This Privacy Policy explains how Nova Guide LLC ("we," "us," or "our") handles information in connection with the Nova Guide iPhone app (the "App"). We built Nova Guide to help students organize their academic work, and we've tried to keep our data practices as minimal and transparent as possible.
The short version: Nova Guide has no servers and no accounts. Everything the App uses — your assignments, your schedule, your settings, and what the App learns about how long your work takes — is stored only on your iPhone and is never sent to us or to anyone else. If you choose to connect Google Classroom or Google Calendar, the App reads that data read-only, directly from Google to your device, to build your study plan. We don't sell your data, we don't use it for advertising, and you can disconnect or delete it at any time.
1. Information the App uses
Information you enter
Nova Guide works without an account. Assignments, class times and other commitments, personal to-dos you add (such as errands or reminders), and study preferences (such as your study window, protected time, and daily study limit) that you enter are stored on your device.
Google sign-in (optional)
If you choose to connect a Google account, Google shares basic profile information with the App — typically your name, email address, and profile picture — so the App can show which account is connected. You can connect Google Classroom and Google Calendar separately; connecting one does not connect the other.
Google Classroom data (optional)
If you connect Google Classroom, the App requests read-only access to:
- Your list of classes (class names and IDs), so each assignment can be labeled with the class it belongs to; and
- Your own coursework and submissions — assignment titles, instructions, due dates and type, and whether you have turned each one in — so the App knows what work you have, when it is due, and what is already finished.
The App cannot see other students' information, class rosters, or grades, and it never creates, changes, or submits anything in Google Classroom.
Google Calendar data (optional)
If you connect Google Calendar, the App requests read-only access to:
- The list of calendars on your account (including secondary and shared calendars), so no class or commitment is missed; and
- Events on those calendars — each event's title, start and end time, and location or description — so the App can show your schedule and plan study time around your commitments.
The App never creates, edits, or deletes calendar events.
iPhone Calendar (optional)
If you allow it, the App reads events from the Calendar app on your iPhone (for example, school Outlook/Exchange or iCloud calendars) using Apple's standard calendar permission. These events are read on your device to plan around your commitments and are never sent to us. You can turn this off in the App or in your iPhone's Settings.
What the App learns on your device
To make your plan more realistic over time, the App notices things like how long your assignments actually take compared with their estimates, and the feedback you give on your plan (for example, "too much work" or "shorter session"). This is used only to adjust your study plan — such as how much time to allow for a subject — and never to judge your abilities or infer anything about your health or wellbeing. It stays on your device. You can review what the App has noticed, and clear it, in Settings → Plan learning.
On-device app usage counts
The App keeps a few simple counters on your device (for example, how many days it has been used, how many plans it has made, and which connections are turned on). They contain no names, IDs, or content, are never transmitted, and are not shown to anyone.
Notifications and Lock Screen
If you turn on reminders, the App schedules notifications on your device; no notification service of ours is involved. If you start a study session, the App can show a Live Activity on your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island with the assignment and step you are working on. Anyone who can see your Lock Screen can see it, and you can turn it off in the App's Settings.
On-device AI (supported iPhones only)
On iPhones that support Apple Intelligence, and only if you leave this option on, the App uses Apple's on-device Foundation Models to help word suggested assignment steps, study tips, and the explanations for your daily plan. This runs entirely on your device. Any information used in these features — including data read from Google Classroom or Google Calendar — is processed locally on your device and is never sent to Apple, to us, or to any other AI service, and is never used to train or improve any AI model. These features are optional and off by default, and the App works fully without them.
Information we do not collect
- We do not operate servers that receive your data, and we do not collect your personal information.
- We do not use advertising, ad networks, or third-party analytics or tracking tools.
- We do not ask for your age, grades, health information, or school records.
- We do not sell or rent your personal information to anyone.
Apple may provide us with limited, aggregated App Store and TestFlight statistics (for example, download counts and crash reports) in accordance with Apple's privacy policies. If you take part in a beta test, we also see any feedback, screenshots, or survey answers you choose to send us.
2. How we use information
The App uses the information described above, on your device, only to:
- show your assignments, classes, and schedule in one place;
- build and explain your daily study plan, fitting work into the free time around your commitments;
- track which work is finished and show your progress;
- send the reminders you turn on; and
- show which Google account is connected.
If you contact us, we use your message only to respond to you.
3. Google API Services — Limited Use disclosure
Nova Guide's use and transfer of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements. Specifically, we use Google user data — including Google Classroom and Google Calendar data — only to provide the user-facing features described in this policy; we do not transfer it except as necessary to provide those features or as required by law; we do not use it for advertising; we do not use it to train artificial-intelligence models; and no humans read this data except with your explicit consent, where required for security, or to comply with the law. Because the App has no servers, Google user data is not transferred to us at all.
4. How information is shared
We do not sell or share your personal information. Your Google data flows only between Google and your device, and everything else stays on your device. We may disclose information we hold (for example, a support email you sent us) if required to do so by law or valid legal process.
5. Data retention and deletion
We have no systems that store your App data. On your device, the App keeps a copy of your imported Google data so it works offline; completed assignments stay visible for about a week and then drop off. You can remove your data at any time by:
- disconnecting Google Classroom or Google Calendar in the App's Settings, which removes the imported Google data from your device;
- revoking the App's access from your Google Account permissions page;
- clearing what the App has learned in Settings → Plan learning; and/or
- deleting the App, which deletes all of its data from your device.
Support emails you send us are kept only as long as needed to help you.
6. Security
Because your data stays on your device and with Google, its security depends mainly on your device's protections (such as your passcode) and on Google's own safeguards. The App requests read-only access to the minimum Google data it needs, and all communication with Google uses encrypted connections. No method of storage or transmission is completely secure.
7. Children's and teens' privacy
Nova Guide is designed for students aged 14 and older. The App is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 — the App does not send personal information to us at all. If you are under 18 (or the age of majority where you live), please use the App with the involvement of a parent, guardian, or school where appropriate, and only connect a Google account you are permitted to use. If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal information to us, please contact us at support@nova-guide.com and we will take appropriate steps.
8. Your choices and rights
You control whether to connect Google Classroom, Google Calendar, or your iPhone Calendar; whether to turn on reminders and Lock Screen study sessions; and whether to use on-device AI. You can change any of these at any time. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights regarding your personal information (such as rights to access or delete it). Because your App data is stored only on your device, you can access and delete it directly. To make a request or ask a question, contact us at support@nova-guide.com.
9. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date above and, where appropriate, provide additional notice. Your continued use of the App after changes take effect means you accept the updated policy.
10. Contact us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, contact us at:
Nova Guide LLC
Email: support@nova-guide.com