Effective July 25, 2026

Privacy.

Swell is built to answer a small question with the smallest practical amount of data. This policy explains what the iPhone app and this site use, why, and what choices you have.

Data Swell uses

Break and location information

If you grant location permission, Swell uses your device location to find nearby surf breaks. You can instead choose a listed break or drop a pin. Selected coordinates are sent to forecast and map providers to return information for that area. Swell does not send exact custom coordinates to its paywall analytics provider.

Preferences and forecasts

Your selected break, favorite and watched breaks, ideal conditions, units, notification settings, onboarding state, and recent forecasts are stored locally on your device so the app can work quickly and show saved information when a network is unavailable.

Purchases and app analytics

Apple processes purchases. Superwall helps Swell present subscription offers and understand paywall outcomes. Superwall receives an app-generated anonymous identifier, general product preferences, and purchase or paywall events. It does not receive your name or email from Swell, and custom break coordinates are excluded.

Service providers

• Apple Weather supplies atmospheric forecasts.
• Licensed marine provider supplies wave, tide, and water readings when configured through Swell’s server boundary. Until that source is configured, Swell withholds the surf call rather than inventing marine values.
• Apple App Store processes subscriptions and entitlement records.
• Superwall configures paywalls and subscription experiences.
• OpenStreetMap services may resolve or discover named places and breaks.
• Vercel hosts this site and Swell’s server-side weather/marine boundaries.

These services may process IP address, request time, device/network metadata, and requested coordinates under their own policies. Swell does not sell personal information or use it for third-party advertising.

Permissions

Location and notifications are optional. You can change either in iOS Settings. Forecasting works with a manually selected break. Swell does not require camera, microphone, contacts, or photo-library access.

Retention and deletion

Local preferences and cached forecasts remain until you reset the app, delete them from Swell’s settings, or uninstall the app. Server weather responses are cached briefly for reliability and cost control, then expire. Hosting security logs may be retained by the host under its operational policy. Apple retains purchase records as required for subscriptions. Superwall retains its anonymous profile under its service policy.

You can remove local Swell data from the app’s Data & Privacy settings. For a request concerning Swell-controlled information, email privacy@tocld.com. We may need limited information to verify and complete a request. See the Data Choices page for device controls.

Children and international use

Swell is not directed to children under 13 and does not knowingly collect their personal information. Service providers may process data in countries other than yours using their applicable transfer safeguards.

Changes and contact

Material changes will be posted here with a new effective date. Contact privacy@tocld.com for privacy questions or support@tocld.com for product help.