1. Introduction
Welcome to Crackle PDF ("we", "our", "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how the Crackle PDF Android application collects, uses, stores, and protects your information when you use our app.
By downloading or using Crackle PDF, you agree to the terms described in this Privacy Policy.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information We Do NOT Collect
Crackle PDF is built around a privacy-first, on-device processing model. We do not collect:
- The content of your PDF files or documents
- Any files you process, convert, merge, split, compress, or modify
- Your personal identity, name, email address, or phone number (unless you voluntarily contact support)
- Passwords you use to protect or unlock PDFs
Your documents never leave your device. All file processing is performed locally on your Android phone.
2.2 Information We May Collect
a) Analytics Data (Optional / Consent-Gated)
With your consent, we may collect anonymised usage analytics to improve the app, including:
- Which tools you use (e.g., Merge PDF, Compress PDF) — in aggregate, not tied to your files
- App crash reports and error logs
- Session duration and feature usage frequency
- Device type, Android version, screen resolution (for compatibility)
We use anonymised, aggregated data only. No individual user is identified.
b) In-App Purchase Data
If you subscribe to Crackle PDF Pro, purchase information is processed by Google Play Billing. We receive only:
- Subscription status (active / expired)
- Purchase date and plan type
We do not receive your payment card details. Google Play handles all payment processing under their own Privacy Policy.
c) Support Communications
If you contact us via email or in-app feedback, we collect:
- Your email address
- The content of your message
- Device/app version information you provide
This is used solely to respond to your support request and is never shared with third parties for marketing.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the data we collect for the following specific purposes:
- Anonymised analytics: Improve app features, fix bugs, prioritise roadmap.
- Crash reports: Identify and fix stability issues.
- Purchase status: Unlock Pro features you have paid for.
- Support emails: Respond to your queries and resolve issues.
We do not use your data for targeted advertising, selling to third parties, building user profiles, or marketing to you without consent.
4. On-Device Processing — Privacy Guarantee
All PDF operations in Crackle PDF are performed entirely on your device:
- Image to PDF conversion
- PDF splitting, merging, compressing
- Password protection and removal
- Watermark addition
- Page rotation and reordering
- PDF to JPG / Word conversion
- eSignature application
No file content is uploaded to any server at any time. This is a core design principle of Crackle PDF, not just a policy statement.
5. Data Storage
Local Storage: Files you process are saved to your device's local storage or the location you specify (e.g., Downloads folder, Google Drive). We do not control files once they are saved to your device.
History Feature: The in-app History screen stores a local record of past operations (file names and timestamps). This data is stored on-device only and is deleted when you clear the app's data or uninstall the app.
No Remote Servers: Crackle PDF does not operate any servers that store user files or documents.
6. Third-Party Services
Crackle PDF may integrate with the following third-party services:
- Google Play Billing: In-app purchase processing. View their terms at play.google.com/about/play-terms.
- Google Drive (optional): Save/export processed files to Drive. View their policy at policies.google.com/privacy.
- Firebase Crashlytics (optional): Crash reporting and stability. View their policy at firebase.google.com/support/privacy.
- PostHog Analytics (optional): Anonymous usage analytics. View their policy at posthog.com/privacy.
Integration with Google Drive is optional and only triggered if you explicitly choose to save a file to Drive.
7. Permissions We Request
Crackle PDF requests the following Android permissions:
- READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE / READ_MEDIA_*: To open PDF and image files you select from your device.
- WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE: To save processed files to your Downloads folder.
- CAMERA (optional): To scan documents directly with your phone camera.
- INTERNET: Required for analytics (if consented), crash reporting, and in-app purchase verification.
- BILLING: To process Google Play in-app purchases.
We request only the permissions we actually need. We do not request access to your contacts, call logs, location, microphone, or other sensitive data.
8. Children's Privacy
Crackle PDF is a general-purpose productivity tool and is not directed at children under the age of 13 (or the applicable minimum age in your region).
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at support@cracklepdf.com and we will delete it promptly.
9. Data Retention
- Local history records: Until you clear app data or uninstall.
- Crash reports: 90 days (auto-deleted by Crashlytics).
- Support emails: 2 years from last contact.
- Analytics data: Anonymised; retained in aggregate for product analysis.
We do not retain any file content — ever.
10. Your Rights
Depending on your location, you may have rights including:
- Access: Request information about data we hold about you
- Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data (support emails, etc.)
- Opt-out: Disable analytics at any time via Settings → Privacy in the app
- Portability: Request a copy of data we hold in a portable format
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at: support@cracklepdf.com. We will respond within 30 days.
11. Data Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect data:
- All file processing is on-device, eliminating server-side data risk.
- Support communications are transmitted over encrypted channels (TLS).
- In-app purchase verification uses Google Play's secure API.
No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we are committed to using industry best practices.
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do:
- The "Effective Date" at the top of the page will be updated.
- Significant changes will be notified via an in-app notification.
- Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your data:
Email: support@cracklepdf.com
Website: https://cracklepdf.com/privacy-policy
Developer Address: India
14. Governing Law
This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of India. For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), we comply with applicable GDPR requirements. For users in California (USA), we comply with applicable CCPA requirements.