Privacy Policy

CrypticCrab is built with privacy as a first principle. We don't have accounts, we don't track you, and we don't collect analytics. The lesson content is bundled directly into the app — no data needs to flow anywhere just for you to learn.

The short version: we don't know who you are, what you've learned, or how often you use the app. That's by design.

Your progress does sync between your own devices, through your private iCloud account. That copy belongs to you, and we can't see it. The Data Storage and iCloud Sync section below explains how it works and how to turn it off.

We collect nothing. More specifically:

• No personal information (name, email, age)
• No usage analytics or session data
• No advertising identifiers (IDFA, IDFV)
• No location data
• No crash reports sent to us (we rely on Apple's crash reporting via App Store Connect)
• No third-party analytics SDKs in the app

We've deliberately chosen not to integrate any tracking or analytics tools. Your learning progress is yours.

CrypticCrab uses a small number of third-party services. Each handles only what it needs to function:

• Apple iCloud (CloudKit) — syncs your progress between your iPhone and iPad through your private iCloud database. Governed by Apple's Privacy Policy. The data lives in your Apple Account, and we can't access it.
• Apple Game Center — powers leaderboards, achievements and multiplayer duels. Governed by Apple's Privacy Policy. We don't see any Game Center data — it flows directly between your device and Apple.
• Apple StoreKit — handles in-app purchases and subscriptions. Also governed by Apple's Privacy Policy. We never see your payment details.
• Cloudflare — delivers the daily cryptic clue via a Cloudflare Worker. No user tracking occurs — the clue is fetched like any webpage request. Governed by Cloudflare's Privacy Policy.
• Datamuse API — powers the Thesaurus tool. When you select a word to look up, the word is sent to the Datamuse API to retrieve synonyms and homophones. No user identifiers or device data are included in the request.
• Poocoo API — powers the Anagram Solver. When you search for anagrams, the letters you've entered are sent to the Poocoo API to find matching words. No user identifiers or device data are included in the request.

These are the only external services CrypticCrab communicates with.

Your CrypticCrab progress is stored on your device. That includes your XP and streaks, your lesson progress, your Daily Clue and Unlimited results, your multiplayer rating, and whether you've bought Premium.

If you're signed in to iCloud, the app also keeps a copy of your progress in your private iCloud database, using Apple's CloudKit. That's how your progress follows you between your iPhone and iPad, and comes back if you reinstall the app. The database belongs to your Apple Account: we can't see, read or download anything in it. Apple stores it under Apple's Privacy Policy.

Your settings and the past clues the app saves for offline play stay on your device and aren't synced.

You're in control:

• Stop syncing: in the Settings app, tap your name, then iCloud, and turn off CrypticCrab. Your progress then stays on that device only.
• Start again: in CrypticCrab, open the Settings tab and choose Reset All Progress. It clears your XP, streak, lessons and clue history, and with iCloud on, the reset reaches your other devices too.
• Delete the iCloud copy: in the Settings app, tap your name, then iCloud, then manage your storage, choose CrypticCrab and delete its data.

Deleting the app removes the copy on that device. The iCloud copy stays in your account until you delete it as above.

None of your progress is ever sent to us. It goes only to your own devices and your iCloud account, and, if you're signed in to Game Center, your scores and achievements go to Apple's Game Center.

Because we don't collect personal data from anyone, there's nothing special to say about children — the same zero-collection policy applies to all users regardless of age. We designed the app this way intentionally.

We may update this privacy policy if we change how the app works. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page will always reflect the most recent version.

We'll only make changes that are consistent with being a privacy-respecting app. If we ever added data collection of any kind, we'd make that very clear.

Privacy questions? We're happy to explain anything in more detail. Email us at support@crypticcrab.xyz.