Sambar — Data and Privacy Policy
Sambar, made by Orbit Technologies, keeps your recipes, ingredients and shopping lists on your phone. We have no accounts, no advertising and no analytics, and we have no server: nothing you create in the app is ever sent to us. The app uses the internet only for "Show Me How To Cook", which opens a Google search for the recipe you are looking at, as described below.
This policy covers the Sambar Android app, version 2.0 and earlier versions. It takes effect on 10 November 2026 and replaces the policy dated 18 August 2026.
At a glance
| Data | Used for | Where it goes | How long it is kept |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your recipes and ingredients (recipes you add, ingredients you add, notes, favourites, the recipe cart, minimum buy quantities you edit) | Browsing and planning dishes, the cart and shopping lists | On your phone only. Android may include them in your Google account backup | Until you delete them, clear the app's data or uninstall |
| Recipe attachments (.txt or .md files) | Reading step-by-step instructions inside the app | A copy is kept on your phone only | Until you remove the attachment or the recipe |
| In Stock marks and settings (ingredient display languages, recently searched dishes, long-press copy mode, number of meal combos, this week's combos) | Remembering your pantry and your choices | On your phone only | Until you clear the app's data or uninstall |
| Shopping lists | Showing what to buy for the dishes in your cart | Worked out on your phone each time; not saved as a history | Only while the list is open |
| Copied items | Pasting your list into a grocery or messaging app | Your phone's clipboard | Until you copy something else or tap "Clear copied items" |
| "Show Me How To Cook" searches | Finding a recipe or video on the web | Google, which receives the search words: the dish name and its main ingredients | Not stored by us. Google's own terms apply |
| Feedback (optional) | Answering your questions and improving the app | Your email app sends your message to us from your own email account | As long as needed to answer you |
We never receive your recipes, ingredients, In Stock marks, shopping lists or attachments.
Show Me How To Cook
This is the only feature that uses the internet. When you tap a web or YouTube "Search" button on a recipe, the app opens a Google search for that recipe inside the app.
- What is sent: the search words only. For catalog recipes, that is the dish name and its main ingredients, for example "Baingan Bharta using Brinjal recipe". For a recipe you added yourself, it is the name you gave it and its largest ingredient.
- Who receives it: Google, and any site you then open from the results, such as YouTube. This is ordinary web browsing under Google's Privacy Policy and the policies of the sites you visit.
- Web storage: the in-app browser may keep cookies and a page cache, set by Google or the sites you open, in the app's private storage. Clearing the app's data removes them.
- Leaving the app: tapping a link in the results, or "Open in Browser Instead", asks first and then opens your phone's own browser.
- Offline: without internet, nothing is looked up and everything else in the app keeps working.
We do not see or record which searches you make or which links you open.
Your recipes, attachments and backups
Your recipes, ingredients, favourites, cart and notes are kept in a database in the app's private storage on your phone, with attachments in the same place. In Stock marks and settings are kept in the app's private settings.
- Android backup: if Backup is turned on in your phone's settings, Android may copy the app's data, including your recipes and settings, to your Google account under Google's terms. You can turn this off in Settings → Google → Backup.
- Attachments: when you attach a file to a recipe, the app reads only the file you pick and keeps a copy for that recipe. Nothing is uploaded.
- Importing a shopping list: "Import Shopping List" reads only the file you open and shows it on your phone. Nothing is uploaded.
- Updating from an earlier version: the first time the new app opens, it copies your favourites, cart, own recipes and ingredients, pantry edits and settings from the earlier version's storage on the same phone. This happens on the phone; nothing is sent anywhere.
Copying and sharing your shopping list
Nothing leaves your phone unless you choose to copy or share it.
- Long-press to copy: puts the item's name and quantity, or a running comma-separated list of the items you picked, on your phone's clipboard. Other apps can paste it, and your keyboard app may be able to read it, as with anything you copy. "Clear copied items" empties the clipboard.
- Share as Text: sends the list's item names, quantities and categories to the app you pick, such as WhatsApp, Notes or email.
- Comma Separated: copies the list to the clipboard for pasting into a grocery app such as Instamart or Bigbasket.
- JSON (for Sambar app): creates a file with the list's items, quantities and categories, and sends it to the app you pick. A copy stays in the app's temporary storage until it is replaced or Android clears it.
Shared lists contain only what you see on screen: the items you picked, or every item not marked In Stock. Once you share them, the person or service you share them with controls them.
Services the app connects to
These services are run by other organisations under their own privacy policies. When the app or your phone contacts them, they receive your IP address and basic device information, as any website does.
| Service | When | What it receives |
|---|---|---|
| Google Search (Google) | Only when you tap a web or YouTube "Search" button on a recipe | The search words: the dish name and its main ingredients |
| YouTube and other websites | Only when you open a result from that search | The page you asked for, as with any web browsing |
| Your phone's browser | When you tap a link in the results or "Open in Browser Instead", and confirm | The link you chose |
| The app you share with | Only when you share a shopping list | The list you chose to share |
| Your email app | Only when you send Feedback or tap our email address | Your message, which you send from your own email account |
| Google Play (Android) | When you install or update the app; updates come only through Google Play | Install and crash information Google Play collects under Google's terms |
Google's handling is described in the Google Privacy Policy.
Android permissions
| Permission | Why the app needs it |
|---|---|
| Internet | To show Google search results for "Show Me How To Cook" |
| Vibrate | For the short vibration when you long-press an item to copy it |
The app asks for no other permissions. It has no access to your location, contacts, photos, camera, microphone, call log or SMS.
What we don't do
- No accounts or sign-in, and we don't ask for your name, email or phone number.
- No advertising, and no advertising or tracking IDs.
- No analytics, tracking or crash-reporting tools of our own.
- No server: we never receive your recipes, ingredients, In Stock marks, shopping lists or attachments.
- No access to your location, contacts, photos, camera, microphone, call log or SMS.
- We don't sell, rent or share your data.
Keeping and deleting your data
Everything the app stores stays on your phone until you delete it, and you can delete it at any time.
- A recipe you added: edit or remove it in My Recipes. Removing an attachment deletes the app's copy.
- Favourites, cart and In Stock marks: untick them in the app at any time.
- An ingredient you added: open it in My Pantry and use Delete This Ingredient.
- Everything on the phone: Settings → Apps → Sambar → Storage → Clear storage, or uninstall the app. Copies in your Google account backup follow Google's backup settings.
- Your feedback emails: ask us and we will delete them.
- Lists you shared stay wherever you sent them until you delete them there.
Children
Sambar is a recipe and shopping list app for general audiences and is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 18.
Security
Your recipes, attachments and settings are kept in the app's private storage, which other apps cannot read. Google searches use encrypted HTTPS. Anyone who can unlock your phone can see your recipes and lists, so keep a screen lock on.
Your rights
Under India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, you have the right to know what personal data is processed about you, to have it corrected or erased, to nominate someone to act for you, and to have grievances addressed. Your app data never leaves your phone, so you can see, correct and delete it yourself in the app.
- Turn features off at any time: simply don't use "Show Me How To Cook" or sharing; everything else works offline.
- Data held by Google: requests about Google's search records go to Google, under its privacy policy.
- Anything else: contact us using the details below. You may also complain to the Data Protection Board of India.
Changes to this policy
If the app starts handling data differently, we will update this policy, change the date at the top, and point out important changes in the app's release notes before they take effect.
Contact and grievances
For questions about this policy, a privacy concern or a request to delete your feedback emails, contact Orbit Technologies. We will reply within 30 days.
- Grievance officer: Mathew Kochumman
- Email: orbit3tech@gmail.com
- Address: 1144, Satellite Township, Padamugal, Kakkanad 682030, Kerala, India