QRadio

QRadio - Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 9, 2026

Overview

QRadio is an internet radio player for iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and macOS. Your privacy is important to us. This policy explains what data the app handles and how.

Data Controller

QRadio is developed and maintained by Qbus Systems, based in Poland (European Union). For privacy-related inquiries, contact radio@qbus.pl.

Data We Do Not Collect

QRadio does not collect, store, or transmit any personal data. Specifically:

• No account or registration required
• No analytics or tracking
• No advertising
• No cookies
• No device identifiers collected
• No usage data sent to us or any third party

Data Stored on Your Device

The app stores the following data locally on your device only:

• Favorite streams - stream names, URLs, and logos you add
• Settings - your app preferences (theme, buffering, display options, song history retention)
• Song History - title, artist, station, timestamp, and a small thumbnail of every track that the app recognises while you listen. Retention is configurable in Settings (1 week to forever, or off).
• Cached images - stream logos and album artwork cached for faster loading

Favorites and a small set of preferences (including the song-history retention choice) sync across your Apple devices via Apple's iCloud Key-Value Store. Song history records sync via Apple's CloudKit private database under your Apple ID. Both are end-to-end controlled by Apple's iCloud infrastructure - we don't host or see this data. You can disable iCloud for QRadio in your device's Settings → Apple ID → iCloud at any time.

Backup & Restore. You can manually export your favorites and settings to a single .qradio file via Settings → Backup & Restore. This file is created and stored only where you save it (Files, AirDrop, etc.); QRadio does not upload it anywhere. Restoring from a file replaces the current favorites and settings on the device.

Third-Party Services

The app connects to the following external services:

• Audio streams - the app connects directly to stream servers to play audio. These connections are initiated by you when selecting a stream.
• iTunes Search API - used to look up album artwork and song information for currently playing tracks. Only the song title and artist name are sent; no personal data is included.
• Apple Music (MusicKit) - used as a fallback for song lookups when the iTunes Search API is unavailable. Requires your permission on first use. No personal data is sent.
• ShazamKit - used when you tap the Shazam icon to identify the currently playing song. QRadio sends the audio it is already streaming to Apple's ShazamKit service for matching; no microphone audio is captured or transmitted. ShazamKit is an Apple service governed by Apple's privacy policy.
• Spotify links (optional) - if you set Open Songs In to Spotify, tapping an identified song opens the Spotify app or website with a search for that song (title/artist or its ISRC code embedded in the link). QRadio itself sends nothing to Spotify - the link opens like any web link, and this happens only on your tap. Spotify is governed by Spotify's privacy policy.
• Apple iCloud (Key-Value Store) - syncs your favorites and selected app preferences across your devices, governed by Apple's privacy policy.
• Apple iCloud (CloudKit private database) - syncs your song history across your devices under your Apple ID. Records remain in your private iCloud container; QRadio does not have a server-side copy.
• Station catalog updates - the app downloads a curated list of stations from a public file hosted by Qbus Systems. The download is anonymous (a plain HTTPS GET); no identifiers are sent.

All connections to external services are initiated by your explicit actions (selecting a stream, playing audio, tapping Shazam, etc.) or by built-in app behaviour (catalog refresh, iCloud sync). QRadio does not make background network requests for analytics, telemetry, or data collection.

Intellectual Property

Stream names, logos, and broadcast content are the property of their respective owners. QRadio does not claim ownership of any third-party content. Stream metadata and logos are provided by the user or the stream operators themselves. If you believe any content infringes your rights, please contact us at radio@qbus.pl.

Children's Privacy

QRadio is not directed at children under 13. Because the app does not collect any personal data, no information is knowingly gathered from children of any age.

Your Rights Under GDPR

Because QRadio does not collect or process any personal data, there is no personal data to access, correct, delete, or export. All app data (favorites, preferences, cache) is stored exclusively on your device under your control. You can remove all app data at any time by uninstalling the app or by clearing it through iOS Settings. If you use iCloud Sync, you can manage or delete that data through your Apple ID settings. As an EU-based developer, we comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Governing Law

This privacy policy is governed by the laws of Poland and the European Union, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in the app or applicable regulations. The "Last updated" date at the top of this policy will indicate when the most recent changes were made. Material changes will be communicated through the app or via App Store release notes. Continued use of QRadio after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact

If you have questions about this privacy policy, contact us at radio@qbus.pl.