🔒 No account required. The app works fully offline. Nothing leaves your device unless you choose to sign in.
🎙️ When you sign in, audio you choose to back up is encrypted on-device before upload. Recording metadata is synced to your account.
🤖 AI transcription sends audio to Google's Gemini API — only when you tap the Transcribe button.
🚫 No ads. No analytics. No third-party tracking SDKs.
Vocal Memo is developed and maintained by Adeleke Olasope, trading as Empyreal Works. For privacy-related questions, contact us at hello@empyrealworks.com.
All core features are fully available without creating an account. In guest mode:
If you choose to create an account or sign in, the following features become available:
You can delete your account and all associated cloud data at any time from the Settings screen.
Account credentials
Handled entirely by Firebase Authentication (Google). We do not store passwords. Supported sign-in methods: email/password and Google Sign-In.
Recording metadata Firestore
When signed in, the following fields are synced to your private Firestore document:
Audio files Firebase Storage — optional
Audio backup is entirely optional and always manually triggered. Tapping the cloud icon on a recording is the only way audio is uploaded. Nothing is uploaded automatically.
Before upload, audio bytes are encrypted on-device using AES-256. Firebase Storage receives only ciphertext — Empyreal Works cannot listen to your recordings.
Audio for transcription Gemini API
When you tap the Transcribe button, the audio file for that recording is sent to Google's Gemini API over HTTPS. This is the only time audio is transmitted to a third party.
Transcription is only available to signed-in users and is subject to a daily rate limit. We do not retain audio on our servers after the API call completes. Google's own data handling is governed by the Google Gemini API Terms of Service.
| Permission | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Microphone | Required to record audio. Used only while the recording screen is active. |
| Storage / Files | Required to save and read audio files on your device. |
| Internet | Required only for sign-in, transcription, and cloud backup. Not used in guest mode. |
| Wake Lock | Prevents the screen from sleeping during an active recording so it is not interrupted. |
When you use signed-in features, the following Google services are involved:
| Service | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Firebase Authentication | Manages sign-in credentials. Privacy policy |
| Cloud Firestore | Stores recording metadata in your private user document. |
| Firebase Storage | Stores encrypted audio files when you choose to back them up. |
| Gemini API | Transcribes audio when you tap Transcribe. Terms of service |
No analytics platforms, advertising SDKs, crash-reporting tools, or other third-party services are used.
No security measure is perfect. We encourage you to use a strong sign-in method and to only back up recordings you are comfortable storing remotely.
Vocal Memo is suitable for all ages. In guest mode, no personal data is collected from any user, including children under 13.
If a child uses signed-in features, parental consent should be obtained in accordance with applicable law (e.g. COPPA in the United States). If you believe a child has created an account without consent, contact us at hello@empyrealworks.com and we will delete the account promptly.
If we make material changes to this policy, we will update the effective date at the top of this page and publish the revised version at the same URL. We may also display an in-app notice for significant changes.
Continued use of the app after changes are published constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Adeleke Olasope / Empyreal Works
hello@empyrealworks.com
Thank you for using Vocal Memo 🎙️