

4. Apple Screen Time API

Cortex uses Apple's Screen Time framework (FamilyControls, ManagedSettings, and DeviceActivity). This framework is designed by Apple with strong privacy protections:

App selections are represented as opaque tokens — Cortex cannot see which specific apps you are monitoring.
All Screen Time data processing happens on-device.
Apple does not share Screen Time data with developers.

5. Sign In with Apple

If you use Sign In with Apple, we receive only the information Apple provides during authentication (such as a unique user identifier). This data is used solely for account authentication and is stored locally on your device. We do not have access to your Apple ID password.

6. Subscriptions

Cortex Premium subscriptions are processed entirely by Apple through the App Store. We do not collect or have access to your payment information, credit card details, or billing address. Subscription status is verified locally on your device using Apple's StoreKit framework.

7. Third-Party Services

Cortex does not integrate any third-party analytics, advertising, or tracking services. There are no SDKs, pixels, or external data processors in the app.

8. Data Sharing

We do not sell, share, or transfer your data to any third parties. Since all data remains on your device, there is nothing for us to share.

9. Data Deletion

You can delete all your data at any time by deleting the Cortex app from your device. Since no data is stored on external servers, uninstalling the app permanently removes all associated data.

10. Children's Privacy

Cortex is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13 years of age.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be reflected on this page with an updated effective date. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

12. Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

privacy@cortexapp.io