Three-line summary - FINNS has no login, no ads, and no external tracking SDKs. All data stays on your device. - The one permission that actually matters is Apple HealthKit or Samsung Health read access. Everything else is optional. - Payments: all core features are free. No forced purchases.
Before installing any health-related app, the first thing worth checking is what it asks for and where the data ends up. The questions on this page are the ones we hear most often from both iOS and Android users — and the answers are intentionally plain, with no hedging.
A. Permissions
A1. Full permission list — iOS
| Permission | Required? | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| HealthKit (Workouts / HR / Distance / Stroke read) | Required | Workout import |
| Notifications | Optional | Lesson alerts — off means no alerts |
| Photo Library | Optional | Only when saving a share-card video |
| Camera | Not requested | — |
| Location | Not requested | — |
| Microphone | Not requested | — |
A2. Full permission list — Android
| Permission | Required? | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Health data read | Required | Workout import |
| POST_NOTIFICATIONS (Android 13+) | Optional | Lesson alerts |
| WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE / Photo Picker | Optional | Only when saving a share-card video |
| Camera | Not requested | — |
| Location | Not requested | — |
| Microphone | Not requested | — |
A3. When a permission won't go through
iOS
- Settings → Health → Data Access & Devices → SwimLog → turn on all categories
- If that doesn't work, delete and reinstall the app (the HealthKit permission cache occasionally gets tangled)
Android
- Settings → Apps → FINNS → Permissions → turn everything on
- Samsung Health app → Settings → Permissions → Connected apps → FINNS → enable data read
- If that still doesn't work, force-stop Samsung Health and relaunch it
B. Privacy
B1. Does my data go to a server?
No. FINNS is a client-side app. Workouts, medals, avatar, settings — every one of them is stored in a local DB on the device (SQLite Room on Android, Core Data on iOS).
B2. Are there any external analytics or tracking SDKs bundled?
None. No Google Analytics, no Facebook SDK, no Firebase Analytics, no AppsFlyer — nothing of that sort.
- Verify on Android: upload the APK to Exodus Privacy and confirm zero trackers.
- Verify on iOS: check the "App Privacy" label on the App Store listing — you'll see "No data collected."
B3. What about crash reports?
- iOS: Standard system crash reporting. Sent to Apple only if the user consents; developers receive anonymized metadata.
- Android: No dedicated crash SDK bundled. We're evaluating an opt-in option (like Sentry) for v2.x, and if it ever ships it will be disclosed up front and opt-in only.
B4. Do you use ad identifiers (IDFA / AAID)?
No. There are no ad SDKs, so the identifier itself is never read.
B5. Are lesson schedules and avatar data also local?
Yes. Every user-side setting is local. Lesson schedules, avatar progress, gacha wardrobe state, language preferences, theme choices, and notification rules — all of these live in the same on-device database as your workout records. Nothing about your training routine is mirrored anywhere else.
B6. What about the JSON export — is that uploaded anywhere?
No. The JSON export writes to the device's local storage (or the standard system share sheet, if you tap "Share"). What you do with the file from there is entirely your choice. FINNS itself never uploads it.
C. Backup / Switching Devices
C1. Can I move my data when switching devices?
- Within the same platform: Workouts themselves stay in HealthKit / Samsung Health. Install FINNS on the new device, grant permissions for the same account, and the import happens automatically.
- FINNS-specific data (medals, avatar, etc.): Settings → Data → JSON export, then import on the new device.
C2. iOS ↔ Android cross-migration
Not currently supported. Workout data flows over via the new platform's health app, but medals and avatar data don't migrate. (Under review for v2.x.)
C3. iCloud / Google Drive automatic backups?
- On iOS, the app is included in the system iCloud backup if you have it enabled.
- On Android, the app's folder is included in the system Google Auto Backup if you have it enabled.
- FINNS itself does not push anything to the cloud.
D. Payments / Free Policy
D1. Is FINNS paid?
No. Every core feature is free.
- Download: free
- 5-channel multi-chart: free
- AI coach notes: free
- The full 240-medal system: free
- 6-stage avatar + base wardrobe: free
- No ads
D2. Are there in-app purchases?
- Currently, there are no forced-payment features. The only in-app purchases that exist are optional tips / donations.
- A handful of premium avatar outfits or themes may be introduced as in-app purchases in the future, but the analysis features will always remain free.
D3. Can I buy gacha coins with cash?
No. Gacha coins are earned through workouts only. There is no path to purchase coins with money. This is a deliberate design choice — the gacha exists as a reward loop for actually swimming, not as a revenue lever.
D4. Will there be a subscription later?
The plan is for core analysis features to stay free forever. If subscriptions arrive at all, they would be limited to cosmetic content (premium outfits, themes) or convenience features that don't gate the data analysis itself. Any change in the payment model would be announced in advance in the update notes.
E. Notifications / Lesson Schedule
E1. How do notifications work?
- When you register a lesson schedule, you get an alert 30 minutes before and at lesson start.
- Notifications are local (not server push). They work without an internet connection.
- Your data never passes through a push server.
E2. Are there nag notifications like "Don't forget to swim today!"?
No. Only the lesson alerts you explicitly schedule are sent. No automated nudges.
E3. My lesson is biweekly — is that supported?
- iOS: multi-instance lesson scheduling is supported natively.
- Android: implemented as a single lesson row + CSV multi-day fields. Biweekly lessons are flagged with a distinct purple chip.
F. Watch / Data Accuracy
F1. The stroke was detected incorrectly. Can I fix it?
Session-level stroke labels can be edited. (Per-lap edits are under review.)
F2. My SWOLF looks unusually high.
- If the watch fails to detect a turn (wall push-off), the distance reading can come out short, which inflates SWOLF.
- Check the pool length setting — when you start the workout on the watch, the pool length (25 m / 50 m) needs to match the actual pool.
F3. The distance in FINNS doesn't match what my watch shows.
- We use the raw distance value from HealthKit / Samsung Health as-is.
- Minor differences can show up because of the duplicate-workout cleanup logic — if the same workout was logged twice, the two get merged into one automatically.
G. Accessibility / Languages
G1. VoiceOver / TalkBack support?
- iOS v1.14 is going through a full VoiceOver / Dynamic Type overhaul as part of EU Accessibility Act compliance.
- Android is TalkBack-compatible and follows the Material Design accessibility guidelines.
G2. Which languages are supported?
- iOS: 11 (Korean / English / Japanese / Simplified Chinese / German / French / Spanish / Italian / Brazilian Portuguese / Dutch / +1)
- Android: 10 (the same list minus one)
G3. Dark mode / font size?
- Both follow system settings automatically.
- Android additionally supports Material You dynamic colors.
H. Inquiries / Feedback / Bug Reports
H1. Where do I send inquiries?
- From inside the app: Settings → Contact us → the default mail app opens with device / version info pre-filled in the body.
- Official email: send directly to the developer email listed on the app store listing.
H2. The fastest way to get a bug fixed?
- Settings → Contact us → include these four things in the body: - When it happened (date / time) - Which screen you were on - What you tapped - What happened next (screenshots are strongly encouraged)
- We typically respond within 1–3 business days.
H3. Do you take feature requests?
Yes. Use the same email channel — feature requests are reviewed in the quarterly roadmap meeting.
I. Wrapping Up the Series
Across seven posts, we've covered nearly every angle of FINNS.
- Main introduction — a swim diary that opens on one screen
- Where the watch's default swim recording falls short
- Reading the 5-channel multi-chart — a three-step analysis
- 240 medals + 6-stage avatar — a system that lasts
- AI coach + 12 swimmer personas
- iOS / Android platform-specific guide
- FAQ — permissions, privacy, payments, backups ← you are here
App Store / Google Play search: FINNS swim, SwimLog
Zero ads. Zero login. Zero tracking SDKs. One swim today, a lifetime of data.