This policy explains what information the Zebal app collects, why it is collected, and what control you have over it. It is written to describe what the app actually does, in plain language.
Who we are
Zebal is built by Sanjeev Kumar (Founder), Avinash Sharma and Rohit Thakur (Co-Founders). For any question about this policy or your data, email quickconnect82@gmail.com.
Information we collect
Information you provide
| What | Why |
|---|---|
| Email address or phone number | To create and sign in to your account, and to identify you to other members of a shared group. |
| Display name, gender, date of birth | Shown on your profile and to members of groups you join. These are optional apart from your name. |
| UPI ID (optional) | Only used so group members can settle payments with you. We never process payments ourselves. |
| Expense records â item name, amount, category, date, who paid | This is the core function of the app. Stored on your device, and backed up online only if you turn Online Backup on. |
| Receipt photos (optional) | Captured only if you choose to use Receipt Scan. The photo is used to read the amount and items and fill in the expense form for you â see "Receipt Scan" below for exactly where the photo itself goes. |
| Group messages and shared expenses | Visible to the members of that group, so everyone can see and agree on shared costs. |
Contacts
If you choose to invite someone to a group from your contacts, the app asks for permission to read your contacts at that moment. The contact you pick is used only to send that one invitation. Your contact list is never uploaded, stored, or shared. You can refuse this permission and still use the app â invitations can be sent using a link instead.
What we do not collect
- We do not read your SMS messages.
- We do not access your bank accounts or read your transactions from anywhere.
- We do not track your location.
- We do not sell your data to anyone, ever.
- We do not use your financial data for advertising.
Where your data is stored
Your expenses are stored on your device, in encrypted storage.
If you turn on Online Backup in Settings, a copy of your expenses and budget history is also stored in Google Firebase so you can restore it on a new device. This is off by default in the sense that nothing is uploaded until an account exists â and you can turn it off at any time in Settings.
Shared group data â expenses, messages and balances â is stored in Firebase by necessity, because it has to be visible to every member of the group.
AI features
Zebal uses Google's Gemini models, through Firebase AI Logic, to power features such as voice expense entry, category suggestions, spending summaries and the "Ask AI" question box.
When you use one of these features, the relevant expense information is sent to Google to generate the response. Only what is needed for that request is sent. This data is not used to train Google's models. If you would rather not send anything, simply do not use the AI features â every part of the app works without them.
Receipt Scan
Receipt Scan uses your device's camera (with your permission) to photograph a receipt. That photo is sent to Google's AI, the same way voice and text entries are (see AI features above), so it can read the amount and items and fill in the expense form for you. You always see what it read before anything is saved.
Depending on your app version, a copy of the photo may also be kept so you can open it again later from that expense â this copy is stored on your device, not on our servers. For a group expense, the photo may additionally be shared with that group the same way any other expense detail is, so members can see what was scanned.
You can decline the camera permission and still use every part of the app â Receipt Scan is entirely optional, and expenses can always be added by typing or speaking instead.
Services we use
- Google Firebase â sign-in, cloud storage for backups and group data.
- Google Play Billing â subscription purchases. Google handles all payment details; we never see your card information.
- Firebase AI Logic (Gemini) â the AI features described above.
- OneSignal â push notifications about your groups.
- Google AdMob â optional rewarded adverts, if you choose to watch one to earn AI credits. Adverts are never forced on you.
Each of these has its own privacy policy governing how they handle data they receive.
Your rights and controls
- Turn off Online Backup â Settings, under Data & Cloud Backup. Your data then stays only on your device.
- Erase local data â Settings, "Erase All Local App Data".
- Delete your account entirely â Settings, "Delete My Account Permanently". This removes your account, your profile, and your online backup.
- Export your data â the menu offers CSV and text export, so you can keep your own copy at any time.
- Refuse permissions â contacts and notifications are both optional.
Children
Zebal is not intended for children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect information from them. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.
Data retention
Your data is kept for as long as your account exists. When you delete your account using the option in Settings, your profile and online backup are deleted. Data you have shared into a group may remain visible to that group, because it forms part of a shared record other members rely on.
Changes to this policy
If this policy changes in a way that affects you, the date at the top will be updated. Significant changes will also be announced in the app.
Contact
For any question about your privacy, or to request deletion of your data, email quickconnect82@gmail.com.
See also our Terms and Conditions, which cover subscriptions, groups and payments, and our Accessibility page.