Interval Privacy Policy

Effective date: 12 October 2026

Interval helps you spend less time doom scrolling. It is built so that your information stays on your iPhone. We don't run servers, we don't have accounts, and we never see how you use your phone.

This policy explains what Interval handles, where it is kept, and the choices you have.

Who we are

Interval is made by Joseph Sutherland, an independent developer based in the United Kingdom ("we", "us"). If you have any questions about this policy or your data, contact us at contact@useinterval.app.

The short version

• We don't collect your personal data. Interval doesn't send anything about you or your app use to us or anyone else.
• No accounts, no tracking, no ads. There's no sign-up, and Interval contains no analytics, advertising or third-party tracking code.
• Everything stays on your device. Your settings and app usage are processed on your iPhone and are deleted when you delete Interval.

Information Interval uses, and where it stays

Screen Time information

To watch for doom scrolling and block apps, Interval uses Apple's Screen Time framework (Family Controls). You choose which apps to manage using Apple's own picker.

• Apple gives Interval anonymous tokens, not the actual list of apps you chose. Interval can't read which apps these are, outside of the screens Apple draws for it.
• Your usage time (for example, how long you used a chosen app today, and in the week before you installed Interval) is calculated by Apple's Screen Time system on your iPhone. Interval's Insights screens display it there, and Apple's framework doesn't allow this data to leave your device, including to us.

Your settings

Interval stores your preferences on your iPhone. These include your chosen apps (as the anonymous tokens above), your time limits, Focus modes, which unlock tasks you've switched on, your current Anti-Doom session, and the date you first opened Interval (used to work out your "time saved"). This information is kept in Interval's private storage on your device.

Motion (step counting)

If you choose the "Take a walk" unlock task, Interval asks for permission to use your iPhone's motion sensors to count steps while the task is open. The step count is used only to complete the task. It isn't stored or shared.

Focus near Mac (Bluetooth)

If you use Focus near Mac, the Interval Mac app and the Interval iPhone app connect directly to each other over Bluetooth. The Mac app shares only two things with your paired iPhone: whether the Mac is currently in use (unlocked, with recent keyboard, mouse or trackpad activity), and the Mac's name, which is shown while pairing. Your iPhone measures the Bluetooth signal strength to tell whether you're at your desk. This happens only between your own devices. Nothing is sent over the internet or to us, and the Mac app doesn't record what you do on your Mac.

Notifications

Interval sends notifications from your iPhone itself, for example to take you to an unlock task. No notification content is sent to us.

Subscriptions

If you start a free trial or subscribe to Interval Premium, the purchase is handled entirely by Apple through the App Store. We don't receive your name, email address or payment details. Interval only checks with Apple, on your device, whether you have an active subscription. Apple's handling of your payment information is covered by Apple's Privacy Policy.

What we don't do

• We don't sell, rent or share your information. We don't hold any to share.
• We don't use your information for advertising or to build a profile of you.
• We don't use third-party analytics, advertising or tracking tools.
• We don't track you across other companies' apps or websites.

Backups

Like most apps, Interval's settings may be included in your iPhone backups (for example iCloud Backup) if you have backups switched on. These backups are controlled by you and Apple under your Apple account settings. We can't access them.

Keeping or deleting your information

Your information stays on your device for as long as Interval is installed. To delete it, delete the Interval app. This removes its settings and stored data from your iPhone. To cancel a subscription, go to Settings → [your name] → Subscriptions on your iPhone. Deleting the app does not cancel a subscription.

You can also withdraw permissions at any time:

• Screen Time access: Settings → Screen Time → Apps with Screen Time Access
• Notifications, Motion and Bluetooth: Settings → Interval
• Bluetooth on your Mac: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Bluetooth

Your rights

Under UK data protection law (UK GDPR) and similar laws elsewhere, you have rights over your personal data. These include the right to access, correct or delete it, and to object to how it's used. Because Interval doesn't collect or hold your personal data on any server, there is normally nothing for us to provide or delete. Everything is on your device and under your control. If you have a question or concern, contact us at the address above. You also have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk).

Children

Interval is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone, including children.

Changes to this policy

If Interval changes in a way that affects your privacy, we'll update this policy and change the effective date above. For example, this would happen if we add optional iCloud syncing. Significant changes will also be mentioned in the app's update notes.

Contact

Questions about this policy: contact@useinterval.app