Privacy Policy

Trip planning. When you plan a trip, the starting point and destination you type are sent to our servers and to Google’s mapping services to compute your route and charging stops. Our analytics record those locations only as the short text you typed (for example “Raleigh, NC”), along with coarse facts such as trip distance and the stops recommended to you. We use these events to understand which routes and stops travelers need, and to improve coverage.

Optional device location. The “Find me a GreatStop soon” feature can use your device’s GPS position for that one search. Your coordinates are sent to Google to compute nearby routes, and are used only for that request. GreatStop never stores your GPS coordinates; our analytics record only that GPS was used, not where you were. You can always type a location instead.

Saved stops. Stops you save are stored only on your device (in your browser or the app’s local storage). They are never uploaded to our servers and are not connected to any account.

Accounts. Creating an account is optional and only needed to manage your sign-in or delete your account. We store your email address and, if you use that method, your password is handled by our platform provider (see “How data is shared” below). If you use Google sign-in, Google verifies you and shares your email address with us. We do not use your account to track your trips or saved stops.

Stop ratings, feedback, and photos. When you rate a stop you visited, we store the stop it is about, your rating answers, any comment you write, and any photos you attach (in private storage that is not publicly accessible). These submissions are anonymous: they are not linked to an account. We also store a coarse location grid reference (about city-block precision) identifying the stop, never your location.

Email signups. If you sign up for email updates, we store the email address, first name, and state you provide, so we can send the updates you asked for.

Advertiser and partner inquiries. If you submit an advertising or partnership form, we store the business and contact details you provide (business name, contact name, email, phone, address, website, and your message), so we can respond and manage the sponsorship.

Sponsorship payments. Sponsorship checkout is provided by Stripe. Your card and payment details go directly to Stripe on Stripe’s secure checkout page; GreatStop never sees or stores your card number. We store the payment status, amount, and Stripe’s payment identifiers with your sponsorship record.

We use Google Analytics to understand how the site is used, such as which pages are viewed and how travelers move through trip planning. Google Analytics sets cookies and similar identifiers in your browser for this purpose.

We also record our own product analytics events. These are built to be privacy-preserving: we record a random anonymous visit identifier (which clears when you close the tab), a random anonymous browser identifier (used only to tell first-time from repeat visits), the answers and choices you make in the app (such as timing preferences or which stop you navigated to), and any campaign tags in the link you arrived from (such as utm_source). Our analytics never contain your name, email, account, precise location, or GPS coordinates.

You can block or delete cookies and local storage in your browser or device settings. Note that clearing the app’s local storage also removes your saved stops, because those live only on your device.

Like most websites, we process the network (IP) addresses of requests to our servers. We use them for security and abuse prevention, such as limiting the number of trip plans, stop ratings, and feedback submissions a visitor can send per day. These daily counters are stored with the IP address only for the day they count, and are automatically deleted once the day passes. Records of changes made through a sponsor’s self-service management link store the request’s IP address for security and accountability.

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information. We share data only with the providers that operate GreatStop:

We may also disclose information when required by law or to protect the rights and safety of GreatStop and its travelers.

You can use GreatStop without an account and without GPS: type your locations instead of sharing your position, and skip rating or photo features entirely.

If you have the app, you can also request deletion from inside it on the Account page. Your request removes the information linked to your email address, including email updates you signed up for, beta feedback you submitted with your email, and advertiser or partner inquiries you sent from that address, and records the request to permanently remove your account and sign-in credentials. We complete the permanent account removal and confirm it by email. Both paths remove the same information.

One honest limitation: stop ratings, comments, and photos are anonymous and are not linked to your account, so they are not removed by account deletion. If you would like a rating, comment, or photo you submitted removed, email hello@greatstop.app with the stop and the approximate date, and we will remove it.

We keep the information described above as long as it serves the purposes in this policy, such as operating GreatStop, improving stop recommendations and coverage, and responding to you. Trip-planning rate-limit counters are deleted automatically once the day passes, as described above. When you ask us to remove information (through account deletion or by contacting us), we remove it from our active records.

GreatStop is a road-trip planning tool and is not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us and we will remove it.

If we change this policy, we will post the updated version on this page with a new effective date. The policy in effect when you use GreatStop is the one published here.

GreatStop, LLC is the operator of greatstop.app and the GreatStop mobile app. For any privacy question, request, or concern, email hello@greatstop.app.