Apps that do
exactly what
they say.
Most "free" apps secretly harvest your location, contacts, and device data to sell to advertisers. notrace builds the honest alternative — apps with zero hidden permissions, open source code, and no data collection. Ever.
App: "Brightest Flashlight Free" — 50M+ downloads
Status: TRANSMITTING YOUR DATA
notrace Flashlight
Our first app. Available now on Android.
The problem is real.
Here's the proof.
The FTC caught a flashlight app secretly harvesting user data before anyone even agreed to terms. This is exactly why we're building notrace — apps that are honest by design.
You tap "Install"
App downloaded from Google Play. You haven't opened it yet.
App opens. Terms appear.
A consent dialog displays. You haven't tapped anything yet.
GPS data transmitted
Your precise geolocation is already being sent to advertising networks — before you accept any terms.
Device ID captured
Your unique device identifier is logged and transmitted alongside your location.
You tap "Agree"
You consent to terms. The data transmission that already happened isn't mentioned.
Background collection continues
Even when the app is closed, data continues to be harvested and sold to 14+ ad networks.
50M+
App downloads
Brightest Flashlight Free
14+
Ad networks fed
Per device, per session
$0
User compensation
Your data, their profit
2013
FTC settlement
But the practice continues
"The application was already collecting and sending information to third parties — including location and the unique device identifier — even before a consumer had a chance to accept terms."
— FTC Press Release, December 5, 2013
Read the full FTC reportThis isn't just one app
Weather apps, keyboard apps, VPN apps, flashlight apps — the pattern is identical. Free app + excessive permissions + silent data brokerage = your life as their product.
Apps that do
exactly one thing.
Every notrace app ships with a public permission audit. Zero hidden requests. Fully open source. You can verify every claim.
notrace Flashlight
A flashlight that is just a flashlight.
Uses your camera flash. Requests zero permissions. No location, no device ID, no network access. Open source. Auditable. Free.
Permissions requested:
Never requests:
notrace Keyboard
A keyboard that never phones home. Your words are yours.
Never requests:
notrace Weather
You enter a city. It shows weather. That's it.
Never requests:
All notrace apps are open source
Every line of code is public. Audit it yourself. We have nothing to hide — by design.
Transparency isn't a feature.
It's the whole point.
We don't just say we're private — we prove it. Every app, every release, every line of code.
Zero data collection
Our apps collect no personal data. No analytics. No crash reports sent to us. Nothing leaves your device.
Fully open source
Every app ships with public source code. Security researchers, journalists, and users can verify every claim.
Permission audit on every release
Before every release, we publish a signed permission manifest. Any new permission triggers a public notice.
Revenue from users, not advertisers
Our only income is $9/year subscriptions and voluntary donations. No ad networks. No data brokers. Ever.
Feature
Typical App
notrace
Location access
Device identifier
Ad network integration
Background data collection
Open source code
Permission audit
User-funded only
Like what we're doing?
Buy us a coffee.
notrace is free. Always. No subscriptions, no trials, no paywalls. If our work means something to you, a small donation helps us keep building privacy-first tools.
Donate what feels right
Every rupee goes directly toward building the next notrace app. No investors. No ad networks. Just you and us.
No account needed. No recurring charges. Just a one-time thank you.
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