GroupIn — Privacy Policy

Last updated: 10 June 2026

GroupIn helps you find friends and family in real time inside small private groups. This policy explains what the app does with your data, how it is stored, and your rights.

The short version

We do not run a server that reads your data. Your group's location, chat, and profile photos are end-to-end encrypted with the invite code, before they ever leave your phone.
We do not sell or share your data, run ads, or use third-party analytics.
You do not need to create an account.

What the app stores and shares (and why we cannot see it)

The GroupIn developers do not operate any backend server, and we cannot read any of the data below. All of it is end-to-end encrypted on your device with a key derived from your invite code before it leaves your phone. For transparency, here is what the app encrypts and stores in your iCloud account, and exchanges with other members of your group:

Location — only while you have an active group. Visible only to members of that group, after their device decrypts it.
Display name and profile photo — you provide these; visible only to members of your groups, after their device decrypts them.
Chat messages and group events — text and metadata about joins and leaves; encrypted before sending.
A stable identifier assigned by iCloud — used so other members can recognize you across devices. We never see your email or Apple ID.

How it is stored

Apple stores the encrypted data on your behalf in CloudKit (part of iCloud). The developers of GroupIn cannot read it. When members are nearby, the same encrypted data is also exchanged directly between phones over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, so the app works without internet. The encryption key is derived from the invite code — only people who have the code can read the data.

What we do not do

No accounts, sign-ups, emails, or passwords.
No ads, tracking, or third-party analytics SDKs.
No sale or sharing of your data with anyone.

Third-party services

Apple CloudKit — used to store encrypted group data tied to your iCloud account. Apple's privacy policy applies.
MapTiler — used to render map tiles. Map requests do not include your identity or your group's data.

Your rights and controls

Leave any group at any time; you stop sharing location and chat instantly.
Owners can delete a group at any time; this removes the group's data for everyone.
Groups expire automatically based on the owner's chosen duration.
Deleting GroupIn from your device removes all locally stored app data. Your stable device identifier and group encryption keys are kept in iCloud Keychain so that reinstalling the app preserves your identity. To fully remove these, also remove GroupIn's data from Settings → Apple ID → iCloud → Manage Storage.

Children

GroupIn is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect data from children.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy occasionally. The "last updated" date above always reflects the most recent version. For material changes, we will let you know inside the app.

Contact

For privacy questions or requests, email novindokhtelmi@aol.com.