Privacy Policy for Focus Buddy
Last Updated: October 4, 2025
Focus Buddy ("we", "our", or "the extension") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our Chrome extension.
TL;DR: Focus Buddy stores ALL data locally on your device. We never collect, transmit, or access your personal information. Your data never leaves your computer.
1. Information We Collect
Focus Buddy stores the following data locally on your device only:
- Work Schedule: Your configured work hours for each day of the week
- Blocked Sites List: Websites you choose to block during work hours
- Break System Data: Your accumulated break time credits and usage history
- Streak Data: Your consecutive focused days count and milestone achievements
- Daily Statistics: Today's focus wins, breaks used, and impromptu breaks logged
- Impromptu Break History: Records of when you logged impromptu breaks (with your self-provided reasons) for pattern tracking
- Settings Preferences: Your customized settings for break earning rates, reflection pause duration, etc.
2. How We Use Your Information
All data is used exclusively within the extension to:
- Block distracting websites during your configured work hours
- Track and display your earned break time
- Calculate and display your streak progress
- Show your daily statistics and journey progress
- Enable the break credit system (earning and spending break time)
- Help you track patterns through impromptu break logging
3. Data Storage
Everything is stored locally using Chrome's storage API. Specifically:
- We use
chrome.storage.local to store all extension data
- Data is stored on your device only
- Data is never transmitted to any server
- We do not have access to your data
- We cannot view, collect, or analyze your usage patterns
Important: If you use Chrome Sync, your extension data may sync across your devices through Google's sync service. This is managed by Chrome, not by us. We never access synced data.
4. Third-Party Services
Focus Buddy does not use any third-party analytics, tracking, or advertising services. The extension has no external dependencies or API calls.
Exception: If you choose to share your achievements on Twitter using the built-in sharing feature, you will be redirected to Twitter's website. This is optional and initiated by you. We do not track or log share events.
5. Permissions Explained
The extension requests the following Chrome permissions:
- storage: To save your settings, streaks, and break time locally on your device
- alarms: To award break credits hourly and update streaks at midnight
- notifications: To notify you when you earn break credits or reach milestones
- declarativeNetRequest: To block websites during your work hours
- tabs: To open the onboarding page on first install and settings page when requested
- webNavigation: To track when blocked sites are accessed (for statistics)
- host_permissions (all_urls): Required to block any website you add to your blocklist
We do not use these permissions to collect or transmit any data. They are used solely for the core functionality of the extension.
6. Data You Share (Optional)
When you use the optional "Share on Twitter" feature for milestone achievements:
- You are redirected to Twitter's website with pre-filled text
- You can edit or cancel the tweet before posting
- We do not track whether you complete the share
- Sharing is completely optional and user-initiated
7. Data Retention
- All data is retained locally on your device until you uninstall the extension or clear your browser data
- Impromptu break history is kept for the last 30 days only (automatically cleaned up)
- You can manually clear all data at any time through Chrome's extension settings
8. Your Rights
You have complete control over your data:
- Access: View all your data through the extension popup and settings page
- Modify: Change any settings or preferences at any time
- Delete: Uninstall the extension to remove all data, or use Chrome's "Clear extension data" option
- Export: Currently not available, but data is accessible via Chrome DevTools (chrome.storage.local)
9. Children's Privacy
Focus Buddy does not knowingly collect any information from anyone, including children under 13. The extension stores data locally only and does not transmit any information.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be reflected by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the extension after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
11. Data Security
Since all data is stored locally on your device using Chrome's secure storage API:
- We cannot access your data
- Your data is protected by Chrome's security measures
- No data is transmitted over the internet (except optional Twitter sharing you initiate)
- No servers, no databases, no data collection
12. No Tracking or Analytics
Focus Buddy does not include:
- ❌ No Google Analytics
- ❌ No tracking pixels
- ❌ No error reporting to external services
- ❌ No usage statistics collection
- ❌ No advertising or marketing trackers
Your privacy is 100% protected because we literally cannot see your data.
13. Contact Us
Focus Buddy - Your friendly focus companion 🤝
Building better habits, one focused session at a time.