Privacy Policy

Last updated October 15, 2026

This policy explains what Ascend (“Ascend”, “we”) collects when you use this site, why, who it's shared with, and how to get a copy of it or delete it.

What we collect

• Account details: your email, display name and a hashed password. At sign-up you enter your date of birth so we can confirm you're 18 or older; we check it and don't store it.
• What you post: threads, replies, votes, and the rating badge if you choose to show it on a post.
• Face scan results: the written rating and plan from each scan, and a one-way fingerprint (hash) of the photo file. Not the photo itself.
• AI Coach: we count how many messages you send to enforce daily limits. We don't store the conversation; it stays in your browser tab.
• Billing: handled by Stripe. We store your Stripe customer and subscription IDs and your plan, never your card number.
• Routine, challenges and alerts: your daily checklist items and the days you ticked them, challenges you joined and your check-ins, reply notifications, and any posts you reported.
• Referrals and settings: who invited you (if anyone), your invite code, your email and leaderboard preferences.
• Free-offer fingerprint: a one-way fingerprint of your email (it can't be turned back into the address) once you use the free trial, so each person gets it once. It's kept after account deletion for that reason only.
• Goals and feedback: what you said you want to work on when you joined (used to suggest first steps and to tailor Coach), and any message you send through the feedback form, with the page you sent it from.
• Anonymous step counts: counts of steps like opening the scan page, picking a photo or starting checkout, tied only to a random number for your browser tab. Not to your account, IP address or device. We use them to see where the site is confusing. Deleted after 90 days.
• Technical data: one login cookie and basic server logs (like IP address and request time) kept for security and debugging.

Face scan photos

When you scan, your photo is sent to our AI provider to produce your rating and plan, then discarded. Ascend never writes your photo to disk or a database. The fingerprint we keep can't be turned back into the photo; it only lets us recognize the exact same file if you upload it again, so you aren't charged a second scan. We don't use photos to identify you, and we don't create or keep face templates or other biometric identifiers. Our AI provider processes the image under its commercial terms, doesn't keep it for training, and deletes it on its own schedule. You must agree to this each time before a scan runs, and we record when you agreed. The full details are in our Face Data Policy. The face scan isn't offered in Illinois, Texas or Washington; we check the billing state on purchases for that reason.

How we use it

To run your account, show your posts, produce and save your scans, enforce scan and Coach limits, process payments and referral rewards, send emails you asked for, and keep the site secure. We don't sell or share your personal information for advertising, and we don't use third-party analytics or ad trackers.

Who we share it with

Only these service providers, and only what each needs to do its job:

• Anthropic (AI provider): face scan photos and Coach messages, to generate responses.
• Stripe (payments): your email and payment details when you subscribe or buy a report.
• Resend (email delivery): your email address and the email we send you.
• Render (hosting): stores the site's database and runs the server.
• Amazon: if you click a product pick, Amazon's own privacy policy applies on their site.

We may also disclose information if the law requires it or to protect people from harm.

What's public

Your display name, posts, replies and any rating badge you choose to show are public, and they're collected on your public profile page along with challenge badges you've earned. Your routine, scans and check-in history are private. Rating cards you share are public at their link until you stop sharing. The leaderboard shows your name and score gain only if you opt in.

Cookies

We use one essential login cookie and store your light/dark choice in your browser. No advertising or analytics cookies. See the Cookie Policy.

How long we keep it

• Account data, posts and scan results: until you delete them or your account.
• Login sessions: up to 30 days, or until you sign out.
• Billing records: kept by Stripe as tax law requires, even after you delete your account.
• A count of scans used is kept with your account so limits can't be reset; it's deleted with your account.

Your rights and choices

• Download your data: on your account page, “Download my data” gives you everything we hold about you as a file.
• Delete your data: delete saved scans or your whole account from the account page at any time. Account deletion removes your posts, replies, votes, scans and settings, cancels Pro, and deletes your customer record at Stripe.
• Correct your data: email us and we'll fix it.
• Emails: monthly reminders and reply emails are off unless you turn them on, and every one has a one-click unsubscribe link.

Depending on where you live (for example California, the EU or the UK), you may have extra rights, like objecting to processing or complaining to a regulator. Email us to use any of them; we'll respond within 30 days and won't treat you differently for asking.

Age

Ascend is for adults 18 and over. We don't knowingly collect data from anyone younger, and we delete accounts we learn belong to minors.

Security

Passwords are hashed, login tokens are stored hashed, and the site runs over HTTPS. No system is perfect; if we learn of a breach affecting you, we'll tell you.

Changes

If we change this policy in a meaningful way, we'll update the date above and tell signed-in users before the change takes effect.

Contact

Questions about this page? Email ascendurself.support@gmail.com or see our contact page.