Privacy Policy

Provider: PlotSmarter ("PlotSmarter," "we," "us")

Contact: support@plotsmarter.com

1) What this policy covers

This Privacy Policy explains how PlotSmarter collects, uses, shares, and protects information when you use our website/app and related services (the "Service").

2) Information we collect

A) Information you provide

• Account info (via Google Sign-In): your name, email address, and a unique account identifier. (Your Google profile photo may be available through Google Sign-In, but PlotSmarter does not require or store photo uploads.)
• Garden and planning data: garden layouts, bed plans, plant selections, notes, task lists, inventory items, expenses, and other information you enter into the Service.
• Support communications: messages you send us (for example, emails or bug reports).

B) Information collected automatically

• Usage and device data: pages/screens viewed, feature interactions, timestamps, approximate location inferred from IP address (coarse), and general device/browser information.
• Cookies and similar technologies: used for authentication, security, preferences, analytics, advertising, and recording applicable privacy choices.
• Advertising data: Google AdSense and its advertising partners may process the page viewed, IP-derived approximate location, browser/device information, ad interactions, and supported privacy preference signals to deliver, measure, and protect advertising.

C) Payments (Stripe)

We do not store full payment card numbers. Payments are processed by Stripe. We may receive and store limited billing information such as:

• Stripe customer ID and subscription ID
• Subscription status (active, past_due, canceled, unpaid)
• Plan type and billing interval
• Billing and invoice timestamps
• Limited payment method details provided by Stripe (for example, card brand and last 4 digits)

3) How we use information

We use information to:

• Provide, operate, and maintain the Service (authentication, saving and syncing your data)
• Enable paid features and manage subscription access (based on Stripe subscription status)
• Provide AI-assisted features when you use them (see Section 6)
• Monitor performance, troubleshoot issues, and improve the Service
• Display and measure advertising on public garden guides, prevent advertising fraud, and honor applicable privacy choices
• Communicate with you (account notices, support, important updates)
• Detect, prevent, and address fraud, abuse, and security issues
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service

4) Analytics (Google Analytics)

We use Google Analytics to understand how users interact with the Service. Google Analytics may use cookies to collect usage information. You can learn more about Google's practices and opt-out options through Google's tools and settings.

5) Advertising (Google AdSense)

Individual public garden guides may display advertising provided by Google AdSense. Google and its advertising partners may use cookies, local storage, and similar technologies to serve and measure ads, limit repeated ads, detect invalid traffic, and personalize ads where permitted.

PlotSmarter does not sell personal information. We do not sell customer email lists or private account and garden data to data brokers or other businesses.

PlotSmarter uses analytics and advertising technologies as described in this policy. Some privacy laws may classify certain advertising-related disclosures as a "sale" or "sharing," even though PlotSmarter does not sell customer lists or private account and garden data as a business practice. Where applicable, you may exercise the privacy choices described in this policy through the "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" control. Google uses supported opt-out and Global Privacy Control signals to restrict data processing for affected ad requests.

You can learn more about how Google uses information from sites that use its services.

6) AI-assisted features

Some PlotSmarter features use AI to help explain garden layout, crop compatibility, companion planting, soil context, or seasonal planning issues. When you use those features, relevant garden inputs may be sent through our secure backend to an AI provider so the feature can return a response.

Those inputs may include things like selected crops, garden bed dimensions, zone or frost-date context, and planning details needed to answer the request. We try to send only the information needed for the feature to work.

We do not use your User Content to train our own AI models. We also do not permit our AI providers to use your inputs to train their models where provider settings and terms allow us to control that behavior.

AI outputs may be inaccurate, incomplete, or a poor fit for your exact garden. Soil, weather, pests, disease, watering, and small microclimates can change what actually happens. PlotSmarter is a planning tool, not professional horticultural, agricultural, medical, safety, or legal advice. You are responsible for decisions you make based on AI-assisted outputs.

7) How we share information

We share information only as needed to operate the Service:

• Service providers: Google/Firebase (auth/db/hosting), Stripe (payments), Google Analytics (analytics), Google AdSense and advertising partners (advertising on public guides), and AI providers when you use AI-assisted features.
• Legal and safety: To comply with law, protect rights/safety, prevent fraud, or enforce our Terms.
• Business transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.

8) Data retention

We keep information as long as necessary to provide the Service, comply with legal obligations, or resolve disputes. If you request account deletion, we will delete or de-identify personal information associated with your account, except where we must retain certain information for legal or legitimate business purposes.

9) Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards to protect information. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10) Your choices and controls

You may access and update certain account information within the Service or request deletion of your account by contacting support@plotsmarter.com. Where applicable, use the "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" control shown on ad-supported public guides to submit an advertising opt-out request. You may also enable a browser-supported Global Privacy Control signal.

11) Cookies and tracking technologies

We use cookies/local storage for authentication, security, preferences, analytics (Google Analytics), advertising (Google AdSense), and applicable privacy choices. You can control cookies through your browser settings, although blocking them may affect site or advertising functionality.

12) Children's privacy

The Service is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

13) International users

If you access the Service from outside the United States, your information may be processed and stored in the United States and other locations where our providers operate.

14) State privacy rights (US)

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to request access, deletion, or correction of personal information and to opt out of certain sales, sharing, or targeted advertising. To submit an access, deletion, or correction request, email support@plotsmarter.com. Use the advertising privacy control described in Section 10 for applicable advertising opt-outs.

15) Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If changes are material, we will provide reasonable notice.

16) Contact

Questions or requests: support@plotsmarter.com