Your privacy matters. This Privacy Policy explains what information Dropping Birds collects, how we use it, and your rights regarding your data. Dropping Birds is built and operated by Tech Artists ("we," "us," or "our"). This policy applies to the Dropping Birds mobile application and the droppingbirds.app website.
The TL;DR 🪺
- We don't ask for your name, email, or account. Dropping Birds works without any sign-up.
- Game progress is stored on your device. We don't have a cloud database with your data.
- Your app store handles purchases. We never see your payment info.
- We may use anonymous crash reports and analytics to fix bugs and improve the game.
- On iPhone and iPad, ads are light and non-personalized. A short ad shows between runs (after a 30-day ad-free trial); a one-time Remove Ads purchase turns it off. Rewarded ads are always opt-in.
- On Android there are no ads at all. No ad SDK, no advertising ID, and nothing to buy.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Information You Provide Directly
Dropping Birds does not require you to create an account, and we do not ask you to submit personal information to play. The only situations where you may directly provide information are:
- Email signup on our website — if you enter your email at droppingbirds.app to receive product updates, we'll store that email address solely to send you updates about Dropping Birds. You can unsubscribe at any time.
- Support requests — if you email us, we'll have whatever you send us (your email address and your message).
1.2 Information Collected Automatically
When you use Dropping Birds, we (or services acting on our behalf) may automatically collect:
| Category | What it is | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Device data | Device model, iOS or Android version, language, region | Make sure the game runs correctly on your device |
| Crash reports | Anonymous logs of crashes and errors | Find and fix bugs |
| Gameplay analytics | Anonymous events (e.g., runs played, cascades triggered, mode chosen, session length) | Improve game balance and design |
| Local game state | Your high score, last mode selected, and "Remove Ads" purchase flag — stored locally on your device via the game's own save file | Persist your best score across runs and remember your Remove Ads purchase |
| Ad signals (App Store version only) |
Between-run and opt-in rewarded ad views, plus the device "advertising identifier" used for non-personalized ad delivery and fraud prevention | Show ads, grant rewards you choose to earn, and measure ad performance (non-personalized) |
This automatic data is collected in aggregate or pseudonymous form — we don't tie it to your real identity, name, or contact information.
Google Play version
The Android build contains no advertising SDK. The "Ad signals" row above does not apply to it: no advertising identifier is read, no ad events are recorded, and no ad or analytics network receives anything from your device. The only data the Android version stores is the local save file described above, which never leaves your phone.
1.3 Information from Apple (App Store version)
If we offer Apple's Game Center for leaderboards or achievements, Apple may share certain information with the game (such as a Game Center nickname or ID) to enable those features. Your use of Game Center is governed by Apple's privacy policy. We do not receive your full Apple ID or payment information.
2. How We Use Information
We use the information described above to:
- Provide, operate, and maintain Dropping Birds;
- Detect, diagnose, and fix bugs and crashes;
- Understand how players use the game so we can improve it;
- Operate the ad system and remember your Remove Ads purchase (App Store version only);
- Respond to your support requests;
- Send you product updates and announcement emails, if you signed up for them;
- Comply with legal obligations.
We do not use your data for targeted advertising, and we do not sell your personal information.
3. About Ads in Dropping Birds
Dropping Birds is free to play on both stores, but the two versions handle ads differently.
App Store · iPhone and iPad
The iOS version uses two kinds of ads:
- Between-run ads — a short, full-screen ad that may appear on the game-over screen between runs. New players get a 30-day ad-free trial first, and these ads are frequency-capped so they don't appear every run. The one-time Remove Ads purchase turns them off permanently.
- Opt-in rewarded ads — ads you choose to watch for a benefit (for example, refilling a power-up or continuing a finished run). These are always your choice and remain available even after Remove Ads.
To serve ads we use a third-party ad SDK (Google AdMob). It collects technical information needed to deliver, verify, and measure ads (a device advertising identifier, ad-engagement events, coarse/IP-based location). We request non-personalized ads only: we do not use the iOS Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA) for cross-app tracking, and the app does not show an App Tracking Transparency prompt. Apple's SKAdNetwork is used for privacy-preserving install attribution.
If you purchase Remove Ads, the between-run ads stop appearing on your device. (Opt-in rewarded ads still work if you choose to use them.)
Google Play · Android
The Android version shows no ads of any kind — no between-run ads, no rewarded ads, and no trial period to run out. There is nothing to remove and no Remove Ads purchase, because the game is simply free.
This is not just a setting that is switched off. The advertising SDK is not compiled into the Android app at all: it ships without the Google Mobile Ads libraries, so the app never reads your device's advertising identifier, never contacts an ad network, and sends no data off your device for advertising or measurement.
If we add ads to the Android version in a future release, we will update this policy and our Google Play Data Safety declaration in the same release that introduces them.
4. Legal Bases (for users in the EEA / UK)
If you are located in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, our legal bases for processing your personal data are:
- Performance of a contract — to provide the Dropping Birds service to you;
- Legitimate interests — to fix bugs, improve the game, and protect against fraud or abuse;
- Consent — for email signups and any optional data collection where consent is required;
- Legal obligations — to comply with applicable law.
5. Children's Privacy
Dropping Birds is suitable for general audiences, but it is not directed at children under 13 (or under 16 in some jurisdictions). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
6. How We Share Information
We share data only in these limited ways:
- Apple — for App Store distribution, payments, Game Center (if offered), and crash reporting via Apple's tools.
- Google — for Google Play distribution and crash reporting via Play's own tools. The Android version shares nothing with any advertising service.
- Ad and analytics providers — service providers we engage to operate the ad system and aggregate analytics, under contracts that restrict their use of the data to providing services to us. Ad providers receive nothing from the Android version, which contains no ad SDK.
- Legal compliance — when required by law, court order, or to protect rights, safety, and property.
- Business transfers — if Tech Artists is acquired or assets are transferred, your information may be part of that transfer, subject to this policy.
We do not sell or rent your personal information.
7. Data Retention
We keep information only as long as needed for the purposes described in this policy. Specifically:
- Local game data (high score, settings, Remove Ads flag) stays on your device until you delete the app or clear it.
- Email signups are kept until you unsubscribe or request deletion.
- Anonymous analytics and crash data are typically retained for up to 24 months.
- Support correspondence is retained as needed to resolve your issue and meet legal/recordkeeping obligations.
8. Security
We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect data we hold, including encryption in transit (HTTPS) and access controls. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Your Rights
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you;
- Correct inaccurate information;
- Delete your information;
- Restrict or object to certain processing;
- Withdraw consent at any time (where processing is based on consent);
- Receive a portable copy of your information;
- Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
To exercise any of these rights, email us at techartists.support@gmail.com. We'll respond within the timeframes required by applicable law.
For California residents (CCPA / CPRA)
California residents have the right to know what personal information we collect, to delete it, to correct it, and to opt out of sale or sharing of personal information. As noted above, we do not sell or share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.
10. International Data Transfers
Tech Artists is based in the United States. If you access Dropping Birds from outside the U.S., your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the U.S. or other countries where our service providers operate. Where required, we use appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses for these transfers.
11. Third-Party Services
Our app and website may include links to or use of third-party services (such as Apple's App Store, Game Center, Google Play, Google AdMob, and email service providers). Those services have their own privacy practices, which we encourage you to review. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties. Note that Google AdMob applies to the App Store version only — the Google Play version does not include it.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we'll update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. If we make material changes, we'll provide more prominent notice (such as in-app notification or via the website). Continued use of the Service after changes take effect means you accept the updated policy.
13. Contact Us
For privacy questions, data requests, or anything else:
Tech Artists
Email: techartists.support@gmail.com
Website: techartists.com · droppingbirds.app