Privacy Policy

Last updated: March 14, 2025

What We Collect

Helm WX collects minimal data to provide the service:

• Location data — used only to fetch local marine conditions. Your location is sent to NOAA and weather data providers to retrieve nearby data. It is never stored on our servers and never shared with third parties.
• Anonymous usage analytics — we use Google Analytics 4 to understand which features are used and how the app performs. This data is anonymous and does not identify you personally.
• Local preferences — settings such as saved locations, notification time, and display preferences are stored locally on your device using standard browser storage (localStorage). This data never leaves your device.

What We Do Not Collect

• No name, email address, or contact information
• No account credentials — there are no user accounts
• No payment information
• No precise location history or movement tracking
• No data shared with or sold to advertisers or third parties

Location Access

If you tap "Use My Location," your device will prompt for location permission. This permission is used only to populate the search coordinates — the app does not track or store your location over time. You can deny this permission and enter coordinates manually.

On iOS, you will see a system prompt explaining that Helm WX uses your location to display nearby marine conditions. We use When In Use access only — we do not request background location.

Push Notifications

If you enable daily marine report notifications in the app settings, your device schedules these locally — no data is sent to our servers. Notification preferences are stored only on your device. You can cancel notifications at any time from the Settings panel or your device's notification settings.

Third-Party Services

Helm WX retrieves weather data from public sources including:

• NOAA — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (noaa.gov)
• Open-Meteo — open-source weather API (open-meteo.com)
• Google Analytics 4 — anonymous app usage analytics

These services may have their own privacy policies. We do not control the data practices of third-party providers.

Children's Privacy

Helm WX is not directed at children under 13 and does not knowingly collect data from children.

Changes to This Policy

If we make material changes to this privacy policy, we will update the "Last updated" date above. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact

Questions about this policy? Visit helmwx.com.