Effective date: May 23, 2026
The short version:
Drift: Word Ladder ("Drift", "the app") is developed and operated by Mark Webber ("we", "us") as an independent developer. This Privacy Policy explains what data the app does and does not collect when you use it, and the rights you have over that data.
By using Drift you agree to the terms of this policy. If you do not agree, please do not install or use the app.
We do not collect personal data. Drift has no accounts, no sign-in, no analytics, no advertising, and no third-party SDKs. The developer cannot identify you, locate you, or contact you through the app.
For full transparency, the categories below are the only places any data exists in connection with the app:
Drift stores gameplay state locally using Apple's UserDefaults system. This includes:
your current streak and longest streak; total puzzles played; total par-or-better and Eagle counts; your best completion time; today's puzzle state (current chain, hint or reset usage, elapsed seconds); badges you have earned; cached schedule of recent puzzles; your light/dark mode preference; whether you have completed onboarding; whether you have an active Drift+ entitlement; and dates of any past puzzles you have completed in practice mode.
This data lives only on your device, is not transmitted to the developer, and is removed when you uninstall the app.
If you are signed in to iCloud on your device and have iCloud Drive enabled, the gameplay state listed in section 3 is optionally synced across your own Apple devices using Apple's iCloud Key-Value Store.
This sync runs entirely inside Apple's infrastructure under your Apple ID. Neither the developer nor any third party has access to it. Apple's handling of this data is governed by Apple's Privacy Policy.
You can disable iCloud sync at any time in iOS Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud, and delete the synced data via iOS Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Manage Account Storage → Drift.
Drift offers optional Drift+ in-app purchases that unlock the full puzzle archive, premium badges, and solution reveal. Drift+ is available as a monthly auto-renewing subscription, a yearly auto-renewing subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase.
All purchases are processed by Apple through the App Store. The developer never sees and never receives your name, email address, payment details, or any other personal information related to your purchase. Subscription receipts are validated locally using Apple's StoreKit framework; no purchase or device information is sent to the developer or any third party.
Subscriptions automatically renew at the end of each billing period unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends. You can manage, modify, or cancel any active subscription at any time from your Apple ID Settings → Subscriptions, or via the "Manage Subscription" link inside the app.
If you make a Drift+ purchase, Apple may share the entitlement with other Apple IDs in your Family Sharing group (if Family Sharing for purchases is enabled on the products you bought). This sharing is controlled by Apple, not the developer.
Drift can send a daily local notification when a new puzzle is available. This is entirely opt-in: you are asked during onboarding, and you can change your preference at any time in iOS Settings → Notifications → Drift. Notifications are scheduled locally on your device — no notification data leaves your device or is sent to any server.
The daily puzzle catalog is fetched from a static file hosted on a third-party content delivery service. The request is a standard HTTPS GET that includes no identifying information about you or your device beyond what any standard web request includes (IP address, generic user agent). The hosting provider's handling of these requests is governed by its own privacy policy. The developer does not operate this server and does not access its access logs.
Drift contains no third-party SDKs, analytics frameworks, crash reporters, or advertising networks. The only third parties involved in the operation of the app are:
Apple — provides the App Store, iCloud Key-Value Store, StoreKit (in-app purchases), and the local notification system. All data exchanged with Apple is governed by Apple's Privacy Policy.
GitHub — hosts the static puzzle JSON file fetched on app launch, as described in section 7.
Because the developer does not collect or store any of your personal data, there is nothing for us to retain or delete on our servers.
Data stored on your device (section 3) is removed when you uninstall the app. Data synced to your iCloud Key-Value Store (section 4) can be deleted via iOS Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Manage Account Storage → Drift → Delete Data from iCloud.
Purchase history is retained by Apple as part of your Apple ID record and is governed by Apple's policies. The developer cannot delete it on your behalf.
Even though Drift does not collect personal data, you have the following rights under applicable privacy laws including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):
Right to know — you can ask what categories of data exist about you. The answer for Drift is: none held by the developer. Data on your device and in your iCloud are owned and controlled by you.
Right to delete — you can delete all on-device and iCloud-synced data using the methods described in section 9. The developer holds no data to delete.
Right to opt out of sale or sharing — the developer does not sell or share personal data with anyone, so there is nothing to opt out of.
Right to non-discrimination — exercising any of the above rights will not affect your ability to use the app or any of its features.
If you have questions about your rights or believe we have not complied with this policy, please contact us using the details below.
Drift does not collect personal data from users of any age and is therefore safe for use by children under the U.S. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the EU GDPR's protections for children, and similar regulations worldwide. The app does not include behavioral advertising, social features, profile creation, or any mechanism by which a child could share personal information with the developer or other users.
Parents and guardians can prevent in-app purchases via Apple's Screen Time controls (iOS Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → iTunes & App Store Purchases).
Drift is made available worldwide via the Apple App Store. Because the developer does not collect personal data, no international transfer of personal data takes place. Any data stored on Apple's infrastructure (iCloud, App Store) is handled by Apple under its own privacy policy and regional terms.
If this policy changes, the updated version will be posted at this URL with a revised effective date at the top of the page. Material changes will be noted in the in-app release notes for the affected app version.
Questions about this policy? Email support@driftgames.app.