Sotto does not collect your personal data. There is no account, no analytics, no advertising, and no tracking. Your library, listening history, bookmarks, and settings stay on your device. We — the makers of Sotto — never see them.
Who this policy covers
This Privacy Policy describes how Sotto (“the app,” “we,” “us”), a privacy-first audio player for audiobooks, podcasts, and music, handles information. It applies to the Sotto app for iPhone and iPad. Sotto is made by Sottoapps.
Data we collect
None. Sotto is designed so that we collect no personal data from you. You don't create an account, and the app has no analytics, advertising, or tracking systems built in. In Apple's App Privacy terms, Sotto's data collection is “Data Not Collected.”
What stays on your device
Everything you do in Sotto is stored locally on your device (and, if you choose, in your own iCloud — see below). We have no access to any of it. This includes:
- Audio files and audiobooks you import
- Podcast subscriptions and downloaded episodes
- Playback position, listening history, streaks, and statistics
- Bookmarks, notes, and on-device transcripts
- Custom titles, cover images, and image pools you set
- App settings and preferences (equalizer, speed, privacy options, and so on)
Your listening statistics are calculated on your device and are never uploaded to us or anyone else.
On-device processing
When you ask Sotto to transcribe or summarize a bookmarked passage, that processing happens on your device. The audio and the resulting text are not sent to us or to any third-party service for this feature.
Network connections you initiate
Sotto only connects to the internet to do things you ask it to. Depending on how you use the app, that may include:
- Podcasts & RSS: when you search for, subscribe to, or refresh a podcast, Sotto contacts the relevant podcast directory and the feed's own servers to fetch episodes and artwork.
- A server you connect: if you connect your own media server (for example, a self-hosted Audiobookshelf instance), Sotto communicates directly with the address you provide. We are not involved in that connection.
These requests go directly from your device to those services, which have their own privacy practices. Sotto does not route them through us and does not add any identifiers of its own.
Optional iCloud sync
If you enable iCloud sync, Sotto uses your own iCloud account (through Apple's iCloud/CloudKit) to keep things like bookmarks and playback progress consistent across your devices. This data is stored in your personal iCloud and is governed by Apple's Privacy Policy. We do not operate this storage and cannot access its contents. If you don't enable iCloud sync, nothing leaves your device for this purpose.
Purchases
Any purchases or subscriptions are handled entirely by Apple through the App Store. Sotto never sees or stores your payment information. Apple's handling of purchases is covered by Apple's Privacy Policy.
Advertising and tracking
Sotto contains no advertising and no tracking. We do not use the Advertising Identifier (IDFA), we do not track you across apps or websites, and we do not build a profile of you. Because we don't track you, Sotto does not present App Tracking Transparency prompts for that purpose.
Third-party services and SDKs
Sotto does not include third-party analytics, advertising, or tracking SDKs. The only outside services involved are ones you choose to use — podcast feeds and any media server you connect — plus Apple's own services for the App Store and optional iCloud sync.
Children's privacy
Sotto does not collect personal information from anyone, including children. The app is not directed at children under 13, and because we collect no data, we do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
Retaining and deleting your information
Because your data lives on your device, you are in control of it. Deleting the Sotto app removes the data stored on that device. If you used iCloud sync, you can manage or remove that data through your device's iCloud settings. If we don't hold any of your personal data, there is nothing for us to delete on our end.
Changes to this policy
If we change how Sotto handles information, we'll update this page and revise the “Last updated” date above. Material changes will be reflected here before they take effect in a new version of the app.
Contact
Questions about this policy or Sotto's privacy practices? Email privacy@sottoapps.com.
This policy applies to the Sotto app and reflects how the app works today. It does not cover any third-party services, websites, or servers you choose to connect to, which are governed by their own privacy policies.