BidBuddy Privacy Policy

Last updated: 2026-05-29 Effective date: 2026-05-29

Chequa ("we", "us") operates the BidBuddy iOS application ("App"). This Privacy Policy explains what information the App processes, how, and your choices.

Contact: bidbuddyhelp.app@gmail.com

1. Data we collect

1.1 Data stored locally on your device

The following are stored on-device using Apple's SwiftData and Keychain. We do not have access to them.

Company profile (company name, contractor name, phone, email, website, logo, business identifier, default markup/tax rate).
Estimates and invoices you create (client name, line items, notes, amounts, signatures, status).
Generated PDF documents.
Business cards or documents you scan or import to fill in client details, including the captured image or PDF and the text recognized from it.

1.2 Data you voluntarily send to our AI processor

When you use the "AI estimate" or "Regenerate with AI" features, the text you provide — including any voice transcript — is sent to our backend proxy and forwarded to DeepSeek (https://www.deepseek.com) for processing. We:

Do not store the prompt or response on our servers beyond the request lifetime.
Do not associate prompts with your name, Apple ID, or any persistent identifier.
Apply IP-based rate limiting to prevent abuse; rate-limit counters expire within 60 seconds and contain no message content.

DeepSeek's own privacy policy governs how they handle the prompt: https://www.deepseek.com/privacy

1.3 Microphone & Speech Recognition

With your permission, the App uses the iOS microphone and Apple's Speech Recognition framework to transcribe your voice into text. Speech recognition is performed by Apple (on-device or on Apple's servers, as iOS decides) and the audio is not sent to us. Only the resulting text is sent to the AI processor as described in 1.2, and only if you then choose to use an AI feature.

1.4 Camera & document scanning

With your permission, the App can use the camera — or an image/PDF you choose — to scan a business card or document and auto-fill client details. Text recognition (OCR) runs entirely on your device using Apple's Vision framework; PDF text is read locally with PDFKit. The image/PDF and the recognized text are stored on your device as part of the client record and are not sent to us or to the AI processor.

1.5 Photo & file selection

When you choose a company logo, or import an image/PDF to scan, iOS presents its standard photo or file picker. Only the item you pick is used; the App does not read or upload your photo library or files, and selected items stay on your device.

1.6 In-app purchases

Subscription purchases are processed by Apple via StoreKit. We receive anonymous transaction confirmations from Apple to determine entitlement; we do not receive your name, card data, or Apple ID.

1.7 Data we do not collect

Your contacts, location, or calendar.
Your photo library or files beyond the single item you explicitly pick.
Crash logs or analytics that identify you.
Advertising identifiers.

2. How we use information

To provide the App's core features (estimate generation, PDF creation, follow-up messages).
To enforce free-tier limits (max 2 estimates before subscription).
To honor your subscription entitlement.
To prevent abuse of the AI proxy via short-lived rate limiting.

We do not use your data for advertising, profiling, or sale.

3. Data retention

On-device data is retained until you delete it from the App or uninstall the App.
Server-side AI proxy: requests are not persisted. Rate-limit counters expire within 60 seconds.

4. Sharing

We share data only as follows:

DeepSeek — prompt text you send to AI features (sub-processor).
Apple — for in-app purchase processing (Apple's privacy policy applies).

We do not sell, rent, or trade your data.

5. Your rights

You can at any time:

Delete estimates, invoices, and company profile inside the App.
Revoke microphone or speech recognition permission in iOS Settings.
Cancel your subscription in iOS Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions.
Request information about, or deletion of, anything tied to you by emailing bidbuddyhelp.app@gmail.com. Because the App does not link data to a personal identifier on our side, we generally have no personal data to return or delete on our servers.

If you are in the EU/UK, you may also lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

6. Children

BidBuddy is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly process data from children.

7. Security

We use HTTPS in transit for all network requests. On-device API keys (if you choose to store one) are saved in the iOS Keychain. Apple's StoreKit handles all payment data; we never see your card information.

8. International transfers

The AI proxy is hosted on Cloudflare's global network. DeepSeek processes prompts on its own infrastructure. By using AI features, you consent to these transfers.

9. Changes

We will update the "Last updated" date and post the new policy at this URL when we make material changes. Continued use after a change indicates acceptance.

10. Contact

Questions: bidbuddyhelp.app@gmail.com