The Last Bites

Bookmark Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 28, 2026

The short version: Bookmark’s developer collects no personal data. There are no Bookmark accounts, analytics, ads, tracking, or developer-operated servers. Your library stays on your devices and in your iCloud. When you use Read Together, only the information you choose to share is delivered through Apple’s CloudKit to your reading group.

What the app stores, and where

  • Your books and reading positions. Titles, covers, formats, and saved positions live on your device. If iCloud sync is available, they sync through your private iCloud database using Apple’s CloudKit. Bookmark’s developer does not receive or access this information, and there is no Bookmark account to create.
  • The photos and screenshots you use to save your place. These are stored with your private library and may sync through your private iCloud database so they are available on your other devices. Text recognition runs on your device using Apple’s built-in framework; the recognized page text is not sent to Bookmark’s developer.
  • Your private notes and margin comments. Text, voice memos, and short videos you pin to a reading position are stored on your device and may sync through your private iCloud database. Speech recognition is provided by Apple; processing may occur on-device or through Apple’s service depending on the device, language, and system settings. Bookmark’s developer does not receive the recording or transcript.
  • Your own EPUB and PDF files. Books you import stay in the app’s storage on your device. If you choose to sync an ebook file, a copy is stored in your private iCloud for your other devices. Bookmark does not sell, supply, or host your imported books.
  • Author’s Commentary. Author notes are included in the app or retrieved as app content. Which commentary you have unlocked is stored with your private reading data and is not reported to the author or Bookmark’s developer.

Read Together

Read Together is optional. When you create or join a reading group, Bookmark uses Apple’s CloudKit to deliver selected information among that group’s members. Depending on the choices you make, this can include:

  • Your chosen display name and the reading group’s name, book, meeting details, and reading target.
  • Your reading progress, only when you turn on progress sharing.
  • Notes, reactions, voice recordings, or short videos, only when you choose to share them. A shared note must have a reading position so Bookmark can keep it hidden from members who have not reached that point.

Reading-group information is stored in Bookmark’s Apple CloudKit container so group members can retrieve it. Access is controlled by the group’s six-character invitation code, so share that code only with people you want in the group. Bookmark does not use this information for analytics, advertising, author reports, or any other developer purpose, and the developer does not inspect group content. You can stop sharing a note, disable progress sharing, or leave a reading group at any time. Leaving removes your shared notes and presence from that group while keeping your private copies in your own library.

Book search and cover information

When you search for a book or ask Bookmark to find book details, covers, page counts, or author information, the app sends the title, author, ISBN, or search words needed for that request directly to Open Library or Google Books. Like any internet request, those services also receive technical information such as your IP address. The request does not pass through a Bookmark server, and Bookmark’s developer does not receive or retain it. Those services handle information under their own policies: Internet Archive / Open Library and Google.

What the developer does not do

  • No accounts, sign-ups, or logins.
  • No analytics, tracking, or advertising SDKs.
  • No developer-operated servers receiving your library, reading activity, notes, photos, recordings, or imported books.
  • No inspection or use of private iCloud data or Read Together content.
  • No reading dashboards or engagement reports for authors, because building those would require collecting exactly the data this policy promises not to collect.
  • No selling, renting, or using personal data for advertising.

Notifications

Reading reminders are local notifications scheduled on your device. If enabled, Read Together activity can be delivered through Apple’s CloudKit and Apple Push Notification service; Bookmark does not operate a notification server or receive your device token.

Deleting your data

Removing a book or note in Bookmark deletes it from your library and propagates that deletion through iCloud when sync is enabled. Unsharing a note or leaving a reading group removes the corresponding information you shared with that group. Deleting the app removes its local data from that device; synced data may remain in your iCloud and can be managed through Bookmark or in Settings > Apple Account > iCloud.

Children

Bookmark is not directed at children under 13. Bookmark’s developer does not knowingly collect personal data from children or from anyone else through the app.

Changes

If this policy ever changes, the new version will be posted at this address with a new date at the top.

Contact

Questions? Email chris@insearchofacity.com.