Privacy Policy

The short version

Backlog does not require a Backlog account. It does not sell personal information, show behavioral advertising, or include third-party tracking or advertising SDKs. Your library starts on your device, and audio downloads remain on the device that downloaded them.

Information stored by the app

Backlog stores the information needed to run your podcast library, including subscriptions, feed metadata, playlists, playback position, completion, favorites, bookmarks, notes, preferences, and listening history. Downloaded and imported audio is stored in Backlog’s app storage on the device and is excluded from Backlog Library Backups.

If you enable iCloud sync, supported library metadata and listening state are stored in your private Apple CloudKit database so they can stay current across your devices. Apple states that private CloudKit databases belong to, and are accessible by, the user by default. Device-specific downloads, transfer state, and Recently Removed files do not sync through CloudKit.

Network requests

When you search for, add, refresh, stream, or download a podcast, Backlog contacts services needed for that action. These can include the Apple Podcasts directory and the podcast publisher’s feed, artwork, chapter, transcript, and audio servers. Those services receive normal internet request information such as your IP address and a Backlog user-agent string, and they apply their own privacy policies.

Private-feed credentials and tokenized feed URLs are sent only to the host needed to access that feed. Backlog stores them in Apple Keychain; you can choose synchronizable iCloud Keychain storage or device-only storage per feed. Publisher-hosted external chapters and transcripts are fetched only after you grant the separate per-podcast permission.

Backups, exports, and purchases

You choose when and where to export OPML, history, bookmarks, or an encrypted Backlog Library Backup. Exports can contain private feed addresses or other personal library information; Backlog warns you before including sensitive feed access. If you choose to save a backup password in synchronizable iCloud Keychain, Apple syncs that Keychain item for you. Backlog cannot recover a password that you did not save.

If paid features are offered, Apple processes purchases. Backlog may receive purchase and entitlement status from Apple to unlock features, but it does not receive your full payment-card details.

Support messages

If you email Backlog, the message includes the address and information you choose to provide. It is used to answer your request, diagnose the issue, and maintain necessary support records. Do not send private-feed URLs, feed passwords, backup passwords, or other secrets. Support messages are not sold or used for advertising.

Retention, deletion, and your choices

Backlog retains local library information until you remove it in the app or delete the app, subject to device and iCloud backup behavior. Where iCloud sync is enabled, deletions are synchronized according to Backlog’s library rules. You can disable permissions for external chapters or transcripts, keep private-feed credentials device-only, export your durable data, and remove library data using Backlog’s controls.

You may ask about or request deletion of information contained in a support conversation by emailing privacy@backlog.fm. Backlog cannot directly retrieve or delete information held only on your device or in your private iCloud database; use the app, device, and Apple account controls for that information.

Changes and contact

This policy will be updated before Backlog introduces materially new data practices. The effective date above will change when the policy changes. Questions can be sent to privacy@backlog.fm or through the support page.