How we handle privacy at Typewise
In short: don’t worry, your data is safe. We don’t and won’t collect any data from the keyboard. To offer new features and further improve our app, we are now adding an internet connection to the app (only the app, which is technically a separate entity from the keyboard). This allows us to provide you with a better typing experience while fully protecting the privacy of your texting.
If you want to know the details and why we are doing it — enjoy our detailed explanation below 😀
Current situation
So far, Typewise (formerly WRIO) has been fully offline to guarantee that no data ever leaves your device. This comes at a price, though: many requested features from the community can’t be implemented as they require an internet connection. This includes voice-to-text, dictionary backup or animated GIFs. That’s why, starting with version 2.3.5, Typewise will be able to connect to the internet, while still protecting user privacy as we always did. Users who can live without online features can get Typewise Offline (currently Typewise PRO Lifetime).
What will change
“Typewise PRO Lifetime” will be renamed to “Typewise Offline Keyboard” and remain fully offline. In addition to all existing features, it will continue to get all future features that don’t require an internet connection.
“Typewise Custom Keyboard” will get internet access and new exciting online features over the coming months. Of course, privacy will always remain our top priority. That’s why our AI remains fully offline, and nothing you type will ever leave your device. In fact, we’re currently improving these offline algorithms together with ETH Zurich, a leading university in this field, over the next year. For this, we’re supported by Innosuisse, Switzerland’s innovation agency. To get the PRO features you still can select the monthly or annual subscriptions. A lifetime version of the online app will be available as an in-app purchase in a few weeks.
Better product improvements
To improve the tutorial, the settings and the game, we recognized the need for certain data to identify problems that users have. We only care about how many users have a certain problem, though, and not who. That’s why no personal data is collected, and nothing can be attributed to a certain user. If many users have trouble to complete a particular step in the tutorial, for example, we can quickly fix it. This helps us to improve the app significantly.
What data are we talking about
We don’t collect any data from your keyboard, and nothing will be shared with third parties. We are only interested in data from the actual app with the tutorial, the settings and the game. Already little, non-sensitive data helps us to significantly improve the app and focus on what the users benefit from most. Here’s what we’d like to know:
- What page is opened in the app
- What and how many error messages appeared in the tutorial
- What settings are used (excl. your shortcuts)
- Which subscription is chosen
- Where the app was downloaded from
Freedom of choice
Some people don’t like tracking at all, even if it’s only to identify issues in the tutorial. We respect that. That’s why we are implementing a new setting in the app to switch any internet connection off altogether, called “Offline mode”.
On upcoming iOS 14 users can disable tracking in the system settings for all apps. Typewise will be fully compliant with this new mechanism.
Full access (iOS only)
On iOS there is an additional security layer for keyboards called “Full access”, which is turned off by default. This way the keyboard is completely sandboxed in an own container and can’t access the internet. Nor can other apps access the keyboard’s data. In fact, not even the Typewise app that includes the settings and the tutorial can access it.
Since we don’t offer online features yet and our text prediction AI works 100% offline, “Full access” can’t be turned on. In the future, features such as GIF support will require “Full access” though, and you can then decide if you want to enable it or leave it disabled.
Thanks to our awesome community
Working closely with the community has always been part of our DNA and you rewarded us with thousands of reviews on the App Store, Play Store, via email, and on our suggestion platform. We also thank all our paying users for supporting the further development ofTypewise. This is really important since we don’t collect what users type, we don’t show ads, and we don’t sell any data to third parties.
You have been helping us make Typewise the awesome product that it is today, and we’re looking forward to the months and years to come, to make it even better and shape it to your needs.
Long story short: Thank you all for your support! 🤗
