Last updated: March 10, 2026
1. Introduction
PawStar ("we," "our," or "us") respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you use our mobile application and website (collectively, the "Service").
2. Information We Collect
Information you provide:
- Account information — Username, email address, and password when you register
- Pet profiles — Pet name, species, breed, age, and photos you upload
- User content — Comments, votes, and interactions within the app
- Business information — Business name, category, description, contact details, and website (for Advertiser accounts)
Information collected automatically:
- Usage data — Pages viewed, features used, and interaction patterns
- Device information — Device type, operating system, and app version
- Log data — IP address, access times, and referring URLs
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
- Provide, maintain, and improve the Service
- Process account registration and manage subscriptions
- Display pet profiles, leaderboards, and Pet of the Month features
- Enable voting, commenting, and social features
- Display advertiser listings to relevant users
- Send important notifications about your account or the Service
- Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, or violations of our terms
4. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We may share information in these limited cases:
- Public content — Pet profiles, photos, comments, and votes are visible to other users as part of the Service's social features
- Advertiser listings — Business profiles are publicly displayed to users browsing the advertiser section
- Payment processors — Subscription payments are handled by RevenueCat and the applicable app store (Apple/Google). We do not store your payment card details
- Legal requirements — When required by law, regulation, or legal process
- Safety — To protect the rights, safety, or property of PawStar, our users, or the public
5. Data Storage & Security
We implement reasonable security measures to protect your information, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), secure password hashing, and access controls. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure.
Your data is stored on secure servers. Photos and media files are stored using cloud object storage with appropriate access controls.
6. Your Rights & Choices
You have the right to:
- Access your personal information through your account profile
- Update your account information and pet profiles at any time
- Delete your account and associated data by contacting us
- Cancel your subscription at any time through your app store settings
- Opt out of non-essential communications
7. Children's Privacy
PawStar is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected information from a child under 13, we will delete it promptly.
8. Cookies & Tracking
Our website uses session cookies to maintain your login state. We do not use third-party tracking cookies for advertising purposes. The mobile app uses standard analytics to improve the user experience.
9. Third-Party Services
The Service integrates with third-party services including:
- RevenueCat — For subscription management and payment processing
- Apple App Store / Google Play Store — For app distribution and in-app purchases
- Cloud storage providers — For secure photo and media storage
Each third-party service has its own privacy policy governing their use of your data.
10. International Users
PawStar is available worldwide. By using the Service, you consent to the transfer of your information to servers located in the United States or other countries where we operate. We comply with applicable data protection laws.
11. Data Retention
We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service. When you delete your account, we will delete your personal information within a reasonable timeframe, except where retention is required by law.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes through the app or by email. Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us through the PawStar app or website.