last updated on June 9, 2026

chapter lock is operated by Caccamedia LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company. the app is built to be local-first: most of what you enter stays on your device unless you choose a feature that needs an outside service.

in summary:

we do not sell personal information.
we store your reading habit data on your device today.
we use PostHog to understand app usage, diagnose problems, and improve chapter lock.
purchases are handled by Apple and RevenueCat.
if you contact us, we use your message only to reply and support you.

information you give chapter lock

chapter lock can store the information you choose to enter in the app, including:

your name, if you enter one during onboarding.
your daily reading goal and yearly book goal.
books, authors, editions, reading lists, book progress, ratings, and notes.
reading sessions, reading logs, streaks, and goal-completion history.
the apps, categories, or web domains you select to block.
app preferences such as onboarding status, selected language, notification settings, and pending offer-code state.

Today, this information is stored locally on your device using Apple's app storage systems. Some blocking-related data is also stored in the app group shared with chapter lock's screen-time extension so the extension can show the right lock screen.

permissions

chapter lock only asks for permissions that support the product:

screen time and family controls. Used to let you select distracting apps, categories, and web domains, and to block them until your reading goal is met. Apple gives the app opaque tokens for your selections. The app does not need to know everything you do on your phone.
notifications. Used for reading reminders and lock-related app messages if you allow them.
camera or photo access. Used only when you choose to scan or upload a book cover for book recognition.
live activities. Used to show an active reading session on supported iPhones if you enable that system feature.

You can change these permissions in iOS settings.

book search and recognition

When you search for a book or use book-cover recognition, chapter lock may send the search text or selected image to chapter lock's API so it can return matching book information. That response can include titles, authors, identifiers, page counts, and cover images.

The app may download and cache book covers on your device so your library feels fast and visual. If you do not use search or scanning, this data is not sent for those features.

purchases and subscriptions

chapter lock uses Apple and RevenueCat to manage subscriptions, trials, offer codes, purchase status, and restore-purchase flows.

Apple handles App Store payments and may collect payment, billing, tax, fraud-prevention, and device information under Apple's privacy policy. RevenueCat helps us understand whether your device has an active chapter lock subscription. chapter lock uses a generated device purchase identifier for this purpose.

We do not receive your full payment card number.

analytics and diagnostics

chapter lock uses PostHog for product analytics and diagnostics. This helps us understand whether the app is working, which features are useful, where users get stuck, and what needs fixing.

PostHog may receive information such as:

app events, screens, button taps, feature usage, and general session activity.
app version, device type, operating system, locale, and coarse network-derived information such as country or region.
generated user, device, or installation identifiers.
crash reports, error details, logs, performance data, and related diagnostic context.
high-level app state needed to understand product behavior, such as goal type, completion status, subscription status, or whether a permission was granted.

We do not use PostHog to sell personal information or to track you across other companies' apps and websites for advertising. We try not to send book notes, raw reading content, photos, or unnecessary personal details to PostHog.

website and contact data

The chapter lock website is minimal. Hosting providers may process ordinary server logs, such as request time, URL, IP address, browser, and device information, to keep the site secure and available.

If you email us at hi@chapterlock.com, we receive your email address and anything you include in the message. We use that information to respond, troubleshoot, and improve chapter lock.

how we use information

We use information to:

provide the reading, blocking, subscription, and support features you ask for.
keep your app state, reading history, and preferences working.
understand usage patterns and improve chapter lock.
troubleshoot bugs, crashes, failed purchases, and support requests.
protect the app, website, and users from abuse.
comply with legal obligations.

We share information only when needed to run chapter lock:

with Apple for App Store payments, app permissions, notifications, Family Controls, and related iOS features.
with RevenueCat for subscription status, purchase restoration, offer-code handling, and entitlement checks.
with PostHog for analytics, diagnostics, crash reporting, logs, and product improvement.
with infrastructure providers that host the website or API.
with email providers if you contact us.
if required by law, legal process, or to protect rights, safety, and security.

We do not sell personal information.

retention

Local app data stays on your device until you delete it in the app, reset the app, or delete chapter lock from your device. Some data may remain in iCloud or device backups depending on your Apple settings.

Support emails are kept as long as needed to respond and maintain a record of the issue. Purchase records are kept by Apple and RevenueCat according to their own retention policies and legal obligations. Analytics and diagnostics data is kept only as long as reasonably needed for product analytics, troubleshooting, security, and legal purposes.

deleting or accessing your data

You can delete most local chapter lock data by deleting the app from your device. You can also contact us at hi@chapterlock.com to ask what information we can access, request deletion of support records, or ask a privacy question.

Subscriptions are managed through your Apple account. Deleting chapter lock does not automatically cancel an active App Store subscription.

children

chapter lock is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child provided personal information, contact us and we will take reasonable steps to delete it.

international users

chapter lock is operated from the United States by Caccamedia LLC. if you use the app from outside the United States, your information may be processed in the United States or other places where our service providers operate.

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or object to certain uses of personal information. Email hi@chapterlock.com and we will respond as required by applicable law.

changes

We may update this policy as chapter lock changes. When we do, we will update this page.

contact

Questions, requests, or concerns: hi@chapterlock.com.