Privacy Policy
Faithly ("Faithly", "we", "us") is a social application for Christians and churches, operated from California, United States. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. By creating an account or using Faithly, you agree to this policy.
1. Information We Collect
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Account | Name, email address, password (hashed by our sign-in provider), username, sign-in provider (email, Google or Apple), phone number (optional) |
| Profile | Display name, avatar, bio, city, birthday, baptism date, favorite verse, social links, church membership and roles (all optional except your name) |
| Content | Posts, prayer requests and replies, comments, likes and follows, 1:1 messages and church inbox messages, event RSVPs, check-ins, Q&A questions, reflections, photos, reports and appeals, feedback you send us |
| Church information | If you register or manage a church: its name, contact details, address, map position, photos, and verification details such as an EIN or a 501(c)(3) letter |
| Location | Your precise location, only while you use the app and only when you allow it (see section 3) |
| Device and diagnostics | Push notification token, Firebase installation ID, and crash and error reports (not linked to your identity) |
| Verification | Your first and last name and user ID are passed to our verification partner if you start identity verification as a church leader. The ID document and selfie are captured on the partner's own web page, not in Faithly |
We do not use advertising or analytics SDKs, we do not track you across other companies' apps or websites, and we do not use your data for advertising.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your information only to run Faithly:
- Create and secure your account and sign you in.
- Show your profile, posts, prayers, messages and church activity to the people you share them with.
- Deliver push notifications you have enabled.
- Moderate content, handle reports and keep the community safe.
- Verify churches and their leaders.
- Diagnose crashes and prevent abuse.
3. Sensitive Information and Location
Religious information. Your church membership and roles, denomination, baptism date and prayer requests can reveal your religious beliefs. We treat this as sensitive. We use it only to run Faithly, and we never sell it or share it for advertising.
Location.Faithly uses your precise location only while you use the app and only when you allow it in iOS settings. It is used in two ways: to confirm you are at your church when you check in (the comparison happens on your device and your position is not stored), and, if you choose "Use my location" when registering or editing a church, to save that church's map position on the church record.
4. Service Providers We Share Data With
We do not sell your personal data. We share limited data with processors strictly to run the service:
| Provider | What it receives and why |
|---|---|
| Google Firebase (Authentication, Firestore, Storage, Cloud Functions, Cloud Messaging) | Hosts the app backend: accounts, data, files and push delivery |
| Firebase Crashlytics | Crash and error reports with stack traces, not linked to your identity, used to fix bugs |
| Google Sign-In and Sign in with Apple | Name and email at sign-in, if you choose these methods |
| OpenAI | Automated moderation of text and image links in posts, prayer requests and comments you submit, and of reported items. Processed on our servers, never directly from the app |
| OpenRouter (Google Gemini model) | Generates reflection questions from Bible passage text only. No personal data is sent |
| iDenfy | Identity verification for church leaders, only if you start it. Receives your name and user ID and captures your ID document and selfie on its own page. Faithly stores only the result |
| getbible.net and bible-api.com | Bible text. Receive Bible book and chapter requests only |
| Map tile provider | Map tile requests for the church map, without user identifiers |
5. User Content & Moderation
Content you submit may be automatically scanned for policy violations before and after publishing. Content that violates our guidelines may be blocked or removed. You can report content and block other users. See our Terms of Service.
6. Data Retention & Deletion
We keep your data while your account is active. You can delete your account at any time in the app: Me > Settings (gear icon) > Profile & Privacy > Delete Account. Deleting your account removes your posts, prayer requests, comments, replies, events, check-ins, notifications, follows, likes, saved items, badges, RSVPs, church memberships and requests, your profile photo and uploaded files, your username and your profile. In conversations with other people you are marked as having left; messages you sent remain visible to the other participant. Some records may persist briefly in backups or where required by law. To request deletion or a copy of your data without using the app, contact us at the email below.
7. Children
Faithly is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us data, contact us and we will remove it.
8. Your U.S. Privacy Rights
Faithly serves users across the United States. Depending on your state of residence (e.g., California under the CCPA/CPRA), you may have the right to access, correct, delete, or obtain a copy of your personal information, and to opt out of certain processing. We do not sell personal information. To exercise any right, contact us; we will not discriminate against you for doing so.
9. Security
We use industry-standard measures (encrypted transport, server-side secrets, access controls). No method is 100% secure, but we work to protect your information.
10. Changes
We may update this policy. Material changes will be reflected by the "Last updated" date and, where appropriate, in-app notice.
11. Contact
Questions or privacy requests: support@faithly.church. More help is on our Support page.