Privacy Policy

Last updated: August 17, 2026

This Privacy Policy describes how Sentient Things, Inc. (“Sentient Things,” “we,” “us”) collects, uses, and shares information when you use Tide Alerts — the website at tidealerts.com, the Tide Alerts iOS and Android apps, and related Tide Alerts services (together, the “service,” “app and website”).

It also covers the Flood Levels website (floodlevels.com) where that site uses the same Sentient Things account and product stack. Flood Levels is not a shipped native app in this policy.

This policy is about the software service. Hardware purchases, leases, shipping, and store checkout happen on the Sentient Things Store and are covered by that store’s own notices — see Hardware and the Sentient Things Store.

Information we collect

Account information

You can browse maps, station pages, charts, tables, and calendars without creating an account.

If you create an account, we collect:

  • Email address and a password, if you register with email
  • Sign in with Apple or Google identifiers and the profile information those providers send us (typically email; sometimes a name or profile photo). Apple may give you a Hide My Email relay address instead of your personal email
  • Optional display name
  • Optional phone number, if you add one to your account (SMS alerts are not turned on today)

We use Firebase Authentication to create and sign you in. Account data is used to keep you signed in, sync favorites and alert subscriptions, send verification and account emails, and deliver email alerts you subscribe to.

Location (optional)

Tide Alerts can use your device location only to center the map on nearby tide stations when you tap the locate control.

  • Location is optional. You can refuse the system prompt and still use the service
  • On iOS and Android we request when-in-use location only. The iOS “Always” usage string exists because a location library includes that API; the app never asks for Always / background location
  • We do not sell location, use it for advertising, or build a movement history
  • Approximate region from your IP address may be used on the website (and in the app’s WebView) to decide whether to show a cookie-consent prompt. That is not the same as the map locate button

Email alerts

If you subscribe to a public alert, we use your account email (and your chosen station / alert) to send those messages. Alerts today are email only. We do not send push notifications, and SMS is not enabled.

We do not use alert subscriptions for advertising.

Preferences and saved content

Depending on your settings, we may store:

  • Favorite stations
  • Units, theme, and similar display choices
  • Notification-channel preferences (email on or off)
  • Alert subscriptions and related alert-profile data

Signed-in preferences are stored with your account (Firebase). Guest favorites and similar choices may be stored locally on the device or in the browser — see Cookies and similar technologies.

Device and usage information

When you use the app or website, our servers and the WebView typically receive:

  • IP address, date/time, and requested pages
  • Browser or WebView type and basic device information
  • Referring page, if a browser sent one

The native apps may also keep offline pages and recently loaded map tiles on the device so the app can show a fallback when the hosted service cannot be reached. That cache is for reliability, not a separate analytics product.

Analytics

If you allow analytics, we use Google Analytics (measurement ID configured for this Tide Alerts backend) to understand how people use the app and website — for example, which pages are opened — so we can improve the service.

Analytics is off unless you allow the analytics category in cookie / privacy settings (or, outside regions where we show a prompt first, until you change that choice). You can turn analytics off at any time from Cookies in the footer.

We do not use analytics for advertising personalization, and we do not collect an advertising ID.

What we do not collect

Tide Alerts does not:

  • Access the camera, photos, microphone, or contacts
  • Collect an advertising ID
  • Ship push-notification tokens
  • Take payment cards or shipping addresses inside the Tide Alerts app or tidealerts.com account

Share and calendar features use your device’s share sheet or calendar app. We do not receive a copy of who you shared with, beyond what those system apps already do.

How we use information

We use the information above to:

  • Operate the app and website (map, stations, charts, tables, calendars)
  • Create and secure your account (including Sign in with Apple and Google)
  • Send email verification, password reset, and email alerts you asked for
  • Save favorites and preferences you choose
  • Center the map when you allow location
  • Measure usage when you allow analytics
  • Detect abuse, fix outages, and keep the service secure
  • Respond when you contact us

Sharing

We share information with service providers who run the service for us, including:

  • Google Firebase (Authentication and related account / preference storage)
  • Apple and Google when you use their sign-in
  • Google Analytics, if you allow analytics
  • Map and tile providers used to draw the map
  • Email delivery for account and alert messages

NOAA and similar public data sources are not a “share” of your personal information; the app displays public water-level data.

We may also disclose information if required by law, or to protect Sentient Things, our users, or the public.

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use it for third-party advertising in the Tide Alerts app or website.

Cookies and similar technologies

On the website, we use cookies and similar technologies. In the native apps, the same product runs in a WebView, so you will see cookies, local storage, and Firebase session data — not a separate “cookie-only” product, and not an advertising ID.

Categories:

  • Essential — sign-in, security, and making the service work. Always on
  • Preferences — favorites, units, and display choices (optional)
  • Analytics — Google Analytics, if you allow it (optional)

There is no advertising-cookie category.

Details and how to change your choices: Cookies Policy. The footer Cookies control opens settings; it is not a substitute for this Privacy Policy.

Your choices

  • Location — allow or deny in the system prompt, and later in iOS/Android Settings
  • Account — update email, name, and sign-in methods under Settings → Account
  • Delete account — Settings → Account → Delete account. You will be asked to confirm and may need to sign in again. Deletion removes the Firebase account and related account data we store. It cannot be undone
  • Email alerts — unsubscribe from an alert or change notification preferences in the service
  • Cookies / analytics — footer Cookies, or see the Cookies Policy
  • Sign in with Apple — manage or revoke access in your Apple ID settings; Hide My Email is controlled by Apple

If you have questions about information we hold, email us using the contact below. We will respond as required by applicable law. This paragraph describes our practices; it is not legal advice about GDPR, CCPA, or any other statute.

Data retention

  • Account data is kept while the account exists, then removed when you delete the account (or when we close an account)
  • Email alert subscriptions last until you unsubscribe or delete the account
  • Server logs are kept for a limited time for security and operations
  • Analytics is retained according to our Google Analytics settings
  • On-device cache (including offline pages) stays on the device until the app or OS clears it

Children

Tide Alerts is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

Hardware and the Sentient Things Store

Tide gauges and related hardware are sold or leased at store.sentientthings.com. Checkout, payment cards, billing and shipping addresses, and store analytics are handled by that store (currently Shopify) under its privacy notice:

store.sentientthings.com/policies/privacy-policy

The Tide Alerts app and website do not collect payment cards for hardware. If you buy or lease equipment, use the store policy for order information, and this policy for your Tide Alerts account and app/website use.

Hardware service terms (lease, equipment return, subscription fees, and the customer data license) are on the store, not in this privacy page:

Tide Alerts Terms and Conditions of Service (store)

Changes

We may update this Privacy Policy when our practices or the service change. The “Last updated” date at the top will change. Continued use of the app or website after an update means you accept the revised policy.

Contact

Sentient Things, Inc.
Re: Privacy
172 Daniels Island Road
Mashpee, MA 02649
United States

Email: sales@sentientthings.com

Account and alert messages may show a From name of support@sentientthings.com. For privacy questions, use sales@sentientthings.com.

Documentation: docs.tidealerts.com