Privacy Policy
Last updated: March 7, 2026
PassBy ("we", "our", or "us") operates the PassBy mobile application (iOS) and web application at app.passby.com (collectively, the "Service"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you use our Service.
By using PassBy, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service.
1. Information We Collect
Account Information
When you create an account, we collect:
- Email address — used for authentication and account recovery
- Display name — shown in your profile
- Google account data — if you sign in with Google, we receive your name, email, and profile photo from Google
Photo Data
When you add photos to a trip, we access:
- Photo images — thumbnail versions are uploaded to our cloud storage for display across devices
- GPS location metadata — extracted from photo EXIF data to place photos on the map; this data is stored with your trip
- Photo timestamps — extracted from EXIF data to generate journey descriptions
On iOS, photos are accessed via the system photo picker (PhotoKit). We only access photos you explicitly select — we do not scan or access your full photo library.
Trip Data
We store the trip content you create:
- Trip names and settings
- Location names (auto-generated and custom)
- Location ordering and grouping preferences
- Transport mode selections
- Music track selections
- Clustering and export preferences
Usage & Session Data
We collect limited session information:
- Login history — timestamp, approximate location (country, city derived from IP), timezone, and device type for security and analytics
- Subscription status — whether you have an active Premium subscription
Purchase Information
Subscriptions are processed entirely through Apple's App Store (StoreKit 2) or the web payment provider. We do not collect or store your payment details (credit card numbers, billing address). We only receive confirmation of your subscription status from the platform.
2. How We Use Your Information
| Purpose | Data Used |
|---|---|
| Provide the Service | Photos, GPS data, trip data — to create journey videos |
| Account authentication | Email, Google account data |
| Cloud sync across devices | Trip data, photo thumbnails, settings |
| Subscription management | Subscription status from App Store |
| Security & abuse prevention | Login history, session data |
| Product improvement | Aggregated, anonymized usage patterns |
We do not use your data for advertising. We do not sell your personal information to third parties.
3. Third-Party Services
PassBy uses the following third-party services to operate:
- Firebase (Google) — authentication, cloud database (Firestore), and cloud storage for photo thumbnails. Firebase Privacy Policy
- Mapbox — 3D satellite map rendering and reverse geocoding (converting GPS coordinates to place names). GPS coordinates are sent to Mapbox to render maps and retrieve location names. Mapbox Privacy Policy
- Apple (StoreKit 2) — in-app subscription processing on iOS. Apple Privacy Policy
- Google Sign-In — optional authentication method. Google Privacy Policy
These services may collect additional data as described in their respective privacy policies. We recommend reviewing them.
4. Data Storage & Security
Your data is stored on Firebase (Google Cloud) servers. We use industry-standard security measures including:
- Encrypted data transmission (HTTPS/TLS)
- Firebase Authentication with secure token management
- Firestore security rules restricting data access to authenticated account owners
- Automatic session timeout after inactivity
While we take reasonable measures to protect your data, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.
5. Data Retention
We retain your data for as long as your account is active. Specifically:
- Account data — retained until you delete your account
- Trip data and photos — retained until you delete the trip or your account
- Login history — retained for security and analytics purposes for the lifetime of your account
When you delete a trip, all associated data (photos, locations, settings) is permanently removed from our servers. When you delete your account, all your data is permanently deleted.
6. Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Access your data — view all your trips, photos, and account information within the app
- Delete your data — delete individual trips or your entire account at any time
- Export your data — export journey videos as MP4 files
- Modify your data — edit trip names, location names, photo order, and all settings
- Withdraw consent — revoke photo library access at any time through your device's Settings app
To request a full data export or account deletion, contact us at the email below.
7. Children's Privacy
PassBy is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete that information.
8. Photo Library Access (iOS)
On iOS, PassBy requests access to your photo library to let you select trip photos. Key points:
- We use the system photo picker — you choose which photos to share with PassBy
- We do not access your entire photo library or camera roll
- GPS metadata is read locally on your device to place photos on the map
- Only compressed thumbnail versions are uploaded to the cloud — original photos stay on your device
- You can revoke photo access at any time in iOS Settings
9. Location Data
PassBy uses location data from your photos (GPS coordinates embedded in photo EXIF metadata) to place them on a map and build journey routes. This data is:
- Extracted from photos you explicitly provide
- Stored with your trip data in the cloud for cross-device sync
- Sent to Mapbox for map rendering and reverse geocoding (place name lookup)
PassBy does not track your real-time location. We only use location data embedded in photos you upload.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
11. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, contact us at:
Email: privacy@passby.com
Website: passby.com