Cove

Privacy policy

Last updated 3 November 2026

Cove is a web browser for iPhone. It has no accounts, no analytics and no advertising, and we run no servers that your browsing passes through. We don't collect, see or sell your browsing.

What stays on your iPhone

• Your open tabs, the pages you've visited (history), pictures of your tabs for the tab switcher, websites' icons, your downloads and your settings are stored only on your iPhone.
• Websites' cookies and data are kept by the system's web engine (WebKit) on your iPhone, as in any browser.
• Incognito tabs aren't saved: no history, no tab pictures, and their cookies and site data are removed when the last incognito tab closes.
• You can clear your history, cache, and cookies and site data at any time in Settings, Clear browsing data.

What goes to others

• Websites you visit receive what any browser sends them, such as your IP address and requests for their pages.
• Your search engine (Google unless you choose another in Settings) receives the searches you make.
• Search suggestions: while you type in the search field, what you've typed is sent to Google's suggestion service if Google is your search engine, or to DuckDuckGo's for any other, to suggest searches. This is off in incognito: nothing is sent while you type.
• Site icons are fetched from the website they belong to.

On-device intelligence

Cove uses Apple Intelligence's on-device model to recognise sponsored blocks for its ad blocker, and to offer actions for some pages (such as a recipe's steps). This runs entirely on your iPhone: nothing is sent anywhere for it.

Permissions

Websites can ask to use your camera, microphone or location (while you use Cove only). Each asks first, and you can say no. Saving an image adds it to your photo library; Cove can't read your library.

Beta testing

If you test Cove through TestFlight, Apple collects crash reports and any feedback you choose to send, and shares them with us, under Apple's privacy policy. Feedback you send can include a screenshot and your comments.

Children

Cove isn't directed at children and collects no personal information from anyone.

Changes

If this policy changes, we'll update this page and its date.

Contact

Questions about privacy: send feedback through TestFlight.