Privacy Policy — RowRiver
Last updated: 6 September 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how the RowRiver mobile application (“the App”, “we”, “us”) handles your information. RowRiver is an indoor-rowing companion app that connects to your rowing machine over Bluetooth and lets you “row” along virtual rivers.
1. The short version
- RowRiver does not require an account and does not ask you to sign in.
- Your profile and workout data are stored only on your device.
- We do not sell your data, show ads, or use analytics or tracking SDKs.
- Data leaves your device only when you choose to share or export a workout (e.g. via the Android share sheet).
- Maps are drawn using third-party tile servers, which receive your device’s IP address as part of normal internet requests (see section 4).
2. Information stored on your device
The following is saved locally on your device and is not transmitted to us (we operate no servers and have no access to it):
- Profile you enter: name or nickname, age, height, weight, nationality, and app preferences (language, theme).
- Workout history: distance, time, calories, stroke count, stroke rate, average heart rate, the selected river, and the date/time of each session.
- Bluetooth device choices.
This data remains on your device until you delete individual workouts inside the App or uninstall the App. Note that Android’s system backup feature may include app data in your own Google account backup, governed by Google’s privacy policy.
3. Bluetooth and heart-rate data
RowRiver connects to:
- your rowing machine (standard FTMS rowers and Concept2 PM5), to read live metrics such as distance, speed, stroke rate, time and calories; and
- an optional heart-rate monitor (standard Bluetooth Heart Rate Service) or a paired Wear OS watch, to display your heart rate.
This information is used in real time to drive the workout screen and is saved to your local workout history. It is not sent to us.
4. Internet connections
The App uses the internet only for map tiles and terrain: map imagery is loaded from third-party tile providers (such as OpenFreeMap and AWS Terrain Tiles). To serve these tiles, those providers necessarily receive standard request information, including your device’s IP address. Their use of that data is governed by their own privacy policies.
5. Permissions and why they are used
- Bluetooth (scan/connect): to find and connect to your rowing machine and heart-rate monitor. The App does not use Bluetooth scans to derive your physical location.
- Location (Android 11 and older only): older Android versions technically require location permission to perform any Bluetooth scan. The App does not use GPS or your location for any feature. On Android 12 and newer this permission is not requested.
- Notifications: to show the ongoing notification while a workout is running in the background.
- Internet: for map tiles.
6. Data sharing
We do not share your personal data with anyone. The only outbound data flows are the ones you initiate: sharing or exporting a workout.
7. Children
RowRiver is not directed to children under the age of 13 (or the equivalent minimum age in your country) and we do not knowingly collect data from them.
8. Your rights
Because your data is stored locally on your device, you are in direct control of it: you can view, export and delete it within the App, and uninstalling the App removes it. If you are in the EU/EEA, you also have rights under the GDPR (access, rectification, erasure, portability and objection); to exercise them, or for any privacy question, contact us at the email above.
9. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top will reflect the latest version. Material changes will be communicated through the App or the store listing.
10. Contact
For any questions about this Privacy Policy, contact: rowriver.app@gmail.com