nowbell · iPhone and Mac

nowbell privacy policy

last updated november 11, 2026

the short version: nowbell has no accounts, no ads, no analytics and no tracking. your tasks stay on your iPhone and Mac, and in your own iCloud if you use it.

what nowbell stores

nowbell is a reminder and timer app for iPhone and Mac. it stores your tasks, steps, routines, time guesses and how long things took, parked notes, the places you save for leave-home reminders, and your settings. they are stored on your devices, inside the app. we do not have a server that receives them, and we cannot see them.

iCloud sync

if you are signed in to iCloud, nowbell keeps your iPhone and Mac in step through your own private iCloud database (Apple's CloudKit). Apple stores it under your Apple Account; we have no access to it. with iCloud off, everything stays on the one device and the app works the same. erase everything in settings deletes your data on this device and, with iCloud on, the iCloud copy too.

what leaves your device

break it down uses Apple's on-device Apple Intelligence model where available. your task text does not leave your device. without it, nowbell uses step templates built into the app.
brain dump reads dates, times and lengths from what you type on your device.
reminders, nudges, can't-miss alarms and the Lock Screen countdown are scheduled on your device by iOS and macOS; no server is involved.
focus sounds are generated on your device. there are no audio downloads.
share cards and videos are made on your device. nothing is shared unless you choose to share it, and task titles are hidden on cards unless you turn them on.
purchases are handled by Apple through the App Store. we use RevenueCat to check whether you have an active subscription. it receives an anonymous app user ID and your purchase receipts from Apple, not your name, email or anything you create in the app.

what we don't do

no account or sign-up.
no advertising and no ad SDKs.
no analytics, crash-reporting or tracking SDKs, and no tracking across apps or websites.
we never sell or share personal data.
no health data: nowbell doesn't diagnose, treat or track any condition.

permissions

notifications: nudges, wrap-up warnings and check-ins.
alarms (iPhone, optional): only for tasks you mark can't miss, so they ring through silent and Focus.
calendars (optional, off by default): to warn you before events and show how long you're free. events are read on your device and never stored or sent anywhere.
location (iPhone, optional, off by default): only for leave-home reminders, to notice when you leave or arrive at up to 5 places you save. your location stays on your iPhone.
open at login (Mac, optional): so the menu bar countdown is there when you start your Mac.

you can change any permission in settings (iPhone) or system settings (Mac) at any time.

children

nowbell is not directed at children under 13 and collects no personal information from anyone.

changes

if this policy changes, we'll update this page and the date above.

contact

questions about privacy: [email protected]