Privacy

Last updated September 13, 2026
Margin keeps what it needs to track your reading and show you your library on every device, and nothing else. There are no ads, no tracking across apps or websites, and nothing is sold or shared for marketing.

Your account

You sign in with Apple, with Google, or with an email address and password, all handled by Firebase Authentication. Margin keeps your email address and the name you choose, to sign you in and recover your account. With Sign in with Apple you can hide your real email.

Your reading

Reading sessions, streaks, goals, your library, collections, genres, progress, highlights and notes are stored in your account so they sync between your devices. Books you upload (EPUB and PDF) and their covers are stored in private storage that only your account can read. Your profile and books are private.

Your recordings

Chapters you record aloud are stored in your iCloud, not on Margin's servers, so they're on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac and only you can reach them. If iCloud is off, a recording stays on the device that made it until you turn iCloud on. Margin keeps only each recording's title, chapters, and length in your account, so your list stays in step. Videos of your recordings are made on your device. Recordings made with earlier versions of Margin stay in private storage that only your account can read, until you delete them.

Book lookups and photos

To find a cover or details for a book, Margin sends its title, author or ISBN to Open Library and Google Books. If you add a book by taking a photo of it, the photo is sent to Google Cloud's AI services to read the title and author. Margin doesn't store the photo unless you choose it as the book's cover.

Purchases

Margin Plus is sold through the App Store, and Apple handles payment; Margin never sees your card. RevenueCat keeps a record of what you bought, linked to your Margin account id, so your purchase works on all your devices.

Assistants and connections

If you connect an assistant to your library over MCP, Margin keeps only a hashed record of the access you approved, so it can be revoked. Disconnecting removes it.

Usage analytics

Margin uses Google Analytics to count, anonymously, which screens and features get used, so we can see what helps and fix what doesn't. It records things like opening a book, finishing one, or starting Margin Plus, with a random id for your browser or device. It never includes your name, email, account id, book titles or notes. On the website nothing is measured until you choose Allow, and you can say no thanks. In the app it's on unless you turn off Share anonymous usage on the You tab, which also forgets that id. Advertising features and Google Signals are off, the data isn't used for ads or sold, and Google keeps it for 14 months.

Email

Margin sends email to your account address when your account needs it: a welcome when you join and a link when you reset your password. Reading reminders and news arrive only if you turn them on, and every one of those emails has a link to unsubscribe. Email is sent through Brevo, which receives your address and the message.

On your device

Reminders and the reading timer use local notifications on your device. News notifications are off unless you turn them on; while they are on, Margin keeps your device's push token to send them, and deletes it when you turn them off or sign out. The camera and microphone are used only while you are scanning a book or recording, and only after you allow them. When you choose Hear yourself, your voice goes straight to your headphones and nowhere else. Photos is used only to save a video you asked to save there.

Where it's kept

Your data is stored with Google Cloud and Firebase in the United States and is encrypted in transit and at rest.

Deleting your data

You can delete your account from the Account screen in the app. That removes your profile, library, uploaded books, recording details, notes and reading history. Recordings in your iCloud are yours to keep; delete them in the app first, or from the Margin folder in iCloud Drive. Purchase records are kept by Apple and RevenueCat as required for billing.

Children

Margin isn't directed at children under 13 and doesn't knowingly collect their data.

Questions

Ask anything about your data through the form on the support page. If this policy changes, the date at the top will change with it.

Acknowledgements

Icons by Coolicons, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Illustrations from Mind Shelter by Somewhat Brilliant, used under licence. Assistant logos come from Simple Icons and remain their owners' trademarks.