Privacy Policy
Last updated: March 22, 2026
Overview
MealCart AI respects your privacy. This policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding your information. All your personal data is stored locally on your device.
📱 Local Data Storage
All your personal data is stored locally on your device. This includes:
- Your saved recipes
- Meal plans
- Grocery lists
- Pantry items
- Collections and notes
- Free trial start date and subscription status
We do not operate servers or cloud storage for your personal data.
🔒 Your Data Never Leaves
Unlike most apps, MealCart doesn't sync your recipes to the cloud. Your data stays on your device unless you choose to export it or use optional AI features.
🤖 AI Features & Data Sharing
MealCart offers optional AI-powered features. Depending on your settings, data may be processed differently:
✅ Apple AI (On-Device) — Maximum Privacy
When you use Apple AI (Apple Intelligence), all processing happens on your device. No data leaves your device. Available on supported devices with Apple Intelligence enabled.
⚠️ Third-Party AI — Data Sharing Required
When you choose to use a third-party AI provider, certain data is sent to that provider for processing. You choose which provider to use and can switch or disable at any time.
What Data Is Shared (Third-Party AI Only)
📸 Recipe Images
When you use the recipe scanning feature, images you capture or select from your photo library are sent to the AI provider for text recognition and recipe extraction.
🔗 Recipe URLs
When you import a recipe from a website, the URL and webpage content are sent to the AI provider for parsing.
💬 Chat Messages
When using the AI assistant feature, your questions and messages are sent to the AI provider for processing.
Who Receives Your Data
MealCart automatically uses on-device Apple Intelligence when available. On devices without Apple Intelligence, AI features are processed via OpenRouter using the Llama 3.1 8B and Gemini 2.0 Flash models.
Data never leaves your device. No external network requests.
Used when Apple Intelligence is not available. Models: Llama 3.1 8B (text), Gemini 2.0 Flash (vision).
Privacy Policy →
🔐 How Your Data Is Protected
- Encryption: All data is transmitted securely using HTTPS/TLS encryption
- No Training: We select AI providers whose API terms prohibit using your data for model training. Please refer to each provider's privacy policy for their specific data handling practices.
- Temporary Processing: Data is processed only to fulfill your request and is not permanently stored
- Your Control: Switch to Apple AI (on-device) anytime in Settings
🍎 Apple AI Alternative
For maximum privacy, use Apple AI (Apple Intelligence) which processes all data on your device. No data leaves your device when using this option.
Available on supported devices with Apple Intelligence enabled.
📷 Camera & Photo Library
MealCart requests access to your camera or photo library solely to scan recipes. Photos are processed by your chosen AI provider (if using third-party AI) or processed on-device (if using Apple AI).
📅 Calendar Access
If you choose to export your meal plan to Apple Calendar, MealCart will request calendar permission. This data stays on your device and is not transmitted externally.
💳 Subscriptions & Purchases
MealCart offers a free 10-day trial with full access to all features. After the trial, a subscription ($3.99/month or $29.99/year) is required to continue using the app.
- Payment processing: All payments are handled by Apple through the App Store. We never see or store your payment information (credit card numbers, billing address, etc.).
- Trial tracking: Your free trial start date is stored locally on your device to determine trial eligibility. This date is not transmitted to any server.
- Subscription status: Your subscription status is managed by Apple and verified through StoreKit on your device. We do not operate a server to track subscriptions.
- Purchase history: Managed entirely by Apple. We do not have access to your purchase history beyond what StoreKit provides on-device.
You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time in your iPhone's Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions.
Data Retention
Local Data
Stored on your device until you delete the app or manually remove it.
AI Processing Data
Temporary — used only for the immediate request.
Subscription Data
Managed by Apple through the App Store. We do not store purchase or payment data.
Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Access all your data (it's on your device)
- Delete your data by deleting the app
- Opt out of AI features at any time
- Switch between AI providers or use on-device processing
- Use the app fully without any AI features
Contact
Questions about privacy or data sharing? Email us at support@getmealcart.com.
Ready to Take Control of Your Meal Planning?
Download MealCart today. Your recipes, your data, your device.
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