Your recovery data is uniquely sensitive

When you log a craving, write a journal entry, or check in about your mood, you are sharing some of the most personal information imaginable. This data reveals your vulnerabilities, your struggles, and your inner world in ways that few other types of data can.

That is why choosing a recovery app that takes privacy seriously is not just a nice-to-have — it is essential.

What to look for in a privacy-respecting app

Not all apps treat your data the same way. Here are the key questions you should ask before trusting any app with your recovery journey:

1. Is your data encrypted?

Encryption means that even if someone gains access to the database, your data is unreadable without the encryption key. Look for apps that use AES-256 encryption (the same standard used by banks and governments) for sensitive data at rest.

2. Is your data anonymized before AI processing?

Many recovery apps use AI to provide insights and recommendations. But does the AI know who you are? The best apps strip personal identifiers — your name, location, and other identifying details — before any AI processing occurs.

3. Can you control what gets processed?

A consent-first approach means you decide what data gets analyzed. You should be able to toggle data processing and AI analysis on or off at any time, with the app respecting your choice immediately.

4. Can you delete everything?

The right to delete is fundamental. You should be able to permanently erase all your data from the app's servers — not just your local device, but the backend too.

5. Is the app ad-free?

If an app is showing you ads, someone is paying for access to your attention — and potentially your data. Recovery apps should never monetize your information.

The bottom line

Your recovery journey is yours. The tools you use to support it should honor that with robust encryption, anonymized processing, full data control, and a no-ads, no-selling commitment.

At PathClear, these are not aspirations — they are the foundation of everything we build.

Why Privacy Matters in Recovery Apps — What to Look For