Privacy Policy
Last Updated: May 19, 2026
At Sona, privacy is the foundation of everything we build. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you use Sona: Calm Clarity ("the App"). We write this to be human-readable — not a legal obstacle course.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Information You Provide
- Voice Recordings: Audio files you create in the App — processed on-device and never stored on our servers.
- Transcripts & Clarity Reports: The text generated from your recordings, stored to your account.
- Account Information: Email address and display name (via email sign-up, Apple Sign In, or Google).
- Preferences: Settings and options you configure within the App.
1.2 Automatically Collected Information
- Usage Data: Screen views and feature usage — anonymized, never linked to journal content.
- Device Information: Device type, OS version, and App version.
- Crash Reports: Anonymized diagnostic data to improve stability.
1.3 What We Do NOT Collect
- Physical address, phone number, or government identifiers
- Contacts, photos, or other app data
- Location data
- Your audio file (only the text transcript is processed)
2. How We Use Your Information
2.1 Primary Uses
- Generating your personalized Clarity Report via OpenAI's API
- Storing your journal history to your account
- Sending push notifications you've opted into
- Improving app stability and performance using anonymized data
2.2 What We Never Do
- Use your journal content to train AI models
- Sell, rent, or share your personal information for commercial purposes
- Target you with advertising
- Share your entries with other users
3. Security
3.1 Encryption in Transit
All data transmitted between your device and our servers uses TLS 1.2+ encryption.
3.2 Encryption at Rest
All data stored on our servers is encrypted at rest using industry-standard encryption protocols.
3.3 Access Controls
- Your data is protected by secure authentication.
- User-scoped queries ensure you can only access your own data.
- Database access is restricted to authorized personnel only.
- Regular security audits and monitoring.
4. Data Storage and Retention
4.1 Storage Location
Your data is stored on secure cloud infrastructure provided by Firebase (Google Cloud) with servers located in the United States.
4.2 Retention Period
- Active Users: We retain your data for as long as your account is active.
- Inactive Accounts: Accounts inactive for 24 months may be deleted after 30 days' notice.
- Deleted Accounts: All personal data is permanently removed from production servers within 30 days of account deletion.
- Backup Copies: Deleted within 90 days of account deletion.
- Voice Recordings: Deleted immediately after transcription — never stored on our servers.
- OpenAI Transcripts: Not retained by OpenAI after the response is returned.
4.3 Your Control
You can delete individual journal entries at any time within the App. To request deletion of your entire account and all associated data, contact us at contact@sonalistens.com or use "Request Data Deletion" in Settings.
5. Data Sharing and Third Parties
5.1 Service Providers
We use the following trusted third-party providers to operate Sona. Each is contractually prohibited from using your data for any purpose beyond providing services to us:
Account authentication, data storage, and crash reporting. Privacy Policy
AI analysis of voice journal transcripts to generate Clarity Reports. Only the text transcript is sent — never your audio file or personally identifying information. OpenAI does not retain or train on API data. Privacy Policy
Subscription management across platforms. Privacy Policy
Anonymized usage analytics — screen views only. No journal content is ever sent. Privacy Policy
Backend error monitoring. Personal data is filtered before transmission. Privacy Policy
Payment processing for subscriptions through the App Store.
5.2 No Data Brokers
We do not share your personal information with advertisers, advertising networks, data brokers, aggregators, marketing companies, or social media platforms.
5.3 Legal Compliance
We may disclose your information if required by law, such as in response to valid legal processes (subpoenas, court orders), or to protect the rights, property, or safety of our users or the public. We will notify you of legal requests for your data unless prohibited by law. In the event of a merger or acquisition, you will be notified with the option to delete your account before any data transfer occurs.
6. Your Rights and Choices
6.1 Access and Portability
You have the right to access all your data stored in Sona. You can export your data in JSON or PDF format through the App's Settings.
6.2 Deletion
You can delete individual journal entries at any time within the App. To request full account deletion, contact us at contact@sonalistens.com. Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.
6.3 Opt-Out Options
- Analytics: Contact contact@sonalistens.com to opt out of anonymized analytics.
- Push Notifications: Disable in your device Settings at any time.
- AI Processing: Stop using the recording feature. Existing entries and reports remain accessible.
6.4 Rights Under Privacy Laws
- Legal basis: your consent and our legitimate interest in providing the service.
- Right to access, correct, delete, or restrict processing of your personal data.
- Right to data portability.
- Right to withdraw consent at any time.
- Right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
- Right to know what personal data we collect and how it is used.
- Right to delete your personal information.
- Right to opt out of sale of personal data (we never sell your data).
- Right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights.
Email contact@sonalistens.com with "California Privacy Rights" in the subject line.
7. Children's Privacy
Sona is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at contact@sonalistens.com and we will delete that information promptly. For users between 13 and 18, we recommend parental guidance when using the App.
8. International Data Transfers
If you access Sona from outside the United States, your data will be transferred to and processed in the United States. By using Sona, you consent to this transfer. We take appropriate measures to ensure your data receives adequate protection in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable laws.
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date, notify you through the App or via email, and for significant changes, request your consent before continuing to use the App. Your continued use of Sona after notification constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.
Terms of Service
Last Updated: May 19, 2026
1. Acceptance of Terms
By downloading, accessing, or using Sona: Calm Clarity ("the App"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms") and our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated herein by reference. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the App.
2. Description of Service
Sona is a voice journaling application that uses artificial intelligence to help you reflect, understand your emotions, and build self-awareness. You record voice entries; the App transcribes them and uses OpenAI's API to generate a personalized Clarity Report including an emotional summary, key themes, an insight, a reflection question, and a suggested action.
3. Eligibility
You must be at least 13 years of age to use Sona. If you are between 13 and 18 years old, you may only use Sona with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. By using the App, you represent and warrant that you meet these requirements.
4. Accounts
You may be required to create an account to access certain features. You are responsible for providing accurate information during registration, maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials, and all activity that occurs under your account. Notify us immediately at contact@sonalistens.com if you suspect unauthorized access.
5. Subscriptions and Payments
5.1 Plans and Pricing
- 1 free journal entry with full Clarity Report
- PDF export of your report
- Unlimited voice journal entries
- Full AI Clarity Reports (emotion, themes, insight, reflection, action)
- Pattern tracking across entries
- Full journal history and PDF export
- All Premium Monthly features
- Billed once annually
Prices are in U.S. dollars and may vary by region. We reserve the right to change pricing with reasonable notice.
5.2 Billing and Renewal
Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew at the end of each billing period unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the renewal date.
5.3 Cancellation
Manage or cancel your subscription anytime through your Apple ID account settings. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period — you retain access until then.
5.4 Refunds
All payments are processed by Apple. Refund requests are handled by Apple in accordance with their refund policy.
6. Artificial Intelligence and Data Processing Consent
6.1 How Sona Uses AI
Sona uses OpenAI's API to generate your personalized Clarity Reports. When you record a journal entry, the text transcript of your recording is transmitted to OpenAI's API for analysis. Your audio file is never sent — only the text.
6.2 Your Consent
Before your first recording, you will be shown a detailed disclosure screen explaining exactly what data is sent, to whom, and how it is used. You must explicitly accept this disclosure before using the recording feature.
6.3 What This Means for You
- Your transcript text is sent to OpenAI solely to generate your Clarity Report.
- OpenAI does not retain your data or use it to train its models, per their API Terms of Service.
- You can stop using the recording feature at any time to prevent further data processing by OpenAI.
- Existing journal entries and Clarity Reports are not affected if you stop recording.
6.4 AI Disclaimer
Clarity Reports are generated by artificial intelligence and are for personal reflection and wellness purposes only. AI-generated content may not always be accurate, complete, or appropriate for your situation. Sona is not a substitute for professional mental health care.
7. Mental Health Disclaimer
Sona is a personal wellness and reflection tool. It is NOT medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, therapy, or counseling. It is NOT a substitute for professional mental health care.
If you are in crisis
- Emergency Services:
911(US) - Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:
988(US, call or text) - Crisis Text Line: Text
HOMEto741741(US) - International: findahelpline.com
8. Acceptable Use
You agree to use Sona only for lawful purposes. You agree not to:
- Use the App for any illegal activity.
- Upload or transmit harmful, abusive, defamatory, or obscene content.
- Attempt to reverse engineer, decompile, or extract the source code of the App.
- Interfere with or disrupt the App's servers or infrastructure.
- Use the App to collect information about other users.
- Impersonate any person or entity.
- Share your account credentials with any other person.
9. Intellectual Property
Sona, its design, branding, and all original content are owned by Sona Wellness and protected by applicable intellectual property laws. Your journal entries and voice recordings remain your property. By using the App, you grant Sona Wellness a limited, non-exclusive license to process your content solely as described in these Terms and our Privacy Policy.
10. Service Availability
We strive to maintain reliable access to Sona but do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free service. We may perform maintenance or updates that temporarily affect availability. We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any feature of the App at any time.
11. Termination
You may delete your account at any time via Settings or by emailing contact@sonalistens.com. Upon deletion, your data will be permanently removed from our servers within 30 days. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account if you violate these Terms or engage in conduct that is harmful to other users or to us.
12. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability
THE APP IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, SONA WELLNESS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES — INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES — ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE APP.
13. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Sona Wellness, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your use of the App or violation of these Terms.
14. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, United States, without regard to conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of Sona shall be resolved through binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association, except that either party may bring a claim in small claims court where applicable.
15. Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms periodically. When we make material changes, we will notify you through the App or via email. Your continued use of Sona after such notification constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.
16. Apple-Specific Terms
- These Terms are between you and Sona Wellness only — not Apple Inc.
- Apple has no obligation to provide maintenance or support for Sona.
- Apple is not responsible for any claims related to the App or your use of it, including product liability, legal compliance, or consumer protection claims.
- Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of these Terms and may enforce them against you.
Contact
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or Terms of Service, please contact us:
- Email: contact@sonalistens.com
- Website: sonalistens.com
We respond to all inquiries within 30 days.