Privacy Policy
Last updated: October 2025
TL;DR
- check_circle Mobile App: Leafed doesn't collect or share any personal data. All searches happen directly between your device and public book data sources.
- check_circle Book Submissions: We collect book metadata and optionally a hashed email (for notifications only). Your email is hashed before storage and cannot be recovered.
- check_circle Your privacy isn't just protected — it's built into the design.
Overview
Thank you for using Leafed — a free book discovery and tracking app designed for readers who want to explore new titles in a simple, privacy-friendly way.
Your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect (if any), how we use it, and what your rights are.
Leafed Mobile App is built to be privacy-first:
- We do not require an account — No sign-up, no email, no personal information needed.
- We do not collect personal data — Zero personal information is collected or stored from app usage.
- We do not track your activity — Your searches and browsing stay private.
- We do not use analytics or ads — Clean experience without tracking or advertising.
All searches and browsing happen directly between your device and the Open Library API, which powers Leafed's book data.
Indie Book Database: If you submit a book through our submission form, we collect minimal data (book metadata and optionally a hashed email). See the "Indie Book Database Submissions" section below for details.
Indie Book Database Submissions
Information collected when you submit a book to Leafed's indie catalog:
Book Metadata
- Title, Author, Year Published (required) — Basic book information
- ISBN (optional) — International Standard Book Number
- Description (optional) — Book synopsis or description
- Page Count (optional) — Number of pages
- Language (optional) — Book language code
- Subjects/Genres (optional) — Comma-separated list of genres or subjects
- Cover Image (optional) — Book cover image file (stored on our server)
- Book Links (optional) — URLs where readers can purchase or download the book (stored in a separate database table)
Contact Information
- Email Address (optional) — Your email is hashed using SHA-256 before storage. Only the hash is stored in the database as
submitter_email_hash. The original email is never stored and cannot be recovered from the hash. Email is used only for notifications about your submission.
Technical Data
- IP Address — Temporarily logged for rate limiting and security purposes (preventing spam and abuse). IP addresses are not stored long-term and are used only for security monitoring.
Purpose and Use
The data collected is used for:
- Manual curation and review of book submissions
- Displaying books in the public indie book database
- Preventing spam and abuse through rate limiting
- Sending notifications (if email provided) about submission status
Data Storage
Book data is stored in our database with the following structure:
- books table — Stores book metadata (title, author, year, ISBN, description, page count, language, subjects, cover filename, submitter email hash, timestamps)
- book_links table — Stores purchase/download links associated with each book
- Cover images — Stored as files on our server, referenced by filename in the database
Data Retention: Submitted book data is retained indefinitely unless you request deletion or the book is flagged for removal. You can request deletion by contacting us at mike@leafed.app.
Information We Don't Collect (Mobile App)
When using the Leafed mobile app, we do not collect, store, or process any of the following:
Note: This section applies to the Leafed mobile app. For information about data collected through the indie book submission form, see the section above.
- Your name, email, or contact details
- Your reading history or book preferences
- Your location, device ID, or IP address
- Any personally identifiable information (PII)
Your favorites, shelves, and reading history are stored locally on your device only. We never transmit that data anywhere.
Data from External Services
Leafed uses a few public, third-party APIs to power certain features:
| Feature | Service | Purpose | Data Shared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book search & details | Open Library API | Retrieve book metadata, authors, and cover images | None (anonymous requests) |
| Enhanced book metadata | Google Books API | Provide enhanced metadata and fallback data for books | None (anonymous requests) |
| Bestseller lists | NYT Books API | Display New York Times bestseller lists and rankings | None (anonymous requests) |
| Purchases | Amazon | Open affiliate links for books | Only book title/author used in search URL |
We do not control or have access to data collected by these third-party sites when you leave the app (e.g., when you open an Amazon link).
Affiliate Disclosure
Leafed participates in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
- When you tap "Buy on Amazon," we include an affiliate tag (leafedapp-20) in the link.
- This does not affect your price and helps support ongoing development.
Local Storage
Leafed stores data locally on your device for:
- Your book library and shelves
- Reading sessions, notes, and quotes
- App settings (theme, filters, etc.)
This data never leaves your device (unless you opt into iCloud sync on iOS) and is deleted automatically if you uninstall the app.
Children's Privacy
Leafed does not knowingly collect or store any personal data from children under 13. The app is suitable for general audiences, but parents should supervise internet use as Open Library links may lead to external content.
Security
Since Leafed does not transmit or store personal data, your privacy risk is minimal. All requests to public APIs are made over secure HTTPS connections.
Contact
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, you can contact the developer:
Watson Consulting / Leafed App
mike@leafed.app
Policy Updates
We may update this policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted here and reflected in the "Last updated" date above.