Privacy Policy — Vara
Effective Date: April 14, 2026
Owner / Operator: Vara (by Nicolas S.)
Contact Email: nsgn.one@gmail.com
1. Introduction
Welcome to Vara (“Vara”, “we”, “us”, or “our”).
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect information when you use our iOS mobile application (“App”). By using the App, you agree to this Privacy Policy.
2. Overview of Data Use
- The App tracks wellness metrics, including heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV), using your device’s camera.
- All generated data is stored strictly locally on your iOS device unless you purchase a premium subscription.
- Premium subscribers have their data synced securely to the cloud (Firebase) to prevent data loss and allow cross-device access.
- Authentication is handled exclusively through Apple Sign-In.
- The App does not display ads and does not sell personal or health data.
To use the App, you must authenticate using Apple Sign-In. We collect:
- Your Apple sign-in identifier.
- Subscription status (active/inactive) via our payment provider.
B. Personal and Wellness Data
To provide accurate physiological feedback, we collect:
- Demographic Data: Age and gender.
- Subjective Data: User-reported feelings, moods, or mental states inputted during sessions.
C. Optical Sensor Data (Camera and Flash)
The App uses your iPhone’s camera and flash to measure blood volume changes in your finger (Photoplethysmography or PPG) to calculate heart rate and HRV.
- Processing: The video feed is processed in real-time on your device.
- No Video Storage: We do not record, save, or transmit the video or photo feed of your finger. We only extract and save the resulting mathematical heart rate data.
- No Biometrics: We do not collect or store fingerprints or identifying biometric markers.
D. Technical and Diagnostic Data
We collect device type, operating system, and unique device identifiers for analytics, crash reporting, and subscription management.
We use collected information to:
- Calculate your wellness, stress, and nervous system metrics.
- Provide targeted breathing protocols.
- Process subscription entitlements.
- Back up your data to the cloud (for paid subscribers only).
We do not sell or rent your personal or physiological information.
5. Data Storage and Security
Free Tier Users: All personal, demographic, and wellness data is stored locally on your iOS device. If you delete the App, this data is permanently lost.
Premium Subscribers: Your data is securely backed up and synced using Google Firebase infrastructure (Firestore). We use reasonable technical measures to protect your information.
6. Subscriptions and Payments
Subscriptions are processed securely by the Apple App Store, utilizing RevenueCat to manage entitlements. We do not receive or store your payment card details.
7. Data Retention and Deletion
We retain information as long as necessary to provide the App.
- Local Data: You can clear local data by uninstalling the App.
- Cloud Data (Subscribers): You can permanently delete your account and cloud data directly within the App settings. Triggering account deletion removes your profile and all historical wellness data from our Firestore database.
8. Children’s Privacy
The App is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13.
For questions or requests related to privacy:
Email: nsgn.one@gmail.com