Legal Stuff
Cartwheel ("we," "our," or "us") operates the Cartwheel app and website at cartwheelapp.io. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and what choices you have.
We'll keep this plain. If something isn't clear, email us at hello@cartwheelapp.io.
What We Collect
Information you give us
- Account information — your name, email address, and password when you create an account
- Profile information — your general location (zip code or neighborhood) to connect you with nearby families
- Toy inventory data — toy names, categories, descriptions, and rotation notes you enter
- Photos you upload — images of toys you add to your inventory (see "How We Use Your Photos" below)
- Circle and sharing activity — toys you mark as available to share, swap requests, and messages with other Cartwheel members
- Communications — anything you send us directly (support emails, feedback)
Information we collect automatically
- Usage data — which features you use, how often, and how you navigate the app
- Device information — device type, operating system version, and browser type
- Log data — IP address, access times, and pages visited
We may use third-party advertising and analytics tools to understand how people find and use Cartwheel, and to measure the effectiveness of our marketing. We do not sell your data.
How We Use Your Photos
When you photograph a toy to add it to your Cartwheel inventory, that image is stored and used as follows:
Core use (always):
- Displaying the toy in your personal inventory
- Showing the toy to Circle members you've chosen to share with
Potential catalog use (with notice):
- We may use toy photos to build a shared image catalog that helps other users identify and add toys more easily — for example, automatically suggesting a toy name or category from a photo
- If we introduce this feature, we will notify you in the app and give you the option to opt out of having your photos used for catalog building
- Photos used for catalog purposes will not be publicly attributed to your account
What we will never do with your photos:
- Share them publicly without your knowledge
- Use them in advertising or marketing without your explicit consent
- Sell them to third parties
You can delete a toy (and its associated photos) from your inventory at any time.
How We Use Your Information
| Purpose | Data used |
|---|---|
| Running the app | All account and inventory data |
| Connecting you with nearby families | Zip code or neighborhood |
| Sending notifications | Email address, in-app activity |
| Improving Cartwheel | Anonymized usage data |
| Responding to support requests | Whatever you share with us |
| Safety and fraud prevention | Account data, log data |
We do not use your data to build advertising profiles.
Sharing Your Information
We don't sell your personal information. We share it only in these circumstances:
- With Circle members you've joined — toys you mark as available and your first name/profile info are visible to members of your shared Circles
- With service providers — companies that help us operate (cloud hosting, email delivery, analytics). They are contractually required to use your data only to provide services to us.
- Advertising and analytics partners — tools like Meta, Google, or similar platforms may receive limited data (such as page visits or conversion events) to help us measure and improve our marketing. You can opt out of interest-based advertising through your device settings or platform-level controls.
- For legal reasons — if required by law, court order, or to protect the safety of our users
- In a business transfer — if Cartwheel is acquired or merges with another company, user data may be transferred as part of that transaction. We'll notify you before this happens.
Children's Privacy
Cartwheel is designed for parents and caregivers. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has created an account, contact us at hello@cartwheelapp.io and we'll delete it promptly.
Your Choices
Access and correction — You can view and update your profile information in the app at any time.
Delete your account — You can request account deletion by emailing us. We'll remove your personal data within 30 days, except where we're required to retain it for legal purposes.
Photos — You can delete individual toy photos or your entire inventory at any time from within the app.
Marketing emails — You can unsubscribe from non-essential emails using the link at the bottom of any email we send.
Data export — You can request a copy of your data by emailing us at hello@cartwheelapp.io.
Data Storage and Security
Your data is stored on servers located in the United States. We use industry-standard security practices including encrypted connections (HTTPS) and access controls.
No system is perfectly secure. If we discover a breach that affects your data, we'll notify you as required by applicable law.
Data Retention
We keep your data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we remove your personal information within 30 days. Some data may be retained longer in anonymized or aggregated form for product improvement purposes.
Changes to This Policy
If we make material changes, we'll notify you via email or an in-app notice before the changes take effect. The "last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent version.
Contact
Questions, requests, or concerns: hello@cartwheelapp.io