Papyrus is a local-first app. Your library lives on your device, not on our servers. We don't have an account system, we don't run analytics, and we never sell your data.
In plain terms: the books you add, your ratings, dates, and notes stay on your iPhone. The only time Papyrus reaches the internet is to look up book details and cover images from the public Open Library service.
What Papyrus stores
Papyrus stores only the information you choose to put into your library. That can include:
- Book titles, authors, page counts, publication years, and genres
- Your ratings, the dates you finished books, and any personal notes you write
- ISBNs and cover images associated with your books
- Your preferences, such as sort order and taste-quiz answers used to generate recommendations
Papyrus does not ask for your name, email address, phone number, contacts, location, or any account credentials. There is no sign-up and no login.
Where it's stored
Your library is saved as a file in Papyrus's private, app-specific storage on your device. This storage is shared with the Papyrus home-screen widget so it can render your bookshelf, but it is not accessible to other apps.
If you have iCloud device backups enabled, this file may be included in your encrypted device backup — the same way other app data on your iPhone is backed up. That backup is governed by Apple's privacy policy, not ours, and we never receive it.
Network activity & Open Library
Papyrus makes internet requests for a single purpose: fetching public book information. When you search for a book, resolve a cover image, or generate recommendations, Papyrus queries Open Library, a free, public catalog operated by the Internet Archive.
These requests contain only what's needed to find a book — for example, a title and author you searched for, or a subject used to find recommendations. They do not include any personal identifier, your library contents, your notes, or an account of any kind. Open Library's handling of requests is governed by the Internet Archive's privacy policy.
Papyrus has no analytics SDK, no advertising SDK, and no crash-reporting service that transmits your data. It does not phone home to any server operated by us — because we don't operate one.
Goodreads & StoryGraph imports
When you import a Goodreads or StoryGraph export file, Papyrus reads and parses that file entirely on your device. The books it contains are added to your local library. The export file is never uploaded to us or to any third party. Once imported, the resulting library is treated exactly like any book you add by hand.
No tracking, no ads, no selling
- We do not track you across apps or websites.
- We do not show advertising.
- We do not build advertising profiles.
- We do not sell, rent, or share your information with data brokers or advertisers.
Your control & deletion
Because everything lives on your device, you're always in control. You can edit or delete individual books at any time. To remove all Papyrus data, delete the app from your iPhone — this removes your library file along with it. There is no server-side copy for us to hold onto, and nothing to request from us.
Children's privacy
Papyrus is intended for a general audience and does not knowingly collect personal information from children. Because Papyrus collects no personal information and requires no account, there is nothing for a child (or anyone) to submit to us.
Changes to this policy
If we change how Papyrus handles data, we'll update this page and revise the "Last updated" date above. Material changes will be reflected here before they take effect in a new version of the app.
Contact
Questions about privacy or this policy? Email everdayentrepreneur19@gmail.com and we'll get back to you.