NeedWord Privacy Policy
Last updated: August 3, 2026
NeedWord is operated by NaiadAI, LLC ("NaiadAI", "NeedWord", "we", "us"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, retain, and protect information when you use NeedWord at needword.com or in the NeedWord iOS app.
NeedWord is currently offered to residents of the United States and Canada.
Summary
- We use your information to provide the language-practice service, operate billing, keep accounts secure, and support you.
- We do not sell your personal information.
- We do not use your conversations, flashcards, recordings, transcripts, or other learning content to train AI models, and we do not authorize our AI providers to train on that content.
- We do not run third-party advertising pixels or cross-site tracking SDKs in the learner product.
- We use first-party cookies for sign-in and basic, aggregate landing-page conversion measurement.
- You can export and delete your account data from Settings where those tools are available, or by contacting us.
Information we collect
We collect the information needed to run NeedWord:
| Category | Examples | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Account and sign-in information | Email address, name, profile image URL from web Google sign-in where provided, Google account identifier, Apple account identifier, session and authentication data | You, Google OAuth, and Sign in with Apple |
| Learning profile | Native language, target language, self-rated level, timezone, voice and tutor settings, custom instructions | You |
| Conversation content | Chat messages, situation selections, assistant responses, translations, simplified explanations, transcripts, and related metadata | You and the service |
| Voice and audio content | Short audio recordings you submit for voice practice, generated audio, and audio references needed for playback | You and the service |
| Flashcard and review data | Deck notes, card text, examples, tags, scheduling state, review history, and generated card audio | You and the service |
| Feedback and support content | Support messages, bug reports, product feedback, and related troubleshooting context | You |
| Billing data | Stripe customer and subscription identifiers, Apple subscription transaction identifiers, plan, trial status, extra usage status, billing country, tax status, invoices, and payment or entitlement status | You, Stripe, Apple, and the service |
| Account export and deletion data | Export request metadata, deletion audit records, restore tokens, and deletion timing | You and the service |
| Waitlist and allowlist data | Email address, country, and operator notes if you join or are added to a pre-launch access list | You or a NeedWord operator |
| Device and notification information | Encrypted Apple Push Notification service (APNs) device token, token hash, notification permission and reminder settings, app version, OS version, and device timezone | Your device, Apple, and the service |
| Operational and security data | IP address in standard server logs, anonymous landing visitor IDs in first-party cookies, browser and device information from requests, iOS app version and OS version, hashed user-agent information for mobile sessions, request IDs, rate-limit signals, diagnostic logs, and error traces with learning content scrubbed where practical | Your browser, device, server, and service providers |
We do not store full payment card numbers. Stripe and Apple process payment method details for their respective billing flows.
You can control microphone access through your browser or operating system. NeedWord only receives audio when you grant permission and use a voice feature. Voice recordings may be treated as sensitive information under some laws. We process them only to provide, secure, support, and improve the voice features described in this policy, and we do not use them to identify you or create biometric templates.
How we use information
We use information to:
- create and secure your account;
- provide conversations, speech recognition, text-to-speech, translations, explanations, flashcards, review scheduling, and related learning features;
- process subscriptions, trials, extra usage, taxes, invoices, refunds, Apple in-app purchase entitlement checks, and billing support;
- provide account export, account deletion, restore, and portability tools;
- send or record transactional account, billing, security, export, deletion, service-status, and opted-in practice-reminder notices;
- measure basic landing-page conversion for waitlist access;
- debug errors, prevent abuse, maintain service reliability, and enforce our Terms and Acceptable Use Policy;
- comply with legal, tax, accounting, security, and regulatory obligations.
We may use aggregated or de-identified operational information to understand service health and product quality, but not to train AI models on your learning content. We do not try to re-identify de-identified information.
AI processing and automated features
NeedWord uses automated systems to provide the service. Examples include:
- language-model responses from the AI tutor;
- speech-to-text transcription and text-to-speech generation;
- translation and simplification requests;
- flashcard creation and review assistance;
- conversation title, situation, and other product-organization helpers.
These features may be inaccurate. You can ask us to review a specific automated output by contacting support.
No training on your content
NeedWord does not use your conversations, flashcards, recordings, transcripts, or other learning content to train AI models. We send content to AI and voice providers only as needed to provide features you request, and we do not authorize those providers to train on that content.
Service providers and disclosures
We share information with service providers only as needed to operate NeedWord, including:
- Google for sign-in;
- Apple for Sign in with Apple, StoreKit in-app purchases, App Store Server API subscription status, and delivery of opted-in push notifications through APNs;
- Stripe for subscriptions, checkout, tax, invoices, refunds, and billing portal services;
- OpenRouter and underlying model providers for language-model features;
- ElevenLabs for speech-to-text and text-to-speech features;
- Cloudflare for DNS, CDN, security, edge routing, and object storage;
- DigitalOcean for server hosting;
- Sentry for error monitoring, with learning content scrubbed where practical before sending;
- an email delivery provider, when configured, for transactional email.
We may also disclose information if required by law, to protect NeedWord or others, to investigate abuse or security incidents, to professional advisers under appropriate confidentiality obligations, or in connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets.
We do not sell your personal information.
International transfers
NeedWord is operated from the United States. If you use NeedWord from Canada, your information may be processed in the United States or other places where our service providers operate. We use service providers that are expected to protect information through contractual, technical, and organizational controls.
Retention
We keep information only as long as needed for the purposes described in this policy, unless a longer period is required for legal, tax, accounting, security, or fraud-prevention reasons.
| Category | Typical retention |
|---|---|
| Account profile and learning settings | Until the account is deleted |
| Conversations, transcripts, flashcards, review history, and generated learning content | Until the account is deleted or the user deletes the relevant item, if item-level deletion is available |
| User-submitted audio | As needed for the related conversation, playback, debugging, and account export/deletion flows |
| Billing records | As required for tax, accounting, dispute, and legal obligations |
| Account deletion audit records | As needed to prove deletion, prevent abuse, and comply with legal obligations |
| Push notification registration and reminder settings | Until the account is deleted; a device registration stops being used when it is revoked or after the app reports that notification permission is disabled, and practice reminders are not sent while the reminder setting is disabled |
| Security, server, and diagnostic logs | For limited operational periods, unless needed longer for security, fraud, legal, or abuse investigations |
When you delete your account, app access is removed and permanent deletion is scheduled after a short grace period shown in the product. Some records may remain in backups, logs, billing systems, or deletion audit records for a limited period where necessary for security, legal, tax, accounting, or dispute purposes.
Your choices and rights
Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, export, delete, or object to certain processing of your personal information. NeedWord honors these rights for users in the United States and Canada where applicable.
You can:
- update language and tutor settings in Settings;
- enable or disable practice reminders in the app and control notification permission in iOS Settings;
- download available account exports in Settings;
- delete your account in Settings;
- contact us for access, correction, deletion, portability, or restriction requests that are not available in product.
We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling a privacy request. If we deny a request, we will explain why where legally required and tell you how to appeal or resubmit the request when an appeal right applies.
California residents may have rights under the CCPA/CPRA, including the right to know, delete, correct, and opt out of sale or sharing. We do not sell or share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.
Canadian residents may have rights under PIPEDA and applicable provincial privacy laws, including Quebec Law 25.
Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards to protect information. No online service can guarantee perfect security. If you believe your account or information is at risk, contact us promptly.
If we become aware of a breach of safeguards involving personal information, we will assess it, maintain breach records required by law, and notify affected people and regulators when required by applicable law, including PIPEDA and relevant provincial or state laws.
We do not use voice recordings to identify you or create biometric templates.
Children
NeedWord is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided information to NeedWord, contact us and we will take appropriate steps.
Changes
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If changes are material, we will provide notice appropriate to the change, such as in-product notice, email notice, or another reasonable method.
Contact
For privacy questions, requests, complaints, or breach concerns, contact NaiadAI's privacy representative:
NaiadAI, LLC
Email: [email protected]