All journal entries, saved thoughts, prompt responses, settings, voice-to-text transcriptions, and imported images are stored exclusively in local storage on your own device (and, if you have it enabled, your personal encrypted iCloud backup via Apple's own backup system — see "Backups & iCloud" below). nuga has no backend, no database, and no servers of any kind operated by the developer. As a result, the developer is not a "data controller" or "data processor" of your journal content under any privacy law, because that content never reaches the developer, is never visible to the developer, and cannot be accessed, recovered, or reviewed by the developer under any circumstances — including if you ask us to, if you lose your device, or if required by a third party. We simply do not have it.
Legal
LAST UPDATED: 20TH JUNE 2026
This page sets out the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use for nuga (the "App"). nuga is built and maintained by a single independent developer, Era, based in Queensland, Australia, as a personal, non-commercial passion project — a journal designed to stay with you, not with us. These documents are intentionally detailed so there is no ambiguity about how the App works, what data it handles, what permissions it uses, what third parties are involved, and what you can reasonably expect (and shouldn't expect) from a free, solo-built hobby app. By downloading, installing, or using nuga, you agree to both documents in full. If you don't agree, please don't use the App, and feel free to delete it at any time.
Clarification
Privacy Policy
What nuga collects
Nothing, by design. nuga does not collect, transmit, sell, rent, or process any personal data on any server, because nuga has no server. This includes journal entries, saved thoughts, prompts you respond to, voice transcriptions, images you import, device identifiers, location data, contacts, analytics events, and crash reports. The developer has no infrastructure capable of receiving your journal content under any circumstance.
Accounts & tracking
We don't even have the infrastructure to track you. Your thoughts belong to you and nobody else.
nuga may request the following device permissions, each of which is used only at the moment you actively use the corresponding feature. You can revoke any of these permissions at any time in iOS Settings, though doing so will limit the relevant features.
- Photo Library — used solely so you can import an image as a journal or Share Studio background, or save an exported Share Studio image / PDF back to your library. nuga does not scan, index, upload, or otherwise access your photo library in the background, and no image data ever leaves your device.
- Microphone — used solely to capture audio for the optional voice-to-text feature in the journal input. Audio is processed on-device only (see "Voice & Speech Recognition" below), is not retained after the recording session, and is never transmitted off-device.
- Speech Recognition — used to transcribe captured audio into text, on-device only. nuga explicitly refuses to start a voice session unless on-device recognition is supported by your device.
nuga includes an optional voice-to-text feature that uses Apple's on-device Speech Recognition framework. When you tap the microphone button, audio is captured by your device, transcribed locally on that device using Apple's on-device speech models, and converted to text within the journal input area. The audio itself is never transmitted to a server, never stored, and never accessible to the developer — only the resulting transcribed text appears in your journal, and only if you choose to send that text as a message. nuga explicitly refuses to start a voice session if on-device recognition is not supported by your device or its current iOS configuration, so audio is never sent to Apple's servers as a fallback. The microphone is only active while you are recording, and stops immediately when you tap the mic again or send the message.
nuga includes several technical privacy safeguards designed to reduce the risk of accidental data exposure on your device. These measures are provided on a best-effort basis as additional layers of defence; they do not constitute a guarantee of security:
- Complete File Protection — your journal database is stored with iOS's strongest file-protection class, meaning the file is unreadable while your device is locked at the operating-system level.
- Local-only clipboard — when you tap "Copy" inside nuga, the copied text is marked as local-only so it does not propagate to other Apple devices via Universal Clipboard (which uses iCloud).
- Temporary export cleanup — any export files (TXT or PDF) you generate are written to a temporary location and deleted immediately after the share sheet is dismissed.
If your device has iCloud Backup or iCloud Drive enabled at the operating-system level, Apple may include nuga's locally stored app data in your personal encrypted backup as part of standard iOS behaviour. This is governed entirely by Apple's own privacy and iCloud terms, not by nuga or the developer — nuga does not initiate, configure, or have any visibility into this process. Even when your data is included in an iCloud backup, the developer never receives or has access to that data; it remains in your personal Apple-controlled backup. If you'd prefer your journal not be included in iCloud backups, you can exclude nuga from backups in your device's iOS Settings under Apple ID → iCloud → Manage Account Storage → Backups.
nuga contains zero analytics SDKs, advertising SDKs, crash-reporting tools, or third-party tracking libraries of any kind. The developer does not know how many people use the App, which features are used, how often the App crashes, or anything else about your usage — by design, not by omission. If you choose to report a bug yourself via the Help Centre or by email, only the information you voluntarily include in that message is received (see "Contacting Us" below).
nuga does not integrate any third-party SDKs, advertising networks, or analytics platforms into the App itself. The only third parties involved in your use of nuga at all are:
- Apple — through the App Store (distribution, download, and any optional in-app purchases processed via Apple's standard In-App Purchase system), iOS itself (local storage APIs, optional iCloud backup, Photos framework, on-device Speech Recognition framework), and iCloud (only if you have iCloud Backup enabled on your device). Apple's handling of any data is governed solely by Apple's own privacy policy and terms, which we encourage you to review separately.
- Atlassian (Jira Service Management) — used as the hosting platform for the optional Help Centre support portal accessible from inside the App. Atlassian only receives information you voluntarily type into a support request, and only if you choose to open the link from inside nuga. nuga does not pre-fill or auto-transmit any data about you when these links are tapped, and does not link any subsequent support correspondence back to your in-app data. Atlassian's handling of any submitted information is governed by Atlassian's own privacy policy.
We do not receive any individual usage information about you from Apple beyond anonymised, aggregate App Store statistics (such as total download counts) that Apple may make available to all developers. We do not receive any information from Atlassian beyond the contents of any support request you voluntarily submit.
nuga's Home menu includes two optional external links — "Help Centre" and "About nuga" — that open in your device's browser. The Help Centre link routes to a customer support portal hosted by Atlassian (see "Third-Party Services" above). The About nuga link routes to a publicly available informational page on our website. Once you follow either link, you are no longer interacting with the App, and the destination's own terms and privacy policies apply. Visiting either link is entirely optional, and no information about your in-app activity is transmitted when you do so.
From time to time, nuga may offer entirely optional ways to support the project — for example, a one-time, non-recurring "tip" processed through Apple's standard In-App Purchase system. If you choose to send a tip, that transaction is handled solely by Apple under Apple's payment terms; the developer receives only the resulting payout from Apple and does not receive your payment details, card information, or Apple ID. nuga does not retain any record of who has tipped, and tipping is in no way required to use any feature of the App.
If you choose to submit a request via the in-app Help Centre, email hello@nuga.app, or message us on social media (for support, bug reports, feedback, or to participate in "Get Featured"), we will receive whatever information you choose to include in that message — for example, your email address, the content of your message, and any screenshots, images, or journal excerpts you voluntarily attach. We use this only to respond to you, fix the issue you've raised, or (with your separate, explicit permission — see "Get Featured" below) repost content you've asked us to share. We don't add you to a mailing list, share this correspondence with anyone else, or retain it longer than is reasonably necessary to resolve your query.
Sharing a Share Studio image with us (via DM, email, or tagging us) is entirely optional and is a separate, voluntary action distinct from normal use of the App. If you send or tag us in content, we will only repost it publicly (on Instagram, TikTok, or elsewhere) with your agreement — either because you've explicitly asked to be featured, or because we've checked with you first. You may ask to be featured anonymously, request removal of a repost at any time, or ask us not to use your content at all. We do not repost private journal entries you have not chosen to share with us, and we are not responsible for what you choose to include in an image you voluntarily send us (so please don't include identifying or sensitive information about yourself or others if you'd rather it stay private).
nuga is not directed at children under 13 (or the relevant minimum age in your jurisdiction) and we do not knowingly collect any data from children, consistent with the rest of this policy — we do not collect data from anyone, of any age. If you are a parent or guardian and believe a child has used the App, no journal data is recoverable by us regardless, as explained throughout this policy.
Because all journal data lives solely on your device, you exercise full and exclusive control over it directly — there is no separate "right to access, correct, or delete" to request from us, because we hold nothing to access, correct, or delete. You can export, edit, or permanently delete any entry at any time from within the App, or remove all data at once by tapping "Reset app" inside nuga or by deleting the App from your device. If you've voluntarily emailed us or submitted a request through the Help Centre, you may ask us to delete that correspondence at any time by emailing hello@nuga.app.
nuga can be used worldwide. Because no personal data is collected, stored, or transmitted by the developer in any country, concepts like cross-border data transfer do not apply to your use of the App. If you are located in the European Economic Area, United Kingdom, California, or elsewhere with specific data-protection legislation (GDPR, UK GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, or similar), the same applies: we are not a data controller or processor of your personal information because we never receive, store, or process it. To the extent that any data-protection law applies to information you voluntarily submit through the Help Centre or by email, your statutory rights under that law continue to apply against the developer.
If nuga's data practices ever change (for example, if a future version introduces optional cloud sync, analytics, or additional third-party services), this Privacy Policy will be updated first, the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page will change, and — for any material change that involves collecting data we don't currently collect — we will make reasonable efforts to highlight that change within the App itself before it takes effect. Continued use of the App after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy. We recommend checking this page periodically.
Governance
Terms of Use
Quick Summary
nuga is a free, solo-built hobby app provided "as is," with no guarantees, no warranty, and no liability accepted for how you use it or what happens as a result. We can change, suspend, or shut the App down at any time, for any reason, without notice. Your journal is yours and stays on your device — that also means backing it up is entirely your job. By using nuga, you agree to all of the terms on this page in full.
drawWHAT NUGA IS (IMPORTANT)
nuga is not a therapy, medical, mental health, counselling, crisis support, or diagnostic app. It is also not a prayer app, spiritual guidance tool, legal record-keeping service, professional wellbeing service, secure messaging service, or data backup service. It is simply a creative journaling and note-taking app designed to help you write down your thoughts in a simple and enjoyable way. Nothing in the App, including guided prompts, should be relied upon as professional advice of any kind. If you are in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, please contact a qualified professional or emergency services in your area immediately — nuga is not equipped or intended to help in that situation.
ABOUT THE APP & THE DEVELOPER
nuga is developed, owned, and operated by an individual developer ("Era," "we," "us," "the developer") in Queensland, Australia, as an unfunded, non-commercial personal passion project — not a company, and not a professional service. It is provided free of charge, "as is" and "as available," entirely at the developer's discretion. Features, prompts, design, and functionality may change, be added, or be removed at any time without notice.
RESPONSIBILITY & ELIGIBILITY
You are solely responsible for your device's security, your own data backups, the content you create or import, and how you use the App. By using nuga you confirm you are at least 13 years old (or the minimum age of digital consent in your jurisdiction) and that your use complies with all applicable local laws.
No warranty of any kind
nuga is provided strictly "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including (without limitation) any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, accuracy, reliability, or that the App will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or free of bugs. We do not warrant that the App will meet your requirements, that any defects will be corrected, that the App will be compatible with future versions of iOS, or that any technical safeguard described in the Privacy Policy will be effective against every possible threat.
Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the developer accepts no liability whatsoever for any loss, damage, or harm arising from your use of (or inability to use) nuga — including, without limitation, loss of journal entries or other data, device malfunction, missed reminders, emotional distress, decisions made based on prompts or content within the App, lost time, lost opportunities, unauthorised access to your device by a third party, or any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Because your data lives solely on your device, you accept that data loss can occur (through deletion, device loss, device failure, OS updates, App updates, App removal, or any other cause) and that you bear sole responsibility for backing up anything you wish to keep.
Backups & data-loss responsibility
Because all journal data lives solely on your device, you are solely responsible for backing up anything you wish to retain. nuga provides export tools (TXT and PDF) you may use to create your own backups at your discretion, and standard iOS iCloud Backup (if enabled by you on your device) will also include nuga's data as part of the system backup. We make no warranty as to the effectiveness, completeness, or recoverability of any backup method, and strongly recommend exporting important entries periodically and storing them somewhere of your own choosing. The developer is not responsible for loss of data resulting from device loss, device failure, accidental deletion, OS updates, App updates, App removal, App Store removal, or any other cause.
Right to modify, suspend, or discontinue
As this is an independent hobby project maintained in the developer's personal time, we reserve the right to modify, suspend, restrict, or permanently discontinue the App (in whole or in part), with or without notice, for any reason or no reason — including removing it from the App Store entirely, removing the Help Centre, removing any external links, or shutting down associated websites and social channels. We are under no obligation to maintain, update, support, or continue developing nuga indefinitely, and no guarantee is made about future updates, feature requests, or ongoing availability.
Right to terminate your access
We reserve the right to terminate, restrict, or refuse a user's access to the App or to any optional services (Help Centre, social channels, "Get Featured") at any time, for any or no reason, including (without limitation) misuse of the App, violation of these terms, abusive conduct towards the developer, or attempts to exploit, reverse-engineer, or interfere with the App's operation. Since nuga has no accounts, this would typically take the form of discontinuing the App generally rather than targeting an individual; however, the right to do either is reserved.
Intellectual property
The nuga name, logo, app design, prompts, guides, illustrations, watercolor backgrounds, fonts as configured, and all associated branding, text, and visual assets are the intellectual property of the developer (or used under licence) and may not be copied, redistributed, reverse-engineered, or used commercially without prior written permission. You retain full ownership of the journal entries and content you personally create within the App. By voluntarily sharing content with us for "Get Featured" purposes, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, revocable licence to repost that specific content on our social media channels for as long as you don't withdraw that permission.
Acceptable use
You agree not to use nuga to create, store, or distribute unlawful content; to reverse-engineer, decompile, or attempt to extract the source code of the App; to interfere with or disrupt the App's functioning; to circumvent any technical safeguard described in the Privacy Policy; to misrepresent your association with the developer; or to use the App in any way that violates applicable law. You are solely and fully responsible for the content of your own journal entries — we have no visibility into it and therefore no ability to moderate, review, or take responsibility for it.
Optional support / tipping
nuga may include an entirely optional way to support the project, processed through Apple's standard In-App Purchase system as a one-time, non-recurring transaction. Choosing to support the project is never required to use any feature of the App, and choosing not to support the project will never disable or limit any feature. Any such transaction is governed by Apple's payment terms; refunds (if any) are handled exclusively by Apple under Apple's refund policy. nuga will never become a subscription service, and no essential feature will be placed behind a paywall.
External links & third-party services
nuga's menu and supporting pages may contain links to external websites we operate (such as About nuga) and to external services we use (such as the Atlassian-hosted Help Centre support portal). Once you follow an external link, you are no longer interacting with the App, and the destination's own terms and privacy policies apply. The developer makes no warranty as to the content, accuracy, availability, security, or continued operation of any linked third-party service, and is not responsible for any loss or damage arising from your use of those services.
Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the developer from any claim, demand, loss, or damage (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of your use of the App, your violation of these terms, your violation of any rights of a third party, or content you voluntarily share with us through the Help Centre, social media, or otherwise.
App Store terms
Your download and use of nuga is also subject to Apple's App Store Terms of Service. Apple is not a party to these Terms of Use and has no obligation whatsoever to furnish any maintenance or support services for the App. In the event of any conflict between these terms and Apple's terms, Apple's terms govern your relationship with Apple, and these terms govern your relationship with the developer. You acknowledge that Apple, and Apple's subsidiaries, are third-party beneficiaries of these Terms of Use, and that, upon your acceptance, Apple will have the right (and will be deemed to have accepted the right) to enforce these terms against you as a third-party beneficiary.
Governing law & disputes
These Terms of Use and Privacy Policy are governed by the laws of Queensland, Australia, without regard to conflict-of-law principles, regardless of where you access the App from. Any dispute arising from your use of nuga will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Queensland, Australia, except where applicable consumer protection law in your own jurisdiction grants you non-waivable rights that cannot be overridden by this clause. Nothing in these terms limits or excludes any liability that cannot lawfully be limited or excluded under the Australian Consumer Law or equivalent legislation in your jurisdiction.
Severability & entire agreement
If any provision of these terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect. These terms (together with the Privacy Policy above) constitute the entire agreement between you and the developer regarding nuga, superseding any prior agreements, representations, or understandings.
Changes to these terms
These Terms of Use may be updated from time to time at the developer's sole discretion. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Continuing to use nuga after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms. If you do not agree with a change, your only recourse is to stop using the App and delete it from your device.
Questions?
If you have any questions or feedback, you can reach out via the in-app Help Centre, the contact details on the website, or our social channels.
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