Privacy Policy
Last updated: November 9, 2026
BudgetBite ("we", "our", or "the app") helps households plan weekly meals under a grocery budget. This policy explains what information we collect and how we use it.
Information we collect
- Meal preferences: weekly budget cap, household size, cook time, allergies, and planning style.
- Pantry and plan data: pantry staples, weekly meal plans, grocery lists, custom recipes, and ingredient price overrides you enter.
- Food log: the meals and snacks you log on the Calories tab, their calories and macros, and your daily goals.
- Account information: if you sign in with Google, Apple, email, or use anonymous cloud auth, we store an account identifier and, when provided, your email and display name for sync.
- Subscription status: whether you have an active BudgetBite Pro subscription (managed through Apple and RevenueCat).
- Crash diagnostics: anonymous crash reports to help us fix stability issues (via Firebase Crashlytics). You can disable diagnostics collection in Account settings together with analytics.
- Analytics events: anonymous usage events such as onboarding steps and paywall interactions (via Firebase Analytics). You can disable analytics collection in Account settings; when off, Firebase Analytics and Crashlytics stop collecting new data on this device.
- Pantry scan photos: if you use photo pantry scan, photos are processed on your device to suggest pantry items and are not uploaded to our servers.
- Meal photos: if you use the photo scan on the Calories tab, the photo you take or pick is sent through our Firebase Cloud Functions to Google Gemini (Generative Language API) to estimate its calories and macros. We do not store the photo; the estimate comes back to the app for you to edit before saving.
How we use information
- Generate and sync meal plans across your devices.
- Show your day's calories and macros against your goals, and estimate meal photos you choose to scan.
- Operate subscriptions and restore purchases.
- Improve app reliability and understand conversion funnels.
- Send optional weekly plan reminders if you enable notifications.
AI meal planning
When cloud meal planning is available, your preferences, pantry summary, and related planning inputs may be sent to Google Gemini (Generative Language API) through our Firebase Cloud Functions to suggest meals within your budget. Requests are processed to generate a plan; we do not use that content to advertise to you. If the AI service is unavailable, the app falls back to on-device / stub planning.
Cloud storage
When you use cloud features, your plan, pantry, food log, and preferences are stored in Google Firebase (Firestore) under your account. We do not sell personal data. Account email is used only for sign-in and cloud sync.
Guest and anonymous use
If you use the app without signing in, we may create an anonymous Firebase account so cloud meal planning works. You can sign in later to link data across devices.
Data retention and deletion
You may delete your account and cloud data from the Account tab. Clearing local data removes on-device plans, pantry, and preferences. Sign out keeps your local plan and pantry on this device but disconnects cloud sync and Pro linkage. Subscription billing is managed separately in App Store settings.
Third-party services
We use Apple App Store, RevenueCat, Google Firebase (Auth, Firestore, Functions, App Check, Analytics, Crashlytics), Google Gemini (Generative Language API) for cloud meal suggestions and meal photo estimates, and TheMealDB for recipe discovery. Each provider processes data under its own privacy policy.
Our website
This website (budgetbitemeals.com) uses Google Analytics to count visits and clicks on the App Store buttons, so we can see which pages help people find the app. Google Analytics sets cookies and processes your IP address and device information under Google's privacy policy. We don't run ads on the site and don't sell this data. You can block these cookies in your browser settings.
Children
BudgetBite is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
Users in the EU, UK and EEA
Last updated: July 27, 2026
This section supplements the policy above for users in the European Economic Area, United Kingdom, and Switzerland, in compliance with the GDPR and UK GDPR.
Data controller
BudgetBite is the data controller for personal data processed through the app. Contact: mazouziaymene@gmail.com
Legal bases for processing
| Purpose | Legal basis |
|---|---|
| Provide meal planning and sync | Contract: necessary to deliver the service you request |
| Anonymous auth and cloud backup | Legitimate interest: secure, cross-device functionality |
| Optional notifications | Consent: you can disable reminders anytime |
| Crash reporting and analytics | Legitimate interest: app stability and product improvement |
| Subscription management | Contract: processing required to fulfill purchases |
Your rights
- Access: request a copy of personal data we hold about you.
- Rectification: correct inaccurate data in the app or by contacting us.
- Erasure: delete your account and cloud data from the Account tab, or request deletion by email.
- Restriction and objection: object to processing based on legitimate interests.
- Portability: receive data you provided in a structured, commonly used format where applicable.
- Withdraw consent: for notifications or optional features without affecting prior lawful processing.
To exercise rights, email mazouziaymene@gmail.com. You may also lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority.
International transfers
Data may be processed in the United States via Google Firebase and other subprocessors. We rely on appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses where required.
Retention
We retain account and sync data while your account is active. Crash and analytics data are retained in aggregated or pseudonymized form per Firebase retention settings. Deleted accounts are removed from Firestore on request.
Automated decision-making
Meal plans are generated algorithmically (including optional AI assistance). No automated decisions produce legal or similarly significant effects without human review.
Subprocessors
Key providers: Apple (App Store), RevenueCat (subscriptions), Google Firebase (auth, database, functions, analytics, crash reporting).
Children
Not intended for users under 16 without parental consent where required by local law.
Contact
Questions about privacy: mazouziaymene@gmail.com