Privacy Policy

Effective September 29, 2026

Karst Inspection ("Karst," "we," "us") is operated by Karst Inspection, a Texas-based business. This Privacy Policy explains what information the Karst Inspection mobile application (the "App") and our website collect, how we use it, and the choices you have.

The short version, because it's the whole point of how we built this:

Your inspection work is yours — Karst has no server for it to land on. The photos, voice notes, GPS locations, typed observations, boundaries, and reports you create in the App are stored on your device (and, on iOS, synced to your own private iCloud under your Apple ID) and are never uploaded to us. We can't see them, we don't have copies, and we can't share what we never receive. The only information we collect is what's needed to run your account and keep the App working — an email address for your login, basic usage and crash diagnostics, and your subscription status.

1. Information we collect

Account information. When you create an account, we collect your email address (required, so we can identify your account, restore your subscription across devices, and send you occasional service and product updates). If you sign in with Google, we receive your Google account email address and a unique account identifier from Google. If you sign in with Apple, we receive the name and email address you choose to share — or a private relay email address if you use Apple's Hide My Email — along with a unique account identifier. We do not collect a password when you use Google or Apple sign-in; if you use email sign-in, authentication is handled by our provider (see Section 4) and we do not store your password ourselves. Account emails, such as email verification and password reset, are sent for us by Google Firebase.

Subscription and purchase information. When you start a trial or subscribe, the purchase is processed by your app store — the Apple App Store on iOS or Google Play on Android. We receive your subscription status (active, trial, lapsed) so the App can unlock. We do not collect or store your credit-card number or payment details — those are handled entirely by the app store.

Usage and diagnostic information. To keep the App reliable and understand where users get stuck, we collect content-free usage analytics and crash diagnostics — for example, which screens are opened, how often a report is generated, device model and operating-system version, and crash logs. By design and as a strict rule, these records carry counts, screen names, and technical data only — they never contain a project name, a coordinate, a photo, a voice note, a finding, or any of your inspection content.

Website information. If you contact us through the website (for example, a support or account-deletion request form), we receive the information you submit, such as your email address and message.

2. What we do NOT collect — the on-device principle

Your project content is yours, and Karst never receives it. This includes your photos, voice recordings, GPS coordinates and location data, typed observations and findings, property boundaries, imported plans, and generated reports. This content is not transmitted to us, is not stored on our servers (we don't host content servers at all), and is not accessible to us in any form. On iOS, the App syncs your content to your own private iCloud (Apple's iCloud/CloudKit, under your Apple ID), so it is available across your Apple devices and restorable if you reinstall — this is your iCloud, not ours, and stays inaccessible to us. On Android, there is no automatic off-device backup; your content stays on the device until you move it. On either platform you may choose to send or back up your content elsewhere — your Google Drive, a synced folder, or your own server. Karst doesn't encrypt backups, so a copy is protected by the security of wherever you keep it: your device, your computer or your cloud account. Karst has no server, so your content never passes through us.

3. How we use information

We use the limited information we collect to:

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use it for third-party advertising or targeted advertising.

4. How information is shared

We share the limited information above only with service providers who help us run the App, and only for that purpose:

These providers process information on our behalf under their own terms and privacy commitments. We may also disclose information if required by law, to protect our legal rights, or in connection with a business transfer. We do not sell your personal information.

5. Location information

The App uses your device's location only while you are using it (foreground) and only to tag your photos with GPS coordinates at the moment of capture, which is a core function of a field inspection tool. That location data is written into your on-device project content and, like the rest of your content, is treated like the rest of your project content — never sent to us. You can decline or revoke the location permission in your device settings; some capture features will be limited without it.

6. Maps and mapping data

To display maps and to generate the map images included in your reports, the App uses Google Maps. When a map is shown, limited technical data — such as your device's IP address and the map coordinates being viewed — may be sent to Google to render the map, subject to Google's Privacy Policy. This is a standard part of how any interactive map works.

This is separate from your inspection content: your project data, photos, voice recordings, and findings stay on your device and are not sent to Google. Only the map coordinates needed to draw the view you are looking at are requested from Google to render the map. A typed project address is handled separately, as described next.

Address lookup. If you save a project with a typed street address but no map point, the App sends that address to your device's built-in address-lookup service so the project can be placed on the map. If you're offline, the lookup waits until you're back online. Nothing else about the project is sent.

7. Data retention

We retain your account information for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account (see Section 9), we delete your account record from our systems. Usage and diagnostic data is retained in aggregate/technical form for a limited period to support reliability and improvement. Your on-device content is retained on your device under your control until you delete it or uninstall the App.

8. Your choices and rights

You control your information:

9. Deleting your account

You can delete your account and its data at any time:

Deleting your account removes your account record from our systems and the App's on-device data. It does not reach into any external backups you created and control — those remain yours to manage or delete.

10. Security

We use reputable providers (Google/Firebase) for authentication and diagnostics and rely on the security of your device and app store for the rest. Because we don't collect or store your inspection content, the most sensitive data simply isn't in our possession to be exposed. No system is perfectly secure, but keeping data on your device is the strongest protection we can offer.

11. Children's privacy

The App is a professional tool intended for adults and is not directed to children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (or the applicable age in your jurisdiction).

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We'll post the new version here with an updated effective date, and for material changes we'll provide notice through the App or by email.

13. Contact us

Questions or requests: support@karstinspection.com