Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 26, 2026

Short version. Real Motion records your trips on your iPhone and syncs them to your own iCloud account. We don't sell your data, run ads, or use third-party analytics. Trip data only leaves your devices when you choose to share a trip via a link, or when you subscribe to Real Motion Pro.

1. Who we are

Real Motion ("the app", "we", "us") is an iOS application developed by Boston Synthesis. This Privacy Policy describes the information the app handles, where it lives, and the choices you have. If you have questions, email info@realmotionapp.com.

2. Information the app handles

Location data

While you're recording a trip, the app uses your iPhone's GPS (Apple's Core Location framework) to capture your route, speed, elevation, and pause points. Recording continues in the background while a trip is active so the route remains accurate when the screen is off. Location data is collected only during a trip you started or, if you've enabled Real Motion Pro auto-tracking, while motion is being detected.

Motion data

If you enable auto-tracking (a Real Motion Pro feature), the app reads your iPhone's motion sensors (Core Motion) to detect when you start moving — for example, when you begin walking or driving — so it can start recording without you needing to open the app. Motion data is processed entirely on your device. None of it is transmitted off the device.

Subscription data

If you purchase Real Motion Pro, payment is processed by Apple via the App Store. We use RevenueCat to manage subscription state. RevenueCat receives your device's Identifier for Vendors (IDFV) — an Apple-managed, app-specific identifier you can reset in iOS Settings — and your subscription product, purchase date, expiration date, and renewal status. We do not receive your name, email address, payment-card information, or Apple ID from Apple.

Trip-sharing data

When you tap "Share" on a trip, the app uploads the trip's route, metrics, and (if it's a live share) ongoing location updates to Google Firebase (Realtime Database and Firestore) so that anyone with the share link can view it in a web browser. Shared-trip records can be revoked from inside the app and may auto-expire (e.g., 7 days after creation). We do not associate shared-trip records with your real name or contact information.

What we do not collect

No analytics SDKs (no Firebase Analytics, Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or similar)
No crash-reporting SDKs that ship with the app
No advertising identifiers and no ads
No contact list, photos, microphone, camera, or HealthKit access
No account creation — you do not need to sign in to use Real Motion

3. Where your data lives

On your device. The primary copy of every trip is stored locally using Apple's SwiftData framework.
In your iCloud account. Trip history syncs across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac via Apple's CloudKit service, using your personal iCloud account. We never see this data; only you and Apple have access to it.
On Google Firebase (only when you share a trip). Shared-trip records are stored in Firebase Realtime Database and Firestore so the share link can render in a browser. These records are public to anyone who has the link until you revoke it or it expires.
With RevenueCat (only if you subscribe). Subscription state is stored on RevenueCat's servers so that your Pro entitlement can be restored across reinstalls and devices.

4. How we use the information

To record, display, and let you replay your trips on your own devices.
To sync your trip history across devices you sign into with the same iCloud account.
To make a trip viewable in a web browser when you choose to share it.
To verify and restore your Real Motion Pro subscription.

We do not use your data for advertising, profiling, training machine-learning models, or any purpose unrelated to running the app.

5. Sharing with third parties

The app integrates with the following third parties only as described above:

Apple — App Store transactions, iCloud / CloudKit sync. See Apple's Privacy Policy.
Google Firebase — used for trip sharing only. See Google's Privacy Policy and Firebase's privacy and security information.
RevenueCat — used for subscription state only. See RevenueCat's Privacy Policy.

We do not sell or rent your data to anyone, and we do not share it for advertising purposes.

6. Data retention

Local trip data lives on your device until you delete the trip or uninstall the app.
iCloud-synced trip data is governed by your iCloud account; deleting trips on any of your devices removes them across all of them.
Shared-trip records remain in Firebase until you revoke the share link, the link's expiration window passes, or you delete the trip.
Subscription records are retained by RevenueCat per their policy so that your entitlement can be restored later.

7. Your choices and rights

Stop tracking. Revoke "When in Use" or "Always" location permission in iOS Settings → Real Motion to stop any further location collection.
Delete trips. Swipe-to-delete any trip in the History screen, or delete the app to remove all local copies. Deleting the app does not by itself remove iCloud copies; remove them from any signed-in device, or in iOS Settings → Apple ID → iCloud → Manage Storage.
Revoke a shared link. Open the trip in the app and tap "Revoke share link" — the corresponding Firebase record is removed.
Manage your subscription. See iOS Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions, or visit apps.apple.com/account/subscriptions.
Reset your IDFV. iOS Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Location & Privacy.
Right to access, correction, deletion, or portability. If you reside in a jurisdiction that grants such rights (e.g., the EU/UK or California), email us at info@realmotionapp.com and we will respond as required by applicable law.

8. Children

Real Motion is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information through the app, please contact us so we can remove it.

9. Security

We rely on Apple's, Google's, and RevenueCat's industry-standard security to protect data in transit (TLS) and at rest. No method of electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. Because the bulk of your data lives in your own iCloud account, the security of your Apple ID is the most important factor — please use a strong password and two-factor authentication.

10. Changes to this policy

If we change this policy in a material way, we'll update the "Last updated" date at the top and, where appropriate, surface a notice in the app before the change takes effect. Your continued use of the app after a change indicates acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact

Questions, concerns, or requests can be sent to info@realmotionapp.com.