Last updated: 19 September 2026
Tellybird helps you learn English from movie and TV subtitles: you capture a subtitle, the app reads it on your device, translates it into your native language, and turns it into vocabulary you can review. This policy explains what we do and don't do with your data.
In short: there is no account, no name, no email, no ads, and no advertising or cross-app tracking. We never ask for your device location. Your photos never leave your device, and your learning data lives on your device and in your own iCloud. Some things do leave your device, each for a feature you use, and every one of them is listed below.
Tellybird is an independent, one-person app. The seller shown on the App Store listing is the data controller for the purposes of the GDPR. Contact: gettellybird@gmail.com.
Each row happens only as a result of an action you take, except the last three, which run automatically while the app is open.
| When you… | What is sent | Where it goes | Kept? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Translate a subtitle | Only the subtitle text you selected, plus your language pair | Our server → AI provider (currently OpenAI) | Not stored by us |
| Save a word | The word, its part of speech, the meaning you saved and the subtitle line it came from, so example sentences can be written for it | Our server → AI provider | Not stored by us; the examples are saved on your device |
| Practice with Quiz | The words you are practicing and the subtitle line each came from, to generate the wrong answer options | Our server → AI provider | Not stored by us; the options are saved on your device |
| Search for a show or movie | What you type in the search box. Poster images are then loaded straight from TMDB's image servers, which see your IP address like any website you visit. | Our server → TMDB | Query and result cached on our server for 14 days, not linked to you |
| Capture a subtitle | A counter of how many captures your device used in the current time window (to apply the free allowance and the Pro fair-use cap), keyed to the anonymous token below | Our server | Deleted automatically after 30 days |
| Share a word list | The list name, the show it is linked to (title, year, season), and each word with its meaning, part of speech, the subtitle line it came from, its example sentences and quiz options | Our server, so anyone with the code can import a copy | Until you use "Delete my data" |
| Subscribe to Pro | Apple tells our server your subscription status: product, expiry, whether it was refunded, sandbox or production, Apple's transaction identifier, and the random install identifier above so your Pro status can be matched without an account. These identifiers are pseudonymous. Never your name, payment details or Apple ID. | Apple → our server | For as long as needed to honor your purchase and handle refund or support questions |
| Send feedback | Your message, the feedback type, app version and language setting, the item you are reporting (the subtitle line, translation, word or quiz question) and the anonymous token, so we can see what you mean. If you choose "Send with Mail" instead, the email goes from your own mail app and only we receive it. | Our server (in-app form) or email | Form submissions are deleted automatically after 30 days; emails until we have handled them |
| The app crashes or hits an internal error | Device model, OS version, app version, basic device state (free memory and disk, orientation), a Crashlytics installation identifier and a non-personal error classification — never the captured text, your words or your lists | Firebase Crashlytics (Google) | Per Firebase's standard retention (see the Firebase Privacy link below) |
| Use the app at all | An anonymous, device-level token (Firebase Anonymous Auth + App Check / Apple App Attest) that protects our server from abuse, and a fetch of remote settings (allowances, minimum supported version) using a random Firebase installation identifier | Our server / Firebase | The token lasts as long as the app is installed; it holds no personal data |
| Use the app at all | Anonymous usage analytics: which features you use (for example "capture succeeded", "quiz completed", "paywall shown"), counts, your native-language setting, the app environment and a non-personal error class, plus what the Google SDK collects by default: IP address (used only to derive an approximate region), an app-instance identifier, device model and OS version. The events are tied to the anonymous token, not to your identity. Never the subtitle text, your words, list or show names. | Google Analytics for Firebase | 14 months, then only aggregated statistics remain |
The anonymous token is not linked to your identity — there is no login, name or email behind it. Nothing in the table can be traced back to you by us.
We do not sell your data, we do not use it for advertising, and we include no advertising or cross-app tracking SDKs. The only analytics we collect are the anonymous usage events described above.
Our Cloud Functions run on Google Cloud in the European Union (Belgium). Our database runs in Google Cloud's United States multi-region, so shared lists, counters, feedback and subscription records are stored in the US. Firebase Authentication, App Check, Remote Config, Crashlytics and Analytics, OpenAI and TMDB also process data in the United States. Transfers rely on the EU-US Data Privacy Framework where the provider is certified (Google, OpenAI) and otherwise on standard contractual clauses. None of what these providers receive from us carries your name or contact details.
Deleting the app removes everything stored on your device. The iCloud copy stays under your Apple ID until you use "Delete my data" or remove it in iCloud settings.
Delete my data (in Settings) erases everything on this device and its iCloud copy, returns the app to first launch, and deletes every list you shared so those codes stop working. It keeps only the random install identifier, so a Pro purchase can still be recognized. It does not reset capture counters, fair-use counters or in-app feedback, because those are tied only to the anonymous token and expire on their own within days or weeks; and it does not remove subscription records, which are keyed to Apple's transaction ID and hold no contact data.
One thing to know: when someone imports a list you shared, they get their own copy on their device — it is no longer the same list. Deleting yours does not remove theirs, and we cannot reach it, because it never leaves their device.
Under the GDPR you may request access to, correction, deletion or portability of any personal data we hold, object to processing based on legitimate interest, and lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority. Because we hold almost nothing that identifies you, most requests are answered by explaining that; email us and we will help.
Tellybird is not directed to children and is rated 12+ on the App Store. Translations preserve the tone of the source subtitles, which can include strong language. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13.
We may update this policy as the app evolves. Material changes will be reflected by the date above and, where appropriate, announced in the app.
Questions or requests: gettellybird@gmail.com