StepJourney is committed to protecting your personal data. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and what rights you have over it. Your health data (steps, weight, routes) stays on your device — we use Google services (AdMob and Firebase Analytics) as described below.
1 Data we collect
StepJourney only collects data necessary for the app to function. All data is stored locally on your device:
- Step count, distance, calories and activity time — measured by your device's hardware sensor.
- Daily and weekly activity history.
- Personal metrics you enter voluntarily: weight, height, age and daily step goal.
- Virtual journey routes and checkpoints you create.
- App preferences: language, units, week start day.
- Advertising ID — used by Google AdMob to show relevant ads (only with your consent).
- Usage and technical data collected by Google Analytics for Firebase: in-app events (screens and actions), an installation identifier, device model and approximate location (from IP). It does not include your name, email or health data.
No account required. You do not need to create an account or provide an email address to use StepJourney.
2 How we use your data
Your data is used exclusively to provide the app's features:
- Show your daily progress, statistics and weekly summaries.
- Calculate journey progress based on your steps.
- Display activity history in charts and reports.
- Send local notifications about your step goals (only if you grant permission).
- Show ads through Google AdMob to keep the app free for everyone.
- Measure, in aggregate, how the app is used and the effectiveness of our campaigns, via Google Analytics for Firebase.
3 Storage & security
All your data is stored in a local SQLite database on your device. It never leaves your device unless you explicitly choose to create a Google Drive backup.
If you link your Google account and request a backup, your data is uploaded to your personal Google Drive. Only you have access to it.
Your health data stays local. Your activity data (steps, weight, routes) is not sent to our servers. We use Google services — AdMob (ads) and Firebase Analytics (usage measurement) — as described in sections 5 and 6.
4 Google Drive backup
Google Drive backup is optional and fully under your control. It is only activated when you:
- Go to Profile and link your Google account.
- Tap Backup now to upload your data, or enable automatic backup.
- Tap Restore to download a previous backup.
StepJourney only requests access to files it has created — it cannot read any other files in your Drive. Google Drive use is subject to Google's Privacy Policy.
5 Advertising (Google AdMob)
StepJourney displays ads provided by Google AdMob to free users only. Ads allow us to keep the app free for everyone.
Premium users: If you have purchased StepJourney Premium, no ads are shown and your Advertising ID is not used for advertising purposes.
To display ads, Google AdMob may collect your device's Advertising ID and technical information such as IP address and device type. This data is processed by Google in accordance with their Privacy Policy.
EEA users: If you are in the European Economic Area, you will be asked for your consent before personalized ads are shown. You can decline — only non-personalized ads will be displayed.
You can opt out of personalized ads at any time: Settings → Google → Ads → Opt out of Ads Personalization.
6 Analytics (Firebase)
We use Google Analytics for Firebase to understand how StepJourney is used (which screens and features) and to measure the effectiveness of our campaigns. This helps us improve the app.
Firebase collects usage and technical data: in-app events, an installation identifier, device model, operating system and approximate location derived from your IP. This data is processed by Google in accordance with their Privacy Policy.
Your health data stays local. Analytics does not include your name, email or health data (steps, weight, routes) — those remain stored only on your device.
EEA users: analytics respects the consent you choose in the form the app shows on startup. No separate prompt is added.
7 In-app purchases
StepJourney offers an optional one-time purchase: StepJourney Premium. It unlocks all premium features permanently with no subscription.
- Payment is processed entirely by Google Play. We never see or store any payment information (card numbers, billing address, etc.).
- Your purchase status is stored locally on your device and verified through the Google Play Billing API.
- There are no subscriptions or recurring charges.
Restoring a purchase: If you reinstall the app or switch to a new device, tap Restore purchase in the Premium section of your Profile. You must be signed in to the same Google Play account used for the original purchase.
Google Play purchases are subject to Google Play Terms of Service.
8 Your rights (GDPR)
If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Right of access — you can view all your data inside the app at any time.
- Right to rectification — you can edit or update your data in Settings.
- Right to erasure — you can delete all your data by uninstalling the app.
- Right to data portability — use the Export function in Profile to get a copy of your data.
- Right to object — you can opt out of personalized ads in your device settings.
- Right to lodge a complaint — you have the right to lodge a complaint with your national data protection authority. In Spain: Agencia Española de Protección de Datos (AEPD).
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at byhikostudios@gmail.com.
9 Location
StepJourney may request location permission when you start a new virtual journey, to set the starting point of your virtual route. After that, your location is not tracked — progress is calculated from your daily steps, not GPS.
We do not track your location in the background. Location is only active while you have the app open and the map visible, and is never stored or transmitted.
10 Device permissions
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Physical Activity
Required to count steps using the device's hardware pedometer sensor.
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Location (optional)
Used once to set the starting point of a new virtual journey. Never tracked in the background.
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Notifications (optional)
Used to send local reminders about your daily step goal. No remote push notifications.
You can revoke any permission at any time from your device Settings without losing your stored data.
11 Children's privacy
StepJourney is intended for users aged 13 and over. The app does not collect personal data such as your name or password.
If you link your Google account for Drive backup, your email address is stored only on your device so the app knows which account to use — it is never sent to us or any third party.
12 Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be reflected on this page with an updated date. We recommend reviewing it periodically.
14 Terms and Conditions
The use of StepJourney is also governed by our Terms and Conditions, which cover the licence of use, in-app purchases, refunds, intellectual property, and limitation of liability.