Privacy Policy

Updated September 29, 2026

Required Listening is a small independent app. We collect as little as we can, we don't sell your data, and we don't show ads. This policy covers the Required Listening iPhone app and requiredlistening.app.

The app

• Your progress is saved on your phone. The albums you check off, your ratings, and your notes are stored on your device. If you don't sign in, that's the only place they exist, and we can't see them.
• Cloud backup with Sign in with Apple (optional). If you sign in, we save a copy of your checklist (which albums you've heard and when, your ratings and notes, and which music service you use) so it comes back on a new phone or after a reinstall. Apple shares an account ID and an email address with us, which can be a private relay address if you choose “Hide My Email.” We don't ask for your name. The backup is stored with our database provider, Supabase, and only your account can read it. Delete your account any time from the app's Progress screen, and your account and backup are deleted from our servers right away.
• Anonymous usage stats and error reports. The app tells us, through our analytics provider PostHog, when it's opened and which features get used: for example, that an album was checked off, a share card was made, or a vinyl link was tapped. Each install gets a random ID that isn't tied to your name, email, or account. We don't record your screen, we don't look up your location, and we don't store your IP address with these stats. If the app crashes or hits an error, a technical report goes to PostHog so we can fix it. We use this only to make the app better and never sell it or use it for ads.
• Purchases. Unlocking all 500 albums is a one-time in-app purchase handled by Apple. We use RevenueCat to confirm the purchase and unlock the app on your devices. RevenueCat receives a random ID and your purchase details from Apple, but not your name, email, or payment card. Apple's privacy policy covers the payment itself.
• Reminders. The app schedules a few reminders on your phone from your own progress, like a nudge when you're close to a badge. They start out quiet, in Notification Center only, and you can ask for banners instead. They're created on your device; we don't send them from a server or collect a notification address. Turn them off any time in the app or in your iPhone's Settings.
• Album artwork loads from Apple's servers, so Apple receives standard request information such as your IP address when artwork appears.
• Listening links open Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music or Tidal. What happens there is covered by their privacy policies.
• Share images are created on your phone and only go where you choose to send them.
• Auto-tracking with Last.fm (optional). If you connect Last.fm, the app reads your public Last.fm listening history to see which albums you've played all the way through. Requests pass through our server so our Last.fm API key stays private. We don't store your listening history on our server; your Last.fm username and the results live on your phone. Disconnect any time from the app's Progress screen. Last.fm's own privacy policy covers what it collects.
• Spotify history import (optional). If you import the data file Spotify gives you, the app reads it on your phone to find albums you've played all the way through. The file is never uploaded, to us or anyone else, and the app doesn't keep a copy of it.

The website and waitlist

• If you join the waitlist, we store your email address with our email provider, Kit, and use it only to tell you about Required Listening. Every email has an unsubscribe link.
• The site is hosted on Vercel, which keeps standard server logs (such as IP address and browser type) to run and secure the service. We don't use advertising or tracking cookies.

Children

Required Listening isn't directed at children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect their information.

Your choices

You can unsubscribe from emails at any time, or write to us to have your email address deleted from the waitlist. You can delete your app account and its backup yourself in the app, or email us and we'll do it for you.

Changes

When we add features that handle more data, we'll update this page first and change the date at the top.

Contact

Questions? Email hello@requiredlistening.app.