Last updated: September 6, 2026
Overview
IA Voice Notes ("we", "our", or "the app") is an iOS voice notebook that records audio, produces real-time transcripts, and lets you attach photos and documents — whether you're in a lecture, a meeting, an event, or an interview. This policy explains what information the app processes, where it is stored, and how it is used.
The short version: your recordings, transcripts, and attachments never leave your iPhone unless you explicitly share them. We do not operate servers that receive your audio. We do not track you. We do not sell data.
Information We Collect
IA Voice Notes does not collect personal information in the traditional sense. The app does not create user accounts, does not connect to our servers, and does not transmit data to any service we operate.
The following types of data are handled by the app:
- Audio recordings — stored as AAC files inside your iPhone's app container (the Documents directory). They never leave your device unless you share them yourself via the export feature.
- Transcripts — generated by Apple's Speech Recognition framework and stored locally in the app's SwiftData database.
- Photos and scanned documents — stored as JPEG files in the app's Documents directory. Not uploaded anywhere.
- Text notes — stored locally in the app's database.
- Calendar events — events you create in the app (titles, times, locations, and participant names you enter) are stored on-device and used only to display your calendar and schedule local notifications. They do not leave your device.
Speech Processing
Transcription is performed by Apple's Speech Recognition framework (SFSpeechRecognizer). The app requests on-device recognition first. On-device processing keeps your audio entirely local — no audio is sent over the network.
If the on-device recognizer is unavailable (for example, because the language model has not finished downloading), the app automatically falls back to Apple's server-based recognition. In that case, audio buffers are sent to Apple's servers for processing, subject to Apple's Privacy Policy. The app displays a notice in the recording screen when the cloud fallback is active.
We have no access to audio or transcription data processed by Apple's servers. Apple's retention and use of that data is governed by Apple's policies, not ours.
AI Analysis
AI features work out of the box using our managed AI service — the default for every install. Text excerpts from your transcript, or text recognized from a scanned document or photo, are sent from your device to our backend server (hosted on Cloudflare Workers), which forwards the request to Anthropic on our own API key and returns the result. This includes the "capture an event" feature, which sends the excerpt being scanned or pasted so it can identify a date, time, and title. Requests are authenticated with a random install token generated on your device (not tied to your name, email, or Apple ID) and used only to meter free trial calls and, if you subscribe, your AI Plan allowance. Our server does not log or store the content of these requests — it forwards them and returns the result.
If you instead configure your own Anthropic or OpenAI API key in Settings, requests go directly from your device to the provider you chose, using your own key — we never see or handle that traffic at all. These requests are governed by the respective provider's privacy policy.
Audio is never transmitted — only text is sent, to whichever path (managed or your own key) you're using. You can use the app without enabling AI features; transcription and all other functions work entirely on-device.
Calendar Access
IA Voice Notes includes a built-in calendar for your own recording events. It can optionally show your iPhone's system Calendar events alongside them, purely for reference. This requires your permission and is requested only when you turn it on from Settings → Calendar → iOS Calendar — the app never asks for calendar access on launch.
This access is read-only. IA Voice Notes never creates, edits, or deletes anything in your system calendar. Titles, times, and locations of the calendars you choose to show are read on-device to render them in the app's calendar views and are not transmitted anywhere.
Photos and Media
The app can access your camera and allow you to scan documents using the device camera. Photos taken or scanned within the app are saved only to the app's private Documents directory; they are not saved to your Photo Library unless you explicitly do so.
When you pick images from your Photo Library, the app uses Apple's privacy-preserving PHPickerViewController, which lets you select individual photos without granting the app access to your entire library.
In-App Purchases and Subscriptions
The one-time Pro upgrade is processed entirely by Apple through StoreKit 2. We do not receive your payment information. Purchase records are managed by Apple and linked to your Apple ID. For questions about billing or refunds, contact Apple Support.
The optional AI Plan and AI Plan Plus subscriptions are auto-renewing monthly subscriptions, also billed and managed entirely by Apple through StoreKit 2 — we never receive your payment information for these either. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; manage or cancel anytime in your device's Settings → [your name] → Subscriptions. To confirm an active subscription, the app sends Apple's transaction identifier for your purchase (not payment details) to our backend server, which verifies it directly with Apple's App Store Server API.
Local Notifications
If you turn on auto-start for a calendar event, the app uses iOS Local Notifications to remind you before the event and to trigger recording at the time you set. These notifications are generated on-device and do not involve any remote push notification service or server. No event data is transmitted off your device.
Analytics and Tracking
IA Voice Notes contains no third-party analytics, advertising SDKs, or tracking frameworks. We do not use Firebase, Amplitude, Mixpanel, or any similar service. The app does not display advertisements.
Apple may collect aggregate, anonymised crash and usage information through its standard App Store reporting tools. This data is provided to us only in aggregate form and cannot be used to identify individual users.
Data Retention and Deletion
All your data lives on your device. You control it completely:
- To delete a single note: swipe left on it in the list and tap Delete. The audio file and all attached images are deleted from storage.
- To delete all notes: use Edit mode in the list view to select and delete in bulk.
- To delete all app data: delete the app from your iPhone. iOS removes the app's entire container, including all recordings, transcripts, and photos.
Children's Privacy
IA Voice Notes is not directed at children under the age of 13 and does not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal information through the app, please contact us so we can address it.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by an updated "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the app after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact
Questions about this Privacy Policy or how IA Voice Notes handles your data? Contact us at:
Copyright
© 2026 IA Voice Notes. All rights reserved.
The IA Voice Notes name, icon, and all associated app content are the intellectual property of the developer. Unauthorised reproduction or distribution is prohibited.
The app uses Apple frameworks (Speech, AVFoundation, SwiftData, StoreKit, VisionKit, PhotosUI) under the terms of Apple's SDK License Agreement. The app icon and all original artwork are proprietary.