Privacy policy
Effective date: September 14, 2026
Exploras is a free exploration journal. Your exploration history, photos, notes, and named places are stored locally on your device. Exploras does not send this journal to its developer, operate a server for it, or make it visible to other users. No account is required.
Information used on your device
With your permission, Exploras uses your location to uncover the map, record visits, calculate distance and path frequency, learn repeated paths, and place finds. Saved information includes discovered locations and times, visit records, daily distance totals, the current recorded path, candidate and unlocked path geometry, achievement progress, photos you choose or take, captions and notes, named places and monument icons, and associated locations and dates. App preferences are also stored locally.
Exploras has no advertising, cross-app tracking, or third-party analytics SDKs. The developer does not receive, sell, or share your local journal for advertising.
Location, camera, and photos
Location access is controlled by iOS. When tracking is enabled and your permission allows it, Exploras can record exploration in the background. You can pause history recording by turning off “Uncover as I move” in Settings. Map positioning and actions such as adding a find may still use your location while recording is paused.
Camera access is used when you choose to take a photo. The system photo picker provides the photos you select; Exploras does not scan your photo library. These photos are saved as local app copies, not uploaded to the developer.
You can change or revoke available permissions in the iOS Settings app under Exploras. Revoking a permission does not erase information already saved.
Apple services and external links
Exploras uses Apple Maps to display maps and Apple’s location services to look up place names. These features can send map requests and relevant coordinates to Apple. They are subject to Apple Maps & Privacy and Apple’s Privacy Policy. Local journal storage does not mean that all map features work offline.
Apple may also process platform diagnostics according to your device settings and Apple’s policies. Opening an external app or website from Exploras is subject to that provider’s privacy practices.
If you install a beta through TestFlight, Apple shares beta-testing information with the developer, such as crash reports, usage information, tester details, and feedback you submit. Feedback can include screenshots or other information you choose to provide. This is handled by Apple’s TestFlight service; Exploras does not upload your local journal to the developer. See TestFlight privacy and testing information.
Importing location history
History imports read files you choose and process their route locations and times on your device. Imported exploration and visit records are saved locally. Exploras does not ask for your Google or Apple account password or receive direct access to your account history.
The import guide can open Google Maps, Apple Maps, or help pages so you can obtain your own data. Files or photos selected from a cloud provider may be downloaded by that provider through iOS. Deleting an import from Exploras does not delete the original file or history held by its source provider.
Storage, backups, and deletion
Saved journal information stays in the app until you delete it or remove the app. Exploras does not provide its own cloud sync. Depending on your settings, iOS may include app data in iCloud or computer backups. Those copies are controlled through your device and backup settings; see Apple’s backup information.
In Exploras Settings, “Erase the uncovered map” deletes recorded exploration, visit frequency, daily records, current and learned paths, and travel-related achievements. Photos, notes, named places, and place-creation achievements are kept. “Delete every find” removes the app’s saved photos and notes. You can also delete individual finds, remove named places from the named places list, and forget individual unlocked paths in the field journal. Hiding a map layer does not delete its data.
Path learning keeps a limited set of up to 64 candidate paths that have not yet unlocked. When new candidates are learned, older candidates may be removed, including candidates last traveled more than 90 days ago. Unlocked paths are kept until you forget them or erase your map. All of this processing and storage happens on your device.
Deleting the app removes its local app data. Offloading the app keeps its data. These actions do not remove original photos from your photo library, original import files stored elsewhere, or existing backups. The developer cannot retrieve or erase your local journal remotely.
Contact
For privacy questions, email camggould@protonmail.com.
If you choose to email, the developer receives your email address and any information you include so they can respond. Contacting support does not give the developer access to your local journal. Please include only the information needed for your question.
Changes to this policy
This policy describes the current version of Exploras. Updates will appear here with a revised effective date when the app’s privacy practices change.