ReliefRadar ("we," "us," or "the app") helps people find and rate public restrooms nearby — in businesses, parks, transit stations, and other public places — so no one has to search blindly in a moment of need. This policy explains what information the app collects, why, and how it's handled.
With your permission, ReliefRadar uses your device's location (via Apple's Core Location and MapKit frameworks) to center the map on your area, find nearby restrooms, and let you place a pin at a location when adding a new restroom. Location is requested only while the app is in use — ReliefRadar does not request or use background/"always" location access. You can allow, deny, or later revoke this permission at any time in your device's Settings.
When you rate a restroom or select descriptive tags (like "Clean," "Free to Use," or "Handicap Accessible"), that information is stored on our backend (Google Firebase/Firestore) and shown to other users. Restroom names come either from Apple's Maps place data or from a reverse-geocoded street address for locations not tied to a recognized business — we do not accept freely-typed names, so this data isn't a place for personal information to end up.
ReliefRadar includes an optional public leaderboard that ranks contributors by the number of unique restrooms they've rated. If you choose to participate, you can pick a nickname (2–20 characters: letters, numbers, and underscores). That nickname, along with your restroom-rating count, is stored on our backend and displayed publicly to anyone using the leaderboard. This is entirely optional — every other feature of the app works without ever choosing a nickname — and the nickname isn't verified against, or linked to, any real-world identity. Please don't choose a nickname that reveals your real name or other personal information if you'd rather keep it private.
Our backend infrastructure (Firebase) automatically logs basic technical information common to any app request, such as approximate timestamps of database activity. This is standard infrastructure logging, not used to build a profile of you.
We use the information above only to:
ReliefRadar relies on a small number of third-party services to function:
ReliefRadar is, and will always be, completely free with no premium subscriptions or in-app purchases. To help support the app's ongoing development, ReliefRadar may display ads — including small banner ads and video ads — provided by a third-party advertising network such as Google AdMob.
Ad networks may collect device-level information (such as an advertising identifier or general device data) to deliver and measure ads. Where required, the app will ask for your permission via Apple's App Tracking Transparency prompt before any tracking-based advertising occurs. We will update this section with the specific ad provider's own privacy policy once advertising is active in the app.
We do not sell your personal information. Restroom ratings and tags — and, if you've chosen one, your leaderboard nickname and rating count — are shared publicly within the app by design, since the entire point is to help other users. Location and technical data are shared only with the service providers described above, solely to operate the app's core features.
Restroom entries, ratings, and tags are retained indefinitely to keep the directory useful for the community, since they aren't tied to an individual identity. A claimed leaderboard nickname is retained indefinitely as well, for as long as the leaderboard exists. Location data used to center the map or place a pin is not stored beyond what's needed to complete that action.
ReliefRadar is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided information through the app, please contact us so we can address it.
We use industry-standard practices provided by Apple and Google's infrastructure (including encrypted data transit) to help protect information handled by the app. No method of electronic storage or transmission is 100% secure, but we work to use reasonable means to protect it.
We may update this policy as the app evolves — for example, when advertising becomes active. Material changes will be reflected by updating the effective date at the top of this page.
Questions about this policy, or a request about restroom content you submitted?