BookTrove Privacy Policy
Table of Contents
Last updated: May 24, 2026
BookTrove is published by Oscillate Labs, LLC (“we”). This policy explains what the app does with your data. The short version: BookTrove has no servers, no account, and no analytics. Your data stays on your device and is only sent to the third-party services you choose to connect.
What we collect #
We collect nothing. BookTrove has no backend, no telemetry, no advertising, and no analytics SDKs. We never see your data.
What stays on your device #
All of the following is stored locally on your device and never transmitted to us:
- Your wishlist (books from connected sources and any you add manually)
- Price history and price-drop records
- Your settings (price threshold, refresh interval, notification preferences)
Credentials you enter (Hardcover API key, Telegram bot token) are stored in your device’s secure storage — Keychain (iOS/macOS), Keystore (Android), libsecret (Linux), or Credential Manager (Windows) — never in plain text.
Data sent to third parties you connect #
BookTrove only contacts a service when you have configured it. Each request goes directly from your device to that service; it does not pass through us.
| Service | When | What is sent | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| AbeBooks | On price refresh | Book titles/authors/ISBNs from your wishlist | To look up current used/new prices |
| Goodreads | If you add your user ID | Your public Goodreads user ID | To read your public want-to-read RSS feed |
| Hardcover | If you add an API key | Your Hardcover API key | To read your want-to-read list |
| Telegram | If you enable Telegram alerts | Your bot token, chat ID, and alert text | To deliver price-drop notifications |
| WorldCat | If you tap a WorldCat link | The book title/author/ISBN in the link | To open a library lookup in your browser |
LibraryThing import is fully local: you provide a TSV file you exported yourself, and it is parsed on your device. Nothing is sent to LibraryThing.
Each of these services has its own privacy policy governing what it does with the request. BookTrove is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any of them.
Permissions #
- Camera (optional): used only to scan a book’s barcode to fill in an ISBN. Images are processed on-device and never stored or transmitted. Declining the permission only disables barcode scanning; you can still type ISBNs.
- Notifications (optional): used to show price-drop and threshold alerts.
- Background refresh / run (optional): used to check prices on a schedule even when the app is closed, where the platform permits.
Children #
BookTrove is suitable for all ages and does not knowingly collect any personal information from anyone, including children.
Data deletion #
Because all data is local, uninstalling the app removes everything. You can also delete individual books (and their history) inside the app, and remove an imported LibraryThing file from Settings.
Changes #
We may update this policy; the “Last updated” date above will change accordingly.
Contact #
Questions: mike@oscillatelabs.net