beanPrivacy, in plain words.
Bean privacy policy · Last updated October 9, 2026
Your board belongs on your device.
Bean does not require an account. Your chosen photos, recorded words, custom tiles, groups, and settings are saved locally. Bean does not upload that content to Gorse Bush Studios.
What this policy covers
This policy describes Bean: AAC & Communication for iPad and iPhone, provided by Gorse Bush Studios LLC, and these Bean information pages. Pete the Cat has a separate privacy policy.
Information Bean uses on your device
| Information | Why it is used |
|---|---|
| Photos and saved illustrations | To show familiar pictures on communication tiles. |
| Recorded words and voice names | To play the word recordings you create, including saved original takes where available. |
| Custom words, groups, Favorites, and preferences | To remember your communication board and the settings you choose. |
This information is stored in Bean’s app storage on the device. We do not receive it, sell it, use it for advertising, or use it to train an AI model. Bean does not include advertising, third-party analytics, or tracking SDKs.
Photos and microphone access
The system photo picker lets you select the images you want Bean to use. Bean does not request access to your whole photo library. Cropping saves a separate image for the tile and does not change the original photo.
Bean asks for microphone permission when you choose to record a word. Recordings are created when you start recording; Bean does not listen continuously. You can change microphone permission in Apple’s Settings app.
Apple features and services
Bean uses Apple’s installed speech voices. Optional illustration creation may be available through Apple’s Image Playground on supported devices and software; Apple controls the availability and operation of that feature. The selected result is saved locally in Bean. These system features are also subject to Apple’s privacy information.
Apple handles App Store purchases and may provide developers with sales information and diagnostics according to your Apple settings. Bean does not receive your payment card details. Downloading system voices or photos stored in iCloud may use Apple’s services.
Backups, retention, and deletion
Local content remains until you remove it or delete Bean. Device or iCloud backups may contain Bean’s app data, depending on your settings. Backup storage and deletion are controlled by Apple and your backup choices.
- Delete a recorded voice in Settings → My Recordings to remove that voice and its saved clips.
- Remove a personal photo in Settings → Personal Photos, or delete a custom tile to remove its associated local photo and recordings.
- Deleting the app removes its local data from that device. Offloading the app can retain data, and deleting the app does not necessarily remove existing backups.
Gorse Bush Studios cannot restore photos or recordings from Bean’s local storage. Please consider your device backup settings before deleting the app.
Children and caregivers
Bean is designed for young children with caregiver involvement. We do not ask children to create accounts or send their personal information to us through the app. Caregivers choose which photos and recordings are added and should have permission to use them.
When you contact us
If you email us, we receive the email address and information you choose to send. We use it to respond to your request and resolve support or privacy issues. Email is handled by our email service providers. Please avoid sending a child’s personal details, private photos, or voice recordings unless necessary for the issue you want help with.
Support correspondence may be retained while needed to respond, keep a record of the issue, or meet applicable obligations. Contact us to request access to or deletion of correspondence. We cannot access local app content to change or delete it for you.
These website pages
The Bean product, privacy, terms, and support pages do not load advertising or analytics scripts. Our hosting provider, Firebase Hosting, processes connection information such as IP addresses and requests to deliver and secure the website. Links to other Gorse Bush Studios pages or third-party websites may have different practices.
Changes and contact
We will update this page and its date when these practices change.
For privacy questions or requests, contact privacy@gorsebushstudios.com. For help using Bean, contact support@gorsebushstudios.com.