privacy policy
last updated november 11, 2026
shelfling is a reading app. this page explains what we collect, why, and how to get rid of it. short version: we collect what we need to run your shelf and your friends features, and nothing gets sold.
what we collect
- your account. you sign in with apple. we receive an identifier from apple and the email apple shares with us (which can be a private relay address if you choose to hide yours). you pick a display name and username, and you can add a profile photo.
- your reading. the books you add, your progress, ratings, reviews and notes, your tbr, reading goals, and how you've decorated your shelf and styled your dragon.
- your friends. the people you add, comments you post, books you save from friends' shelves, and anyone you block.
- photos you add. if you upload a profile photo or a photo of your own copy of a book, we store it so it shows up in the app.
- embers. your embers balance, how you earned them, and the shop items you own. embers are earned in the app, never bought, so we don't collect any payment details.
- basic app data. things like app version, device type and crash reports, so we can find and fix problems.
how we use it
to run shelfling: show your shelf, sync it across your devices, power friends and comments, track goals, build your monthly recap, and keep the app working well. we don't sell your data, we don't use it for advertising, and we don't use third-party ad tracking.
what other people can see
shelfling is quietly social. friends you've added can see your profile, your shelf, what you're currently reading, your ratings and reviews, and comments you post. people you block can't find or see you.
where it lives
your data is stored on secure servers run by our hosting provider, cloudflare, so you can sign in on a new phone and pick up where you left off. we share data only with service providers that help us run the app, and only for that purpose, or when the law requires it.
book lookups and links
when you search for a book, we look up titles, authors and covers from book databases. if you tap "find on libby," the libby app or site opens - we don't send them anything about you, and their own privacy policy applies there.
notifications
if you allow push notifications, we'll use them for things like friend activity and reminders. you can turn them off anytime in your iphone settings.
how long we keep it
we keep your data for as long as you have a shelfling account. when you delete your account, we remove your data from our live systems within 30 days. backup copies are cleared on their normal cycle after that. we may keep a small amount of information longer only if the law requires it.
deleting your account
you can delete your account from your profile in the app. that removes your account, shelf, reading history, friends, comments and photos from our servers. if you'd rather we do it for you, email us and we'll take care of it. you can also stop sharing your apple id with shelfling anytime in your iphone settings under apple account → sign in with apple.
kids
shelfling isn't meant for children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect data from them. if you think a child has signed up, email us and we'll delete the account.
your rights
depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, export or delete your data. email us and we'll help.
changes
if this policy changes, we'll update the date at the top. for bigger changes, we'll let you know in the app.