Privacy Policy

Overview

TripMate is an iOS commute companion for Sydney train and metro riders. Today, TripMate does not run a TripMate user account or cloud sign-in service. Your profile display name, preferences, saved trips, and trip history are stored on your device. There is no TripMate server that stores your trip history.

If we add account or cloud features later, we will update this Privacy Policy before those features go live.

Information we handle

Depending how you use TripMate, the following may be involved:

• On-device data — profile display name, preferences, saved trips, trip history, route result caches, and local timetable data stored as JSON, UserDefaults, or SQLite on your iPhone.
• Location — device location while the app is in use (When In Use), to centre the map and help find nearby stations.
• Transit requests — origin/destination coordinates or station identifiers sent to Transport for NSW (TfNSW) Open Data APIs so TripMate can return routes, departures, and related transit information.
• Advertising identifiers — on the free tier, advertising partners may use identifiers permitted by Apple (including after App Tracking Transparency consent, where required) to deliver or measure ads.
• Support messages — if you email support@tripmate.app, we receive the content of your message and any details you choose to include. We do not otherwise collect email for an account.

TripMate does not currently use separate analytics SDKs or crash-reporting products beyond what Apple or advertising partners may collect under their own products described below.

Location

TripMate requests location access in the When In Use mode. Location is used to centre the map, find nearest stations, and support trip features while you use the app.

Location is processed on your device for map and nearby-station behaviour. When you plan or follow a trip, requests to TfNSW may include the origin, destination, or station identifiers needed to return routes and departures. You can deny or later revoke location permission in iOS Settings; some features that depend on your position may then be limited.

Transit data (Transport for NSW)

TripMate calls Transport for NSW Open Data APIs for trip planning, departure monitors, car-park occupancy, and downloads public GTFS timetable data. Requests use a developer API key owned by TripMate. This is transit infrastructure data, not a TripMate analytics product.

How TfNSW processes requests is governed by Transport for NSW’s own terms and privacy practices for Open Data.

Maps

Maps in TripMate use Apple MapKit. Map display and related Apple services are subject to Apple’s privacy policy and terms.

Advertising

On the free tier, TripMate shows Google AdMob banner ads. Where required, we use Google’s User Messaging Platform (UMP) so you can review consent and privacy choices for ads.

Apple’s App Tracking Transparency framework and advertising identifiers may be used to deliver personalised ads when you allow tracking. If you decline, you may still see ads that are less personalised, depending on platform rules and your choices.

Premium subscribers do not see ads. Advertising partners process data under their own policies (for example, Google’s advertising and privacy documentation).

Subscriptions and payments

Premium purchases are processed by Apple through StoreKit and the App Store. TripMate does not receive your full payment card details. Apple handles billing, receipts, and subscription management according to Apple’s terms and privacy policy.

Local features on your device

Some TripMate features run entirely or primarily on your device:

• Sleep / nap alarm using local notifications, device audio, and haptics.
• Offline-leaning timetable data kept in an on-device SQLite seed or cache.
• Route result caching stored on the device.

Your controls

In TripMate → Settings you can delete all user data stored by the app on your device, including saved trips, history, profile, settings, and cached routes.

Where required, Settings may also expose Ad Privacy Choices through Google UMP. You can manage location and tracking permissions in iOS Settings at any time. Uninstalling TripMate removes the app’s on-device data from that device.

Children

TripMate is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided information through voluntary support contact, email us and we will take appropriate steps.

Sharing and third parties

TripMate does not sell your personal information.

Information may be processed by third parties as needed to operate the app, including:

• Transport for NSW (transit Open Data APIs and GTFS).
• Apple (MapKit, StoreKit / App Store, iOS system services).
• Google (AdMob and UMP on the free tier), where ads are shown.

Those organisations may process data under their own privacy policies, which may involve processing outside Australia. We share only what is needed for the services described in this policy.

Retention

On-device TripMate data remains on your iPhone until you delete it in Settings, clear it by other means on the device, or uninstall the app. Third parties such as Apple, Google, and TfNSW retain information according to their own retention policies. Support emails we receive are kept only as long as needed to respond and operate support.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the effective date at the top of this page. Continued use of TripMate after an update means you accept the revised policy. Material changes will be reflected here; check this page periodically.

Last updated: 15 July 2026.

Contact

Privacy questions: support@tripmate.app.