WordHaven ("we", "us", or "our") is a word puzzle game for iOS developed by an independent developer. This Privacy Policy explains what information is (and is not) collected when you use the app, how data is stored, and your rights.
We have written this policy to meet the requirements of the Apple App Store, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and other applicable privacy laws. By downloading or using WordHaven, you acknowledge this policy.
WordHaven collects no personal information from you. We do not collect, process, transmit, or store:
There is no registration, no sign-in, and no user account of any kind.
Puzzle sharing (optional): If you choose to use the Create Puzzle feature and share it, the following non-personal puzzle content is transmitted to our server: the puzzle words and letter tiles, a puzzle title (if you enter one), a creator display name (if you enter one — defaults to "Anonymous"), and a difficulty rating. This data describes the puzzle itself, not you. No account or personal identifier is attached to it.
To provide a functioning game experience, WordHaven stores the following data locally on your device only, using the device's WebView local storage (equivalent to a private on-device database). This data never leaves your device and is never accessible to us or any third party:
This data is stored using standard browser/WebView localStorage APIs. It is sandboxed to the app and cannot be read by other apps on your device. If you delete the app, all of this data is permanently erased. We have no ability to recover it for you.
The core WordHaven experience — campaign levels, the daily puzzle, power-ups, and all gameplay — works entirely offline. All word lists, level data, puzzle content, and assets are bundled inside the app and never transmitted over the internet during gameplay.
Community features: The optional puzzle-sharing and Explore features connect to our cloud database (Supabase) to store and retrieve shared puzzles. The following network activity occurs only when you use these features:
In every case, only puzzle-related data is transmitted — never a user ID, device ID, or any personal identifier.
The only other network activity is standard App Store functionality handled entirely by Apple (downloading the app, automatic updates), governed by Apple's Privacy Policy.
WordHaven includes optional features that let you create crossword-style puzzles and share them with others via a unique share code. Using these features is entirely voluntary.
What is stored on our servers: When you share a puzzle, its content (words, letter tiles, title, creator display name, difficulty) is stored in our cloud database. This data is associated only with the puzzle's share code — not with any user account or personal identifier. The puzzle is accessible to anyone who has its share code or finds it via the Explore page.
Creator display name: You may optionally enter a display name that appears alongside your puzzle. If left blank, it defaults to "Anonymous." We recommend not entering your real name or any personally identifying information. An automated content filter is applied to display names before they are stored.
Content moderation: All puzzles pass through an automated content filter before being shared. Community members can report puzzles containing offensive or inappropriate content using the in-app Report button. Our team reviews flagged content and may hide or remove puzzles that violate our content guidelines. Puzzles that receive a threshold number of reports are automatically hidden pending review.
Removing your puzzle: To have a puzzle you created removed from our servers, please email us at wordhavencontact@gmail.com with the puzzle's share code and we will delete it promptly.
WordHaven uses a small number of third-party services. We do not use advertising networks, behavioural analytics platforms, social login SDKs, or crash reporting services.
We do not use Firebase Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, Segment, Crashlytics, Sentry, Bugsnag, or any similar analytics or monitoring service.
WordHaven does not track you across apps or websites and does not participate in any advertising network or data broker relationship. We do not use Apple's Advertising Identifier (IDFA) and the app does not request App Tracking Transparency (ATT) permission. We have no interest in your behaviour outside the game.
WordHaven is distributed exclusively through the Apple App Store. Apple may independently collect certain information as part of standard iOS and App Store operations — such as download records, crash logs submitted through iOS Settings, or aggregate usage data — subject to Apple's Privacy Policy. We do not receive, access, or control any such data.
When you use Background App Refresh, iOS audio session management, or other iOS system features, these are handled entirely by iOS and Apple. WordHaven does not receive any personal data from these interactions.
WordHaven does not knowingly collect personal information from anyone, including children under the age of 13 (or the relevant age of digital consent in your jurisdiction, such as 16 under GDPR). The puzzle-sharing feature transmits only puzzle content — no personal information — and is therefore appropriate for all ages.
If you are a parent or guardian and have concerns about your child's use of the app, please contact us. We are happy to address any concerns and can remove any puzzle content upon request.
Your locally stored game data is protected by your device's own security features, including your device passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID, and by Apple's app sandboxing.
Puzzle data stored on our servers is protected using Supabase's security infrastructure, including Row Level Security policies that prevent any client from modifying or deleting puzzle records. Only the puzzle content you explicitly chose to share is publicly accessible — no personal data is ever stored on our servers.
Device data: All game data stored locally on your device is retained for as long as you have the app installed. Uninstalling the app permanently erases all local data.
Server data (shared puzzles): Puzzle content you share is retained on our servers so others can continue playing it. To request deletion, email wordhavencontact@gmail.com with your puzzle's share code and we will remove it. Puzzles hidden or removed through moderation are deleted from public access immediately.
Report data: When you submit a report on a puzzle, the share code and your selected report reason are stored for moderation purposes only. This data contains no personal information about you.
Depending on where you reside, you may have rights under applicable privacy laws, including:
Because WordHaven collects no personal data about you, there is nothing to access, rectify, port, or opt out of on a personal level. If you wish to delete puzzle content you have shared, please contact us and we will remove it promptly.
WordHaven is available globally through the Apple App Store. Your local game data stays on your device, in the country where you use it, under your sole control. Puzzle content you choose to share is transferred to and stored on Supabase servers located in the United States. Since no personal data is involved in this transfer, applicable cross-border data transfer restrictions are not engaged.
We may update this Privacy Policy if future versions of the app introduce new features. Any material change that involves the collection of personal data will be clearly disclosed before that version is released, and any legally required consents will be sought at that time. The effective date at the top of this page will always reflect the most recent revision.
We encourage you to review this page periodically. Continued use of the app after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the privacy practices of WordHaven, please reach out:
Email: wordhavencontact@gmail.com
We aim to respond to all privacy inquiries within 2 business days.