Privacy policy

Your privacy is at the heart of Softly. In short: your data stays on your device, we don't sell it and we don't track you.

Using Softly on Android or Wear OS? Read the Android privacy policy.

Who we are

Softly is developed and published by Vincenzo Gallina, an independent developer based in Italy (European Union). Where this policy says "we", it means Vincenzo Gallina. You can reach us any time at vincenzogallinadeveloper@gmail.com.

Because Softly keeps your information on your own device, we do not receive or hold it — so for the data you log, no one but you can read it, except what you choose to share with your partner.

The data Softly handles

Softly works with the health information you choose to log — your cycle, symptoms, mood, intimacy, tests, pregnancy and personal diary. Diary voice notes are recorded and kept on your iPhone; Softly does not transcribe them. If iCloud sync is on, a recording is copied to your private iCloud only if you also turn on voice notes in iCloud. Under EU law (GDPR, Article 9) this is special-category health data, and Softly treats it with matching care: it is processed only on your device, and only to provide the app's features. For the full list, see What data we collect.

Where your data lives

Everything you log — cycle, symptoms, mood, diary and the rest — is stored locally on your iPhone. We run no servers for your data and never receive it. Partner mode, if you turn it on, works as described below.

iCloud (optional)

If you turn on sync, your data is stored in your own private iCloud (Apple's CloudKit), accessible only to you. It never passes through us.

No account

Softly has no accounts and no sign-in: there is nothing to register, and we never receive your name or email. Deleting all your data from Settings is the same as deleting your account.

Apple Health (optional)

Apple Health is accessed only if you allow it, to read or write the data you choose.

Partner mode (optional)

If you turn on partner mode, you choose exactly what to share, and each thing you share stands on its own — nothing else ever leaves your iPhone. Your partner gets their own Home and calendar showing only what you chose. If you both track your cycle with Softly, the same code works both ways: each of you shares only what you choose, in the same encrypted way. If you leave "Show your photo" on, your profile photo travels inside the same encrypted package. You can pause it, or stop sharing, at any time.

When you link a partner, your iPhone encrypts what you choose to share before sending it (AES-256-GCM), with a key derived from the invite code (HKDF). Only your phone and your partner's phone know the code. The encrypted package goes through a small relay server on Cloudflare that only keeps unreadable data: neither we nor Cloudflare know the code or the key, and only your partner's phone can open it. Your partner can use an iPhone or an Android phone.

To let your partner's phone know right away, the relay sends it an empty notification — through Apple Push Notification service if it's an iPhone, or through Google's Firebase Cloud Messaging if it's an Android phone. It only says there's something new, with no data in it. To receive it, your partner's phone registers a notification identifier from Apple or Google on the relay, where it stays while your partner is linked.

The package is deleted when you create a new code, unlink your partner or delete all your data, and in any case after 180 days without updates. Like any online service, Cloudflare sees the network (IP) address of the connection; we don't record it.

Links made between two iPhones with an earlier version of Softly keep working through iCloud until they're removed: what you share is kept in your own private iCloud database and shared read-only with your partner through Apple's CloudKit sharing. It never passes through us.

Finding a family clinic (optional)

When you ask Softly to find a family clinic near you, it asks for your approximate location (city level), only while you are using the app and only for that one search. The location goes straight to Apple Maps to centre the search: we never receive it and Softly doesn't store it. If you decline, Maps opens without it.

Ask Pixie (optional)

Ask Pixie answers your questions using only Softly's own articles, on your device. On iPhones with Apple Intelligence it highlights the sentences that answer you, using Apple's on-device intelligence. Your question is never sent to us, and no server of ours is involved.

Bringing in your history (optional)

You can import your history from Apple Health and from files exported by other apps (such as Flo, Clue and Natural Cycles). Imported data is read and processed on your device and kept just like anything else you log.

Legal basis

Where Softly processes your health data, it does so on the basis of your explicit consent (GDPR Articles 6(1)(a) and 9(2)(a)). You give that consent by choosing to log information, and you can withdraw it at any time by deleting your data or removing the app.

No tracking

No ads, no third-party analytics, no advertising identifier, no location tracking.

Data retention

Your data stays on your device for as long as you keep it. Deleting an entry removes it; deleting all data from Settings clears everything — including from your iCloud if sync is on; removing the app deletes the data stored on that device. You are always in control.

Your rights

Under the GDPR you have the right to access, correct, delete and export your data. In Softly you can do all of this yourself, at any time, from Settings → your data — including a readable export and one-tap deletion. If you ever have a concern you can contact us, or lodge a complaint with the Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante per la protezione dei dati personali).

Children

Softly is intended for people aged 14 and over — the age of digital consent in Italy. It is not directed at younger children, and we do not knowingly collect their data.

International transfers

Without partner mode, we do not transfer your data anywhere. If you enable iCloud, your data is handled by Apple under Apple's own terms and infrastructure. With partner mode, the encrypted package goes through Cloudflare's network, which may be outside the European Union: because it is end-to-end encrypted, only your partner's phone can read it. The empty notification for your partner's phone goes through Apple's or Google's servers.

Changes

We may update this policy as the app evolves. The current version is always available here, with the date shown below.

Contact

Questions about your privacy? Email us at vincenzogallinadeveloper@gmail.com.

More on how Softly handles data: What data we collect · How Softly Intelligence works · The Knowledge Base · Terms & conditions

Last updated: October 2026.