1. About this policy

This policy describes how Gell (“we,” “us,” or “our”) handles personal information when you use our Mac, iOS or web app, visit gell.app, join our waitlist, or contact us. It also applies to our beta versions. Questions or requests can be sent to info@gell.app.

2. Information we collect

• Account information: your email address, account identifier, authentication records and preferences. Passwords are stored as protected hashes, not readable passwords. Where passkeys are available, we store the public credential information—not your device’s biometric data.
• Space profiles: the display name, username, introduction and profile image you choose for each space, plus any defaults you choose to save.
• Community content: messages, replies, reactions, files and media you upload, and associated details such as author, channel, file name, file type, size and timestamps. Uploaded files can contain metadata embedded in the original file.
• Service activity: space and channel memberships, invitations, roles, read markers, notification preferences and administrative audit records.
• Technical information: session and security records, IP addresses, browser or device information and operational logs processed by our authentication and hosting services to deliver and protect Gell.
• Information you send us: waitlist email addresses, support correspondence and feedback. Apple may also make beta feedback and diagnostics available through TestFlight, subject to Apple’s settings and policies.

We do not require access to your contacts or precise location to use community chat. Photo, camera, microphone and notification permissions are requested only where relevant to a feature you choose to use.

3. How we use information

We use information to create and authenticate accounts, deliver messages and files, show your chosen identity, manage memberships and permissions, synchronize preferences and read state, send account verification and recovery emails, provide support, maintain security, investigate abuse and diagnose service problems.

If you join the website waitlist, we use your email to send Gell-related updates. You can unsubscribe or contact us to leave the list. Account and security emails are separate from optional updates.

We do not sell personal information, serve targeted advertising, or use cross-app advertising tracking.

4. Who can see your information

Other people in your communities. Your space profile and content are visible to people who have access to the relevant space or channel. Authorized space administrators and moderators can manage membership, content, storage and audit information according to their permissions. People who can view content may copy, download or share it outside Gell.

Your default profile is a convenience, not a public identity shared across every space. Different space profiles remain linked to your account within Gell’s systems. Pseudonymous profiles are not a guarantee of anonymity.

Service providers. We use Convex for application data and authentication infrastructure, Cloudflare for file storage, delivery and transactional email, and hosting and email services for our website, waitlist and support. Apple provides app distribution and TestFlight services. During the beta migration, previously stored records may also remain in our earlier Xano backend. Providers process information needed to supply their services under their applicable contractual and privacy commitments; they are not provided community content for advertising.

Other limited circumstances. We may disclose information when required by law, to protect people or the service, investigate misuse, or carry out a business transfer subject to applicable privacy protections.

5. Security and private channels

Gell uses encrypted network connections, authenticated access controls and restricted file storage. Native apps store session credentials in the device Keychain; the web app uses browser storage and authentication mechanisms to maintain sessions.

Gell is not currently end-to-end encrypted. A private channel restricts access by other app users; it does not make its content inaccessible to the infrastructure that runs Gell. Information may be accessed for operating, supporting or securing the service. No online system can guarantee absolute security.

Authorized file links are time-limited, but anyone who obtains a valid link may be able to use it until it expires. Content already downloaded cannot be recalled.

6. Retention and deletion

Messages do not automatically expire. This also applies to free accounts. We retain published messages to provide ongoing conversation history unless they are deleted through available controls or handled as part of a valid deletion request. Reaching a storage limit does not itself authorize deletion of message history.

File cleanup is separate and off by default. An authorized space manager can explicitly enable cleanup of files older than a chosen period. This removes eligible files, not the text of the messages they were attached to. Storage limits may prevent additional uploads until space is freed or the applicable limit changes.

Deleted content is removed from normal access, and stored file objects are queued for deletion. Removal from every storage system is not necessarily immediate. Limited metadata, security or audit records, backups and migration copies may remain where needed for recovery, security or legal obligations. Copies saved by other members are outside our control.

You can request account and personal-data deletion at info@gell.app. We may need to verify your identity and clarify how shared community content should be handled. A request concerning migrated data will also be assessed against retained legacy copies; we do not treat disabling sign-in as completed deletion.

7. Your choices and privacy rights

You can edit your space profiles and account defaults, manage available notification settings, revoke device permissions in system settings, and use available message and file controls. Authorized space managers can export permitted community data.

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete or obtain a copy of your personal information, restrict or object to certain processing, or withdraw consent where processing depends on it. Contact info@gell.app to make a request. You may also have the right to complain to your local data protection authority.

8. Cookies, local storage and the website

The web app and website use cookies or local storage where needed for authentication, security, preferences and site operation. Browser settings can remove or block this storage, although some features may then stop working. This policy’s no-advertising statement does not mean the website stores no cookies.

9. International processing and children

Our service providers may process information outside your country. Applicable privacy protections and provider arrangements apply to that processing.

Gell is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their personal information. If you believe a child under 13 has provided information, contact us so we can investigate and take appropriate action.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as Gell evolves. The date above identifies the latest revision. We will provide additional notice of material changes where required.