Privacy Policy

Last updated: March 2026

Palate (“we,” “us,” or “our”) operates the Palate mobile application. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use our app.

Waitlist

If you joined our waitlist before downloading the app, we collected your phone number to send you a one-time SMS confirmation and notify you when Palate launched. We do not use waitlist phone numbers for marketing. You can opt out of waitlist messages by replying REMOVE to any message from us.

Information we collect

We collect the following types of information:

Account information: Phone number for authentication and profile details you provide (name, username, profile photo).
User content: Restaurant reviews, ratings, photos, and lists you create and share.
Contacts: With your permission, we collect phone numbers from your device contacts to help you find friends who use Palate. Contact phone numbers are securely stored on our servers and are used only for friend matching. They are not shared with third parties. You can choose not to sync contacts, and you can request deletion of your synced contact data at any time.
Location data: With your permission, we collect your location to show nearby restaurants and personalize recommendations. You can disable location access in your device settings.
Usage data: We use Firebase Analytics to understand how the app is used, including features accessed and session duration. This data is aggregated and not tied to your identity.
Device information: We collect crash reports and diagnostic data via Firebase Crashlytics to improve app stability.

How we use your information

Provide and improve the Palate service
Show personalized restaurant recommendations based on your preferences and location
Enable social features like following friends and sharing reviews
Send push notifications about activity on your account (you can disable these in settings)
Analyze usage patterns to improve the app experience
Respond to support requests

Information sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information in the following circumstances:

Public content: Reviews, ratings, and lists you post are visible to other users based on your privacy settings.
Service providers: We use third-party services to operate the app, including Supabase (database and authentication), Firebase (analytics and crash reporting), and cloud hosting providers. These providers only access data necessary to perform their services.
Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect our rights and safety.

Data retention

We retain your account information and content for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, your personal information and content are deleted immediately. Some anonymized data may be retained for analytics purposes.

Your rights

You can:

Access and update your profile information in the app
Delete your reviews, photos, and lists at any time
Request deletion of your account by contacting us
Opt out of push notifications in your device settings
Disable location access in your device settings
Request deletion of synced contact data by contacting us

Data security

We use industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including encrypted connections (HTTPS) and secure data storage. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure.

Age requirements

Palate is intended for users 17 years of age and older. The app includes information about establishments that serve alcohol. We do not knowingly collect personal information from users under 17. If you are under 17, please do not use this app.

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 other means. Continued use of Palate after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, contact us at yourpalateapp@gmail.com.