Privacy Policy
Last Updated: August 19, 2026
Monk AI Labs Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Monk," "we," "us," or "our"), is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use the Monk mobile application and related services at monk.zone (collectively, the "App" or "Services").
By using Monk, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.
1. Information We Collect
We collect only the data needed to provide Monk's core functionality: locking distracting apps, helping you build habits, earning Monk Coins, unlocking scroll time, and tracking your progress.
a) Account Information
When you sign in with Apple or Google, we receive information needed to create and manage your account, such as your email address (or an Apple anonymized relay email), display name, and a Firebase user ID. Account credentials are handled by Firebase Authentication.
b) Profile and Onboarding Information
To personalize your experience, we may collect information you provide during onboarding or in your profile, such as your name, age range, self-reported screen time, timezone, bedtime preferences, and selected habits.
c) Screen Time and App Blocking Data
With your permission, Monk uses Apple's Screen Time APIs (Family Controls) to block apps you choose. Your detailed Screen Time usage data stays on your device. We do not receive your full app usage history, browsing activity, or the names of apps you use for marketing purposes.
We may store on your device and sync limited metadata needed for blocking to work across sessions, such as opaque app selection tokens and the number of apps selected. This data is used solely to enforce app blocking and unlock sessions.
d) Habits and Progress
The habits you select, timer sessions, completion logs, and related progress data are stored in Firebase so you can sync across devices and see your history in the App.
e) Monk Coins and Scroll Usage
Monk uses a coin economy. We store your coin wallet balance, coin ledger events (such as earning coins from habits or spending coins on scroll unlocks), active and completed session records, and scroll usage summaries (for example, minutes unlocked per day). This data is stored in Firebase and is required for the coin and unlock features to work.
f) Quick Coins and Camera Photos
Some habits ("Quick Coins") use your device camera to verify completion (for example, Touch Grass or Drink Water). When you choose to complete a Quick Coin:
- You take a photo on your device.
- The photo is uploaded temporarily to secure cloud storage (Google Firebase Storage).
- A cloud function sends the photo to OpenAI for automated verification that the habit was completed.
- The photo is deleted from Firebase Storage once verification completes, whether verification succeeds or fails.
- We store only the verification result (and grant Monk Coins if verification succeeds)—not the image.
Important: Quick Coin photos are used only to verify habit completion and grant coins. They are not used for advertising, facial recognition, biometric enrollment, or identifying you. We do not sell Quick Coin photos to third parties.
g) Stats and Listen
We aggregate scroll time versus habit time for display in the Stats tab. We may also store your Listen tab preferences, such as favorite tracks and recently played content.
h) Subscriptions
If you subscribe to Monk Pro, subscription status and purchase-related information are processed by RevenueCat and Apple In-App Purchase. We store subscription status on your account to unlock Pro features.
i) Referrals
If you use invite or referral features, we store your referral code, referral link, and related referral counts to provide rewards and track invites.
j) Push Notifications
If you enable notifications, we store a Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) device token on your account to send reminders and alerts you opt into.
k) Technical, Analytics, and Diagnostic Information
We collect information about how the App is used and how it performs, including:
- App events (for example, habit started, coin earned, scroll session ended)
- Device type, operating system version, app version, locale, and timezone
- Crash reports and error logs
- On supported iOS versions, Mixpanel Session Replay may record anonymized in-app interactions to help us improve the product
This data is processed through services such as Mixpanel, Google Firebase Analytics, Firebase Crashlytics, and Singular (for attribution and deep links). We use this information to fix bugs, improve performance, and understand product usage—not to sell your data to advertisers.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
- Provide core App functionality (app blocking, habit tracking, Monk Coins, Quick Coins, scroll unlock, Stats, Listen, and Profile features)
- Verify Quick Coin completions via automated photo analysis
- Personalize your experience based on your habits, goals, and preferences
- Process subscriptions and referral rewards
- Send push notifications you have enabled
- Analyze usage and diagnose crashes to improve Monk
- Prevent fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access
- Comply with legal obligations
We do not use your Screen Time data, habit logs, or Quick Coin photos for targeted advertising. We do not sell your personal information.
3. Legal Bases for Processing (EEA, UK, and Switzerland)
If you are in the European Economic Area, United Kingdom, or Switzerland, we process personal data based on:
- Contract: To provide the App and Services you request
- Consent: For optional features such as camera-based Quick Coin verification and, where required, certain analytics
- Legitimate interests: To secure the App, prevent abuse, and improve our Services, where those interests are not overridden by your rights
- Legal obligation: Where we must comply with applicable law
4. How We Share Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share limited information only in these situations:
a) Service Providers
| Provider | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Google Firebase | Authentication, database, cloud storage, analytics, crash reporting, push notifications, cloud functions |
| OpenAI | Quick Coin photo verification only (temporary; photo deleted from our storage after verify) |
| Mixpanel | Product analytics and session replay (on supported devices) |
| Singular | Marketing attribution and deep linking |
| RevenueCat | Subscription management |
| Apple | Sign in with Apple and In-App Purchases |
| Sign in with Google |
These providers process data on our behalf under contractual obligations to protect it and use it only to provide services to us.
b) Legal Compliance
We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, or to protect the rights, safety, and security of Monk, our users, or others.
c) Business Transfers
If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred. We will notify you before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
We do not share Screen Time usage data, habit progress, or Quick Coin photos with advertisers.
5. Data Storage, Retention, and Deletion
Local Data
Some data (such as app blocking state) is stored locally on your device via Apple's App Group storage until you delete it or uninstall the App.
Cloud Data
Account, habit, coin, stats, and related data are stored securely in Google Firebase, primarily in the United States. We retain this data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Services.
Quick Coin Photos
Quick Coin photos are stored only for the short period needed to complete automated verification. We delete them from Firebase Storage immediately after verification finishes, whether verification succeeds or fails. We do not keep Quick Coin photos on our servers afterward.
Account Deletion
You can delete your account at any time in Profile → Delete Account. When you delete your account, we permanently remove your personal data from our systems, including your Firebase account, user profile, habit data, coin ledger, and related records, except where retention is required by law (for example, payment or tax records handled by Apple or RevenueCat).
Quick Coin photos are already deleted after verification; account deletion removes all other personal data we hold.
Deletion is generally completed within 30 days.
6. Your Choices and Controls
- Permissions: You can revoke Screen Time, camera, notification, or other permissions anytime in your device Settings. Some features will not work without the required permissions.
- Quick Coins: You choose whether to use camera-based Quick Coins. You can skip Quick Coins and use timer-based habits instead.
- Account Deletion: Delete your account and associated data through Profile settings.
- Local Data: Uninstalling the App removes locally stored data on your device.
7. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, restrict, or object to processing of your information, receive a portable copy, or withdraw consent.
California residents (CCPA/CPRA): We do not sell or share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.
EEA, UK, and Swiss residents (GDPR): You may lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority. Contact us first at hello@monk.zone and we will respond within 30 days.
To exercise your rights, email hello@monk.zone or use in-app account deletion where available.
8. Children's Privacy
Monk is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, contact us at hello@monk.zone and we will delete it promptly.
9. Security
We use industry-standard security measures, including encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS) and secure cloud storage. While no system can guarantee complete protection, we work to keep your data safe and collect only what Monk needs to function.
10. International Data Transfers
Your information may be processed in the United States and other countries where our service providers operate. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses for transfers from the EEA, UK, or Switzerland.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices, the App, or legal requirements. If we make material changes, we will notify you through the App or by email. The "Last Updated" date at the top indicates when this policy was last revised. Continued use of Monk after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
12. Contact Us
Questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices?
Monk AI Labs Inc.
Email: hello@monk.zone
Website: https://monk.zone