Privacy Policy

Effective: April 13, 2026 · Last updated: April 29, 2026

MeshTrail does not collect, transmit, or store personal data on any external server. Everything you create stays on your device.

What we collect

Nothing. No analytics, no crash reports sent to a third party, no user accounts, no tracking pixels, no advertising IDs.

What stays on your device

• GPS Location Data — used for navigation, track recording, compass bearings, and map positioning. Stored locally in your tracks and waypoints. Background location is only active during recording sessions you start.
• Mesh Network Data — messages, node positions, and telemetry from your LoRa radios. Stored locally for display.
• Journal & Field Notes — text, photos, and audio you attach are stored locally only.
• Wildlife Media — photos and recordings you add to species entries are stored locally.
• App Preferences — theme, units, map settings — stored locally via UserDefaults.
• Offline Map Tiles — downloaded tiles are cached locally for use without internet.

Bluetooth

MeshTrail uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) only to connect to LoRa mesh radio hardware (Meshtastic or MeshCore). Bluetooth is not used for tracking, advertising, or any other purpose.

Camera and Microphone

• Camera — used by the AR Peak Identification feature. Frames are processed in real time and never recorded or stored.
• Microphone — used only when you record wildlife sounds for a field guide entry. Recordings are stored on your device.

Photo Library

MeshTrail accesses your photo library only when you choose to attach photos to journal entries, waypoints, or wildlife guide entries. Photos are copied and downscaled locally. The app may save exported maps or photos to your library only when you initiate the export.

Network Access

The app accesses the internet only to:

• Download map tiles from public tile servers (OpenStreetMap, OpenTopoMap, etc.)
• Pull real-time stream-gauge readings from the USGS NWIS public service
• Look up rock-unit data from the Macrostrat public service when you tap the geology overlay

No personal data, usage analytics, crash reports, or telemetry is transmitted to any server.

Advertising

If you do not purchase the optional "Remove Ads" upgrade, the app may show a single ad on the start screen. The ad is served by the Google Mobile Ads SDK. If you grant App Tracking Transparency permission, ads may be personalized; otherwise they are contextual only. The "Remove Ads" purchase removes the ad permanently.

Third-Party Services

MeshTrail uses no third-party analytics or tracking SDKs. The optional Google Mobile Ads SDK is the only third-party SDK and is only loaded when ads are enabled (i.e. you have not purchased "Remove Ads").

Data Sharing

We do not share your data with anyone. When you export data (GPX tracks, waypoints, journal entries), the exported file is created locally and shared only through iOS system share functionality you control.

Children's Privacy

MeshTrail does not knowingly collect personal information from children. The app does not require account creation or any personal information to function.

Data Deletion

All data can be deleted at any time via Settings → Data Management, or by deleting the app from your device. Since no data is stored on external servers, deletion from your device is complete and permanent.

Encryption

MeshTrail does not implement its own encryption. Any encryption used by LoRa radios is handled by the radio firmware. The app does not use exempt or non-exempt encryption requiring export-compliance documentation beyond standard iOS platform encryption.

Changes to This Policy

If this policy changes, the new version will appear here and inside the app with a fresh effective date.

Contact

Questions about this policy? Email support@meshtrail.app or use the contact form.