Privacy Policy

Your footage stays yours.

ReelClips is strictly an iOS-Apple-native app. Every AI run starts and finishes on your device. This page lists what data we collect, when we collect it, what we do with it, and the rights you have. Last updated July 8, 2026.

1. The short version

  • Your source video is analyzed on your device. It is not uploaded to ReelClips servers.
  • AI runs entirely on-device via Apple Intelligence. No API keys, no cloud round-trips, no third-party AI providers.
  • The only personal data ReelClips stores is your email address (for the waitlist) and your subscription receipt (for billing).
  • We do not use third-party analytics, advertising SDKs, or cross-app tracking.

2. Data we collect

2.1 Account and subscription data

If you join the TestFlight waitlist, we collect your email address and an optional role label (e.g. "podcaster"). If you purchase a subscription, Apple and / or Stripe send us a subscription receipt that confirms your tier. We do not see or store your credit card number, billing address, or Apple ID password.

2.2 iOS permissions

ReelClips requests the following iOS permissions. We only ask when the feature is first used. You can revoke any of these in iOS Settings at any time.

  • Photos library (read) — to load a source video you have selected via the system Photos picker.
  • Photos library (add) — to save the final exported clips you confirm in the export preview.
  • Speech recognition— to generate the local transcript used by the Smart Pause mode and the SRT / VTT subtitle export. Recognition runs on-device via Apple'sSFSpeechRecognizerwith requiresOnDeviceRecognition enabled. Audio is not sent to Apple servers.
  • Apple Intelligence — to run the AI Assist cut planner on-device via theFoundationModelsframework. Requires iOS 26+ and Apple Intelligence enabled in iOS Settings. The on-device AI runtime processes your feature pack locally; no video, audio, or analysis data is transmitted.
  • File access (Files / external drives) — to import a video you have chosen from the Files app or a connected drive, and to export your .reelclip project files.

2.3 What we never collect

  • Your source video or any rendered clip.
  • Your audio, transcript, or any AI feature pack sent to the on-device model.
  • Your contact list, photo library contents, location, or device identifiers.
  • Crash reports, analytics, or behavioural telemetry.

3. How we use data

We use the data we collect only to:

  • Send you the TestFlight invitation you signed up for.
  • Verify your subscription tier and unlock the corresponding features.
  • Respond to your support requests if you email us.
  • Comply with legal obligations (e.g. tax records for paid subscriptions).

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal data with third parties for marketing or advertising.

4. AI processing — fully on-device

ReelClips ships with an "AI Assist" cut planner powered by Apple Intelligence, the on-device foundation-model framework that Apple introduced in iOS 26. When you tap "Ask Apple Intelligence" in AI mode, ReelClips builds a compact feature pack from your video — audio energy levels, silence markers, planned segment durations, and your edit prompt — and passes it to the on-device model. The model runs entirely on your phone's Neural Engine:

  • No part of the feature pack leaves your device.
  • No video, audio, or transcript is uploaded to Apple, ReelClips, or any third party.
  • No API key is required and none is stored. Apple Intelligence is a system framework, not a service.
  • If your device is ineligible (pre-iOS 26, or Apple Intelligence disabled in iOS Settings), AI Assist is unavailable — ReelClips does not silently fall back to a cloud provider. The other three cut modes (Cut, Silence, Splice) remain fully usable on any device.

Apple Intelligence is governed by Apple's Privacy Policy. Apple has stated that Foundation Models requests are processed on-device; the on-device AI runtime does not send prompts to Apple servers.

5. Project data on your device

ReelClips stores your projects, planned ranges, scene metadata, and highlight drafts in a JSON file inside the app's sandbox (Application Support / ReelClip /). This directory is excluded from iCloud backup. The data never leaves your device unless you explicitly share a .reelclipproject file via the iOS share sheet, AirDrop, or Files.

6. Children

ReelClips is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has submitted an email to our waitlist, contact us and we will delete it.

7. International data transfers

The waitlist backend (Convex) is hosted in the European Union. Stripe and Apple may process payment data in the United States or other regions under their own privacy frameworks. The on-device AI runtime does not introduce any cross-border data flow.

If you are in the European Economic Area, United Kingdom, or California, you have the right to access, correct, port, or delete the personal data we hold about you. Email privacy@reelclips.app to exercise these rights. We respond within 30 days.

8. Data retention

  • Waitlist email: until you ask us to delete it, or until you unsubscribe.
  • Subscription receipts: 7 years (tax / accounting obligations).
  • Support emails: 2 years.
  • On-device project data: until you delete the app or the project.

9. Security

We use industry-standard transport security (HTTPS / TLS) for all network communication. Because ReelClips has no API-key storage and no traditional account system, there is no credential material for us to protect beyond your email address and subscription receipt.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this privacy policy as the product evolves. The "Last updated" date at the top will change. Material changes (e.g. adding a new data category) will be announced via a TestFlight build release note or an email to active subscribers.

11. Contact

Questions, data requests, or complaints:

12. Manage your data and subscription

You can review and manage your App Store subscription, including cancellation, at any time in iOS Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions. You can also manage your ReelClips account and request data deletion at reelclips.app / account.