Last Updated: October 2026
TikGrab ("we", "our", "the app") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information the app uses, where it is processed, and the choices you have. TikGrab has no user accounts and we do not run our own servers: your library stays on your device, and data leaves the device only for the specific features and services described below.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Information You Provide (stored on your device)
- Profile & Folder Names: The names, icons and colors you choose for your profiles and folders.
- Saved Videos, Links & Metadata: Video files you save, their source links, titles/captions, hashtags, tags, duration, thumbnails, notes, favorite and Watch Later flags.
- Transcripts & AI Summaries: Text transcripts you create and AI summaries/tags you request are saved with the video in your local library.
- Extracted Audio & Trimmed Clips: Files you create with the audio extraction and trim tools are saved on your device.
- Preferences: App language, theme, notification settings, daily usage counters and your AI consent choice.
This information is stored locally using Apple's SwiftData framework and app storage. It is not sent to us. Some of it is sent to third parties only when you use the features described in sections 2–3 and by the services listed in section 8.
1.2 Information Collected Automatically
- Device Identifier (IDFA): Only if you allow it in Apple's App Tracking Transparency prompt, Google AdMob may use your device's Advertising Identifier for personalized advertising.
- Advertising Data: Information about ads shown and ad interactions, collected by Google AdMob (free users only).
- Coarse Location: Google AdMob may use your IP address to infer approximate location for ads. We do not collect precise location.
- Product Interaction Data: Usage events such as screen views, onboarding completion, purchase started/completed, ad events, plus your subscription status and app language, collected via Firebase Analytics with a Firebase app-instance identifier.
- Crash & Diagnostic Data: Crash logs, non-fatal error reports and basic device/app information, collected via Firebase Crashlytics to fix bugs.
- Purchase Data: Your subscription status is checked with Apple's StoreKit. We do not receive your payment details.
1.3 Information We Do NOT Collect
- We do not collect your name, email address, phone number or other contact information (unless you email us).
- We do not collect precise GPS location, contacts, or photos from your library. The app only adds a video to Photos when you tap Save.
- We do not use the microphone. Transcription works on the audio of videos already saved in the app.
- We never receive your Face ID or Touch ID data. Authentication is handled entirely by iOS.
- We do not upload your saved videos, extracted audio or transcripts to our own servers or to OpenAI. (Speech recognition may involve Apple; see section 3.)
2. AI Features (OpenAI)
TikGrab offers two optional AI features powered by OpenAI (model gpt-4.1-nano, via the OpenAI API): AI Summary (a short summary and suggested tags for a saved video) and AI Chat (the TikGrab AI assistant).
2.1 Your permission comes first
Before the first AI request, the app shows a consent screen explaining what is shared with OpenAI. Nothing is sent to OpenAI unless you tap Allow. If you choose Not now, AI features stay off and the rest of the app works normally. You can withdraw or give permission at any time in Settings → AI Features. Withdrawing stops all future requests immediately.
2.2 Exactly what is sent
- AI Summary (only when you tap it): the video's title/caption, its hashtags, its source link and your app language.
- AI Chat (only when you send a message or tap a suggestion): your most recent chat messages (up to 5, including the assistant's replies) and your app language. If your message is a web link, the app first loads that page itself and also sends the page's title, description, hashtags and author name.
2.3 What is never sent
- Your video files, audio, thumbnails or transcripts.
- Any account or contact information, or your advertising identifier. As with any internet request, OpenAI can see your device's IP address.
2.4 How OpenAI handles it
OpenAI processes requests to generate the response and handles data under its own privacy policy and API data-usage policies. Under those policies at the time of writing, data sent through the API is not used to train OpenAI's models by default and may be retained for up to 30 days for abuse monitoring before deletion. Responses are saved only on your device. AI output can be inaccurate. Please do not enter personal, sensitive or confidential information in AI Chat.
3. Speech-to-Text Transcripts (Apple)
When you tap the transcribe button on a saved video, the app extracts the video's audio track and uses Apple's Speech framework to convert it to text. iOS asks for Speech Recognition permission the first time.
- If your device and language support on-device recognition, the audio is processed entirely on your iPhone.
- Otherwise, the audio is sent to Apple's speech recognition service for processing, under Apple's privacy policy. We never receive it.
- Transcripts are never sent to OpenAI or to us. They are stored in your local library, and the temporary audio file is deleted after transcription.
You can turn off Speech Recognition access at any time in iOS Settings → TikGrab.
4. How We Use Information
- To save, organize and play your videos, and to provide trimming, audio extraction, private folders, widgets and reminders.
- To provide AI Summary and AI Chat after you allow it (OpenAI).
- To create transcripts (Apple Speech framework).
- To show ads to free users (Google AdMob) and personalize them only if you allow tracking.
- To understand app usage and fix crashes (Firebase Analytics & Crashlytics).
- To manage subscriptions and purchases (Apple StoreKit).
We do not sell your personal information.
5. Advertising & Tracking
TikGrab shows ads to free users through Google AdMob (banner, interstitial, rewarded and app-open ads). We ask for permission through Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) prompt before your Advertising Identifier can be used for personalized ads. If you decline, you still see ads, but they are not personalized using your IDFA. You can change this at any time in iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking.
Premium subscribers do not see ads.
6. Permissions
- Speech Recognition: for transcripts, requested on first use.
- Face ID / Touch ID: to unlock private folders. Authentication is handled by iOS.
- Photos (add only): to save a video to your Photos library when you tap Save.
- Notifications: optional local reminders (daily limit reset, Watch Later, inactivity reminders), turned on in Settings. Notifications are scheduled on your device; we do not use push servers.
- Tracking (ATT): for personalized ads, as described above.
7. Data Storage & Security
Your library, including profiles, folders, videos, notes, transcripts and AI summaries, is stored locally on your device. TikGrab has no accounts and we do not operate servers that store your library. Data sent to OpenAI, Apple, Google or other third-party services travels over encrypted HTTPS connections. Deleting the app removes its local data.
8. Third-Party Services
- OpenAI API: AI Summary and AI Chat, only after your permission. OpenAI Privacy
- Apple Speech framework: speech-to-text, on-device when supported. Apple Privacy
- Other third-party services: Links you paste into the app may be processed by third-party services to retrieve the content you request.
- Firebase Analytics & Crashlytics (Google): usage analytics and crash reporting. Firebase Privacy
- Google AdMob: advertising for free users. AdMob Privacy
- Apple StoreKit / App Store: purchases, subscriptions and update checks.
9. Children's Privacy
TikGrab is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us.
10. Your Choices & Rights
- Access & delete your library: View everything in the app. Delete individual videos, folders, profiles, transcripts or summaries, or uninstall the app to remove all local data.
- AI features: Allow or withdraw OpenAI processing at any time in Settings → AI Features.
- Speech Recognition, Photos, Notifications: Change these permissions in iOS Settings → TikGrab.
- Tracking: Change ad tracking in iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking.
- Data held by third parties: Because we have no accounts, we cannot link third-party data to you. You can contact us and we will help you with requests to OpenAI, Google or Apple under their policies. Depending on where you live (for example, under the GDPR or CCPA), you may have additional rights to access, correct, delete or object to processing.
11. Data Retention
- On your device: kept until you delete it or uninstall the app.
- OpenAI: retained by OpenAI under its API data-usage policies (at the time of writing, up to 30 days for abuse monitoring, then deleted).
- Apple speech recognition: handled under Apple's privacy policy.
- Firebase Analytics: event data kept according to Google's retention settings (up to 14 months). Crashlytics: crash reports kept for up to 90 days.
- Google AdMob: retained under Google's policies.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. If what the AI features send to OpenAI changes, the app will ask for your permission again.