The short version: HappyContacts is built around data sovereignty. Your contacts stay in your own accounts (Google, iCloud, Fastmail, Telegram, etc.) and are cached locally on your Mac. We never receive, store, or have access to your contact data.

Scope

This policy covers both the HappyContacts macOS app and the happycontacts.app website, operated by Refined Interfaces LLC ("we," "us," "our").

What the App Accesses

HappyContacts connects directly to your own accounts — Google Contacts, CardDAV servers (iCloud, Fastmail, and others), and Telegram — to read and write contact and group data on your behalf. The app communicates with these services directly from your Mac. No data passes through our servers.

When you connect multiple accounts, certain operations (such as merging duplicate contacts or managing group memberships) may copy contact properties — like name, phone number, or group memberships — from one of your connected accounts to another. These copies happen entirely within your own accounts.

Where Your Data Lives

All app data stays on your devices and in your own cloud accounts:

Local cache. Contacts and groups are cached in a local database on your Mac for fast performance and offline access.
Credentials. Account passwords and tokens are stored in your macOS Keychain, protected by the operating system.
Settings and funnels. App preferences and funnel data sync across your Apple devices via your personal iCloud account (CloudKit). This data lives in your iCloud storage, not ours.

What We Do NOT Collect

We want to be clear about what we never see:

Your contacts, groups, or any data from your connected accounts.
Usage analytics or behavioral data from the app.
Device identifiers or tracking information from the app.

We have no telemetry, no third-party analytics SDKs, and no tracking pixels in the app.

Third-Party Services

The app connects to third-party services (Google, iCloud, Fastmail, other CardDAV providers, Telegram) using your own credentials. These connections are governed by each provider's own privacy policy. We are not responsible for how these providers handle your data — the app simply acts as a client on your behalf.

Apple Services

CloudKit (iCloud). Used to sync app settings and funnel data across your devices. This data is stored in your personal iCloud account under Apple's privacy policy.
Crash reports. The app uses Apple's built-in crash reporting, which is opt-in through your macOS Settings. If enabled, crash reports are sent to Apple and shared with us in aggregate, anonymized form. We do not collect crash data independently.
App Store. Subscription billing is handled by Apple. We do not receive or store your payment details.
Push notifications. Used to deliver timely updates within the app. Notification tokens are managed by Apple and are not used for tracking.

Website Analytics

The happycontacts.app website uses basic analytics to understand page views and traffic sources. This data helps us improve the site. The website does not offer user accounts, and we do not collect profile or registration data through it.

If you subscribe to our email newsletter, we collect and store your email address to send product updates, announcements, and early-access invitations. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email or by contacting us. Upon unsubscribe, your email address is removed from our mailing list.

Data Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information. Website analytics may be processed by trusted service providers solely to operate and improve the site.

Children's Privacy

HappyContacts is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

Data Retention and Deletion

App data. Deleting HappyContacts from your Mac removes the local cache and preferences. Your contacts remain in your own accounts, unaffected.
CloudKit data. Settings and funnel data synced via iCloud can be removed through your iCloud storage settings.
Newsletter. Your email address is removed when you unsubscribe.
Website analytics. Aggregated analytics data is retained for operational purposes and is not tied to individual identities.

Your Rights

You may request information about any personal data we hold (primarily newsletter email addresses) or ask us to delete it. Contact us and we will respond promptly.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Updated versions will be posted at happycontacts.app/privacy with a revised date.

Contact

For privacy questions, email us at privacy@refined.sh.

Privacy Policy