Last updated: 28 September 2026
Ranka is a baby tracking app for parents and guardians. This policy explains what personal information we collect, why, who sees it, and the choices you have. We handle personal information under South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
Who is responsible
Ranka (ranka.co.za) is the responsible party for the information described here. You can reach us at support@ranka.co.za.
What we collect
- Your account: your email address, a password (stored only as a one-way hash) and, if you sign in with Google, your name and Google account ID.
- Your child's details: first and last name, date of birth, an optional photo and a colour you pick. You are giving us this information about your child as their parent or legal guardian.
- Logs you record: feedings (including formula brand and foods), sleep, nappy changes, baths, play, moods and measurements such as weight, length and head circumference. Information about a child's health is special personal information, and we treat it with extra care.
- Sharing settings: the invites you create for co-parents and caregivers, including a label and a PIN.
- Technical data: your IP address and basic request logs, and cookies that keep you signed in.
Why we use it
- To run the app: show your child's logs, statistics and PDF reports to you and the people you share with.
- To keep your account secure and send messages you ask for, such as email confirmation and password reset.
- To fix problems and keep the service running.
- If you agree, to understand how the app is used so we can improve it (see "Analytics" below).
We do not sell your information, and we do not use it for advertising.
Who can see it
- People you invite. Co-parents see everything for that child. Caregivers can view and add entries. You control and can revoke caregiver access.
- Service providers that help us run Ranka: our hosting provider (Railway), Google (only if you choose Google sign-in), and our email delivery provider. They may only use the information to provide their service to us.
- Where required by law.
Some of these providers store or process information outside South Africa. We only use providers that protect information to a standard comparable to POPIA.
Analytics
If Ranka offers analytics and you choose "Accept" on the banner, we use Microsoft Clarity to record how screens are used (taps and scrolling). Text on screen, including names and logs, is masked so it isn't captured. If you choose "No thanks", or ignore the banner, no analytics run. You can change your mind by clearing this site's data in your browser.
How long we keep it
We keep your information until you delete your account. Entries you delete inside the app are hidden and permanently erased when you delete your account. Backups made by our hosting provider are overwritten on their normal schedule.
Your rights
You can ask us to access, correct or delete your information, and you can object to how we use it.
- Delete everything yourself: when signed in, go to Your baby, then Delete account. This permanently erases your account and any child who has no other guardian, including all their logs and photos.
- For anything else, contact us using the details above.
- If you are unhappy with how we handle your information, you can complain to the Information Regulator (South Africa) at inforegulator.org.za.
Security
Information is encrypted in transit (HTTPS), passwords are hashed, and access to each child's data is limited to the people linked to them. No system is perfectly secure, so please use a strong, unique password and only share invites with people you trust.
Children
Ranka is for parents and guardians, not children. Only a parent or legal guardian should create an account or enter a child's details.
Changes
If we change this policy in a way that matters, we will update the date above and tell you in the app.