Privacy Policy

1. Overview

Commission Buddy ("the app", "we", "us") is a privacy-first iOS application for real estate agents, developed by Scott Breen, based in Australia.

The core commitment: your financial data — sale prices, commission figures, tier structures, listing details — is stored only on your device. We do not have a backend server. We cannot access, view, or share your financial data. It is yours.

This policy explains what limited data is collected through the app and this website, how it is used, and your rights regarding that data.

2. Data we collect

2.1 Data you enter into the app (stored locally only)

All data you enter into Commission Buddy is stored locally on your device using SwiftData and never transmitted to our servers. This includes:

• Property addresses and suburb names
• Sale prices (estimated and final)
• Commission rates and calculated amounts
• Agency profile configurations (fee levels, tier structures)
• Listing dates and settlement dates
• Lead sources and tags you create
• Notes you add to listings
• Your annual income goal and FY start month
• Your estimated income tax rate (used only for the Est. In-hand calculation)

We do not access any of this data. It exists solely on your device (and in your personal iCloud account while iCloud Sync is on — see §5).

2.2 App preferences (stored locally in UserDefaults)

The app stores preferences locally, including your financial year start month, currency setting, notification preferences, and app theme. These are stored in iOS UserDefaults on your device and are not transmitted anywhere.

2.3 Anonymised usage analytics (app only)

The app collects a limited set of anonymised, non-personal usage events using Firebase Analytics. These events help us improve the app. Examples include:

• Screen views (e.g. HomeView, InsightsView)
• Feature interactions (e.g. "Add Property tapped", "CSV export used")
• Rating prompt responses (anonymised — "Love it" or "Could be better")
• Sample data loaded / cleared
• App version and iOS version
• General device region (country-level only)

These events contain no financial data, no addresses, no sale prices, and no personally identifiable information. Firebase Analytics uses a random installation identifier — not your name, Apple ID, or any persistent device identifier. Apple's App Tracking Transparency framework controls whether cross-app tracking is permitted; Commission Buddy does not use ATT and does not track you across other apps or websites.

3. Data we do not collect

Commission Buddy does not collect, request, or transmit any of the following:

4. Firebase Analytics

Commission Buddy uses Google Firebase Analytics to collect anonymised, aggregated usage data. Firebase Analytics is a Google product subject to Google's Privacy Policy.

What Firebase Analytics collects

• Anonymised screen view events and feature interaction events
• App version, iOS version, and device model (category only, e.g. iPhone)
• App session duration and feature usage trends
• Country or region (coarse — country level, not city or address)
• A random Firebase installation identifier (resets when you delete the app)

What Firebase Analytics does NOT collect from Commission Buddy

• Your name, email address, or Apple ID
• Sale prices, commission amounts, or any financial figures
• Property addresses or suburb names
• Any data you enter into the app
• Your contacts or address book
• Your precise or approximate location

Firebase Analytics data is aggregated and used solely to understand how the app is being used at a product level — which features are working, which are ignored, and where crashes occur. This data is never sold or shared with third parties for advertising purposes.

Opting out

On iOS 14.5 and later, Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework governs cross-app tracking. Commission Buddy does not use ATT because it does not track you across other apps or websites. Firebase Analytics' data collection can be limited by going to iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements and disabling "Share iPhone Analytics". You can also limit ad tracking at iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising → Personalised Ads.

5. iCloud Sync

Commission Buddy supports iCloud Sync via Apple CloudKit. You can turn it on or off in Settings at any time. While iCloud Sync is on:

iCloud Sync is governed by Apple's Privacy Policy. We have no contractual relationship with Apple on your behalf — iCloud Sync is a direct relationship between you and Apple.

6. Purchases & subscriptions

All in-app purchases and subscriptions are processed by Apple through the App Store using StoreKit. We do not collect or store any payment information. Apple provides us only with anonymised receipt verification data to confirm a valid subscription. Your payment details are governed by Apple's Privacy Policy.

7. Notifications

Commission Buddy can send local notifications for settlement dates, overdue listings, and period-review reminders (when enabled by your plan and settings). All notifications are scheduled on-device by iOS — no notification passes through our servers, and we never see notification content or delivery status. Notification preferences are stored locally and can be changed at any time in Settings → Notifications or in iOS Settings → Notifications → Commission Buddy.

Commission Buddy also supports Siri and Shortcuts through Apple's App Intents framework. Shortcut phrases and suggested actions are handled by iOS on your device. We do not receive your voice recordings, spoken content, or shortcut history.

8. Children's privacy

Commission Buddy is a professional tool intended for use by adults (18+) working in the real estate industry. It is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect any information from anyone under 18. If you believe a child has used the app and provided data, please contact us and we will take appropriate action.

9. Third-party services

We do not use any advertising networks, data brokers, or third-party analytics beyond Firebase Analytics.

10. Your rights

Because Commission Buddy does not collect personally identifiable information, most traditional data-subject rights (access, correction, portability, erasure) apply to data held on your own device — which you control entirely.

Exporting your data

Pro users can export all listings to CSV via the app's built-in export function. Free users can use the built-in data backup function (Settings → Data → Export Backup).

Deleting your data

To delete all data: delete the app from your device. This removes all SwiftData records. If iCloud Sync was enabled, also clear the app's iCloud storage as described in §5.

Firebase Analytics data

Firebase Analytics data is anonymised and cannot be linked back to you individually. If you want to minimise analytics sharing, turn off iOS analytics sharing in Settings and contact us (see §13) so we can help you review current options.

Australian Privacy Act

If you are located in Australia and believe we have not complied with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) or the Australian Privacy Principles, you may contact us (see §13) or lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

GDPR (EEA/UK users)

If you are located in the European Economic Area or United Kingdom, your rights under the GDPR include access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, and the right to object. Because Commission Buddy does not collect personal data (beyond anonymised Firebase events), there is typically no personal data to action. For Firebase-related requests, you may also contact Google directly. Contact us at §13 for any GDPR enquiries.

11. Data retention & deletion

• App data (SwiftData): retained on your device until you delete the app or use the in-app reset function.
• iCloud data: retained in your iCloud account until you clear it manually (see §5) or delete your iCloud account with Apple.
• Firebase Analytics: anonymised event data is retained by Google for up to 14 months per Google's default retention settings, then automatically deleted.
• Support emails: if you contact us by email, we retain correspondence for up to 3 years for support continuity, then delete it.

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when the app changes in ways that affect data handling (e.g. adding a new third-party service). The "Last updated" date at the top of this page will always reflect the most recent version. For material changes, we will post a notice within the app. Continued use of the app after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

13. Contact

For privacy questions, data requests, or complaints: