HoldFast Privacy Policy
Effective date: October 10, 2026
HoldFast ("the App") is developed by North Side Software LLC ("we", "us", "our"). HoldFast helps you photograph your belongings and build a home inventory for insurance and personal records. This policy explains what information the App collects, how it is used, and the choices you have.
Information We Collect
- Photos you take. Pictures of your belongings and any receipts or invoices you choose to attach to an item.
- Item details. Name, category, make, model, serial number, and estimated replacement value, extracted from your photos.
- Account information (optional). If you sign in with Google, we receive your name, email address, and profile photo through Google Sign-In, used only to identify your account and enable backup and subscription features.
- Local usage counters. How many cloud identifications you've used this month, so the App can enforce the free-tier limit. This stays on your device.
How We Use Your Information
On-device processing. Text recognition, barcode scanning, and photo
categorization all run entirely on your device. This data never leaves your phone unless
you use cloud identification below.
Cloud identification (optional). If you use cloud identification and are
signed in, your item photos and a redacted copy of the on-device-extracted text are sent
to Google's Firebase AI Logic service (using Google's Gemini models) to identify the item
and estimate its value. Before sending, the App strips anything that looks like a payment
card number and never includes your property's address or location. Turning on
"Offline only" in Settings disables cloud identification entirely -- nothing is sent
anywhere.
Backup (Pro subscribers only). If you enable backup, your inventory
database and photos are copied to a folder named "HoldFast" in your own Google Drive,
using Google's limited
drive.file permission -- the App can only see the
files it creates and cannot browse the rest of your Drive.
Subscription billing. Handled entirely by Google Play Billing. We never
see or store your payment card information.
What We Don't Do
- We don't sell your data.
- We don't run ads or ad-tracking in the App.
- We don't use third-party analytics or tracking SDKs.
- We don't operate a HoldFast server that stores your inventory -- your data lives on your device and, if you choose, in your own Google Drive.
Data Storage & Retention
- Your inventory (items, photos, extracted details) is stored in the App's private storage on your device.
- Deleting an item or photo, or uninstalling the App, removes that data from your device.
- If you've enabled Drive backup, a copy remains in your own Google Drive until you delete it there or disable backup.
Third-Party Services
- Google Firebase (Authentication, AI Logic, App Check) -- used for sign-in, cloud identification, and abuse prevention. See Google's Privacy Policy.
- Google Play Billing -- used to process subscription payments.
- Google Drive API -- used only for the optional backup feature, limited to files HoldFast itself creates.
Children's Privacy
HoldFast is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect information from children under 13.
Your Choices
- Enable "Offline only" in Settings to use HoldFast entirely offline, which disables cloud identification and sign-in.
- Sign out, disable backup, or delete items and photos at any time within the App.
- Request deletion of your account data by contacting us below.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy as the App changes. The effective date above reflects the most recent revision.
Contact Us
Questions about this policy? Email rdhasse@northsidesoftware.com.