Overview
Algebra Buddy is designed to work without an account for core lessons, practice, graphing, deterministic solving, and progress tracking. It does not contain advertising, use third-party advertising trackers, or sell personal information.
Data stored on your device
Algebra Buddy stores app-owned learning data locally, which may include:
- Your selected curriculum level, learning goal, explanation style, tutor mode, daily goal, appearance, haptic, and motion preferences.
- Completed lessons, topic mastery, study minutes, practice attempts, correctness, independence, and daily activity summaries.
- Bookmarks, local settings, compact copies of successful Photo Solver crops saved in Problem History, and cached files created by normal app use.
- A random installation identifier used to rate-limit and protect optional AI requests.
- Keychain records of included Photo Solver and Tutor allowance usage, remaining purchased AI pack balances, and delivered consumable transaction identifiers. These records stay on the device and can remain after reinstalling or using Reset Everything so allowances cannot be repeatedly restored and the same pack is not delivered twice.
Your permission for cloud AI
Before Algebra Buddy sends a photo or Tutor message for the first time, the app identifies Cloudflare and OpenAI, describes the information that will be sent and why, and asks for your explicit permission. Declining does not affect the included on-device lessons, practice, graphing, deterministic solver, work checker, or local progress.
You can withdraw permission at any time in Algebra Buddy Settings under Data and Privacy by choosing Withdraw AI Processing Permission. Withdrawal stops future photos and Tutor messages from being sent. It does not undo requests you previously authorized or delete local Problem History; those items can be deleted in the app.
AI Photo Solver
AI Photo Solver is optional. When you choose it, Algebra Buddy may process:
- The worksheet or handwritten-problem image you capture or select.
- Your device locale, used to tailor learner-friendly language.
- The random installation identifier sent to QnSub's service for rate limiting and abuse prevention.
The app creates a compressed JPEG for the request and sends it over HTTPS to Algebra Buddy's Cloudflare service. The service validates the request, hashes the installation identifier before using it as an OpenAI safety identifier, and sends the image to OpenAI to recognize and solve the problem. Algebra Buddy sets the OpenAI Responses API store option to false so response application state is not retained under that feature; separate abuse-monitoring retention and applicable short-lived prompt caching may still occur as described below.
Image handling
A selected crop is sent only after you review it and choose to solve it. A successful solve saves a compact copy of that crop locally in Problem History so you can revisit the problem. Results that need review are not charged and are not saved to Problem History. QnSub does not place worksheet images in its custom operational logs. Avoid scanning documents that contain a student's name, school information, grades, faces, addresses, or other unrelated personal information.
AI Algebra Tutor
The optional Algebra Tutor sends your message, up to 10 recent conversation turns, a random installation identifier, device locale, selected Tutor mode, and explanation style through Algebra Buddy's Cloudflare service to OpenAI. The installation identifier supports rate limiting and abuse prevention. The service restricts requests to algebra, checks them for safety, and requests a learner-focused response. Tutor conversations are not saved by Algebra Buddy after you close the Tutor. Only a successful in-scope algebra reply counts toward an allowance.
Operational logs
The AI service may create operational logs containing a random request identifier, request timing, response status, service error code, model name, token counts, and whether a result required review. The logging code is designed not to include worksheet images, Tutor messages, recognized problem text, solution steps, or the raw installation identifier.
Camera and photo-library permissions
Camera access is used to scan a printed or handwritten algebra problem. Photo-library access is used when you select an existing worksheet image. You decide whether to grant these permissions, and you can change them in iOS or iPadOS Settings. The included local learning tools remain available without photo access.
App Store services
Apple processes app purchases, subscriptions, refunds, receipts, and Apple Account information. Algebra Buddy reads verified StoreKit entitlements on your device and may query Apple's public app catalog by bundle identifier and region to check for a newer version. QnSub does not receive your Apple Account password or payment-card details.
AI allowances
Five AI Photo Solves and five AI Tutor replies are included per device. A consumable purchase adds 30 AI Photo Solves and 30 AI Tutor replies that stay available on that device until used, can be purchased again, and do not renew automatically. Keychain records track included usage, remaining purchased AI allowances, and delivered pack transactions; they may remain after deletion, reinstallation, or Reset Everything to prevent repeated grants or duplicate delivery. The Weekly Pass includes up to 50 AI Photo Solves and 50 AI Tutor replies per subscription week. Unused weekly allowances do not carry forward. The complete on-device course, practice, graphing, deterministic tools, and local progress remain available when the pass is inactive or expires.
Service providers and retention
Cloudflare delivers and protects Algebra Buddy's API traffic. OpenAI processes authorized photo crops and Tutor messages to provide the requested AI result. QnSub requires service providers processing Algebra Buddy data to handle it consistently with this policy and to provide the same or equivalent protection for personal information. QnSub does not permit either provider to use Algebra Buddy content for advertising or cross-app tracking.
OpenAI may retain prompts, images, responses, and related safety metadata in abuse-monitoring logs for up to 30 days by default. OpenAI may retain them longer when legally required or reasonably necessary to protect its services or a third party, while approved Zero Data Retention or Modified Abuse Monitoring controls can reduce content retention. OpenAI does not use API data to train its models unless the developer explicitly opts in; QnSub has not opted in. Cloudflare processes network metadata needed to deliver and protect requests under its applicable retention and security controls.
No advertising or sale of data
- Algebra Buddy does not require a QnSub account.
- Algebra Buddy does not include advertising SDKs.
- QnSub does not sell learning data or worksheet images.
- QnSub does not use worksheet images for behavioral advertising.
- QnSub does not track users across unrelated apps or websites.
Deleting data and making a privacy request
Settings includes Reset Everything to Factory Settings, which clears app-owned progress, preferences, bookmarks, Problem History, saved photo crops, cached files, and the current installation identifier, then returns to onboarding. Deleting the app also removes its normal local data container. App Store purchase history remains with Apple, and included or purchased AI allowance records may persist in Keychain as described above.
To withdraw permission for future AI processing, use Settings > Data and Privacy > Withdraw AI Processing Permission. To ask a privacy question or request deletion of service data that QnSub can identify and control, email appsupport@qnsub.com with the subject Algebra Buddy Privacy Request. Do not include worksheet images, Tutor messages, student names, or other sensitive information in the email. Because Algebra Buddy has no account and uses a random installation identifier, QnSub may be unable to associate already detached or expired provider records with a particular person, but it will act on identifiable records it controls and explain the outcome.
Device backups
Local app data may be included in device or iCloud backups according to your Apple settings. Apple controls those backup systems under its own terms and privacy practices.
Children and educational use
Algebra Buddy is an educational tool and does not provide social messaging or public profiles. Parents, guardians, schools, and learners should avoid placing personal student information in photographed problems and should follow applicable school rules and privacy requirements.
Security
AI requests use HTTPS, an app-access token, request-size validation, per-installation and global rate limits, structured responses, and the OpenAI Responses API store option set to false. No internet service can promise absolute security, so submit only the algebra content needed for the requested solve.
Changes to this policy
If Algebra Buddy's privacy practices materially change, this page will be updated with a new effective date and, when appropriate, an in-app or App Store notice.
Contact
Questions, support requests, and privacy concerns can be sent to appsupport@qnsub.com. Please include Algebra Buddy in the subject.