Privacy Policy & Terms of Use
Arth is built on a simple principle: your financial data belongs to you, stored only on your device. These documents explain what that means in practice.
This policy covers Arth, the Android app published by Sourav Baid (“we”). Arth has no user accounts, no Arth cloud and no servers that receive your data. Your financial records are stored in a database on your phone, and we cannot see them.
Data stored on your device
Transactions, accounts, balances, budgets, loans, investments, family ledger (Hisaab) entries, reminders, settings and any passwords you save in the Vault are stored only on your device. Vault entries and broker credentials are encrypted with a key protected by Android’s secure keystore. None of this is sent to us.
SMS messages
If you allow it, Arth reads the SMS messages on your phone to find bank, card and UPI transaction alerts. It keeps only messages from banks and payment services and ignores personal messages. From those alerts it extracts the amount, date, merchant, account or card last 4 digits and balance, and uses them to add your transactions and keep account balances up to date. Recognised alerts are stored on your device so you can review them. SMS messages are processed only on your device and are never uploaded, shared or sent to any server, including ours. You can turn SMS reading off in Settings, and revoke the permission in Android settings, at any time.
Features that use the internet
Arth only goes online for the features below, and only when you use them. Broker connections use your own API credentials (“bring your own key”), created in your broker’s developer console; your use of them is governed by your broker’s terms, and Arth is not affiliated with any broker. Broker connections are read-only: Arth never places orders or moves money.
- Zerodha Kite (Kite Connect terms, Zerodha privacy policy). Your Kite API key and API secret are stored encrypted on your device. When you connect, you sign in on Zerodha’s own login page, and Arth exchanges the one-time login code for an access token directly with Zerodha. Your API secret is never sent anywhere; only a one-way checksum made from it goes to Zerodha. Arth then fetches your holdings and positions directly from Zerodha. None of this passes through any server of ours.
- Angel One (terms, privacy policy) and Zebpay (legal & privacy). The API keys, secrets, client ID, PIN and 2FA (TOTP) secret you enter are sent directly to Angel One or Zebpay to fetch your holdings. They are stored only on your device, encrypted, so Arth can refresh your session, and never pass through our servers.
- Vault autofill for Kite. If you link a Vault entry to Kite, Arth fills your Zerodha user ID, password and 2FA code into Zerodha’s login page on your device. They go only to Zerodha.
- Voice entry. Voice entry uses your phone’s speech recognition service (usually Google). Depending on your phone’s settings, that service may process your voice on its own servers under its own privacy policy. Arth receives only the recognised text.
Each of these services has its own privacy policy, which applies to the data you send them.
Other permissions
- Calendar, only if you turn on calendar sync, to add bills, EMIs and reminders to the calendar you choose.
- Microphone, only while you use voice entry.
- Notifications, alarms and start on boot, for reminders and the daily summary.
- Fingerprint or face, for app lock. Biometric data is handled by Android and never seen by Arth.
Backups
Backups are encrypted files (AES-GCM) saved on your device or wherever you choose to put them, such as your Downloads folder or a cloud drive you share them to. We never receive them.
Analytics, ads and tracking
Arth contains no analytics, advertising, crash-reporting or tracking libraries. We do not sell or share your data, and we have no visibility into how you use the app.
Keeping and deleting your data
Your data stays on your device until you delete it. You can delete individual records in the app (deleted items are kept in the Recycle Bin for 30 days), disconnect any broker in Settings, or remove everything by clearing Arth’s storage or uninstalling the app. Because we hold none of your data, there is nothing for us to delete on our side.
Grievance contact
For any question or complaint about how Arth handles personal data, including under India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, contact the developer: Sourav Baid, [email protected].
Children
Arth is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect data from children.
Changes to this policy
If this policy changes materially, the updated version will be published here with a new effective date. Continued use of the app after that date constitutes acceptance.
Contact
Questions about privacy? Email [email protected]
Arth (by Sourav Baid) has no user accounts and no servers that store your data. Everything Arth keeps is on your phone, so you can delete it yourself at any time, without asking us.
Delete everything
- Optional: if you want a copy first, open Arth → Settings → Backup & Restore and create a backup.
- Open your phone’s Settings → Apps → Arth → Storage and tap Clear storage, or simply uninstall Arth.
This permanently deletes all transactions, accounts, budgets, loans, goals, Hisaab entries, reminders, settings, saved broker keys, the Vault and scan logs. Nothing is kept by us, because we never had it.
Delete part of your data
- Individual records: delete them in the app. They move to the Recycle Bin (Settings → Recycle Bin) and are erased for good after 30 days, or immediately if you empty it.
- Broker connections: open the Zerodha, Angel One or Zebpay credentials screen and tap Remove (Clear for Zerodha) to delete the saved keys and login details. Then delete or regenerate the API key in that broker’s developer console.
- Backups: backup files are saved wherever you put them; delete them there.
What is kept elsewhere
Data you sent to a broker (Zerodha, Angel One or Zebpay) when connecting is held by that broker under its own privacy policy; contact the broker to delete it. Reports you chose to email us are kept in our inbox until you ask us to delete them.
Questions? Email [email protected].
Use of the app
Arth is a personal finance tool provided free of charge for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution or commercial use requires prior written permission from the developer.
No warranty
Arth is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, express or implied. Financial calculations — loan schedules, balance summaries, investment values — are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. Verify important figures independently before acting on them.
Limitation of liability
To the extent permitted by applicable law, the developer is not liable for any loss of data, financial loss, or other damages arising from your use of Arth, including inaccuracies in calculations or loss of data due to device failure or uninstallation.
Your data responsibility
All data is stored locally on your device. You are solely responsible for maintaining backups. Uninstalling the app or clearing app data permanently deletes everything unless a backup has been created and stored separately.
Third-party integrations
Broker integrations (Zerodha, Angel One, Zebpay) are provided for convenience. Arth is not affiliated with these services and is not responsible for data accuracy, API availability, or changes to those platforms' terms.
Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of India. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of courts in India.
Changes to these terms
The developer reserves the right to update these terms at any time. Updates will be published here with a new effective date.
Contact
Questions about these terms? Email [email protected]