Tempo

Privacy Policy

Last updated November 2, 2026

Tempo Chess (“Tempo”, “we”) is a chess app for learning and playing. This Privacy Policy explains what we collect, how we use it, who helps us run the app, and the choices you have. We don't sell your information and we don't show ads. See also our Terms & Conditions.

What we collect

  • Account details: your email address, username, and password (stored only as a secure hash, never in plain text).
  • Your progress: lesson stars, placement level, puzzle rating, training cards, and app preferences, so they follow you between devices.
  • Games: online moves, results, ratings, and your win/loss record. Your username, ratings, record, recent results, and whether you're online are shown to other players.
  • Phone number (optional): only if you turn on game texts in settings.
  • Notification settings (optional): if you turn on app notifications, your browser gives us a delivery address for this device.

If you play without an account, your progress stays in your browser on that device.

Text messages (SMS)

Tempo Chess game texts are off unless you turn them on. To get them, you add your mobile number in Tempo's settings and tick a box agreeing to receive texts about your games. We then send one text confirming you're signed up.

  • What we send: alerts when another player requests a game with you, accepts your request, makes a move in a turn-based game, or when a game ends. No marketing.
  • How often: it depends on your games, and never more than 20 texts a day.
  • Cost: message and data rates may apply.
  • Stopping: reply STOP to any text, or turn texts off in settings. Reply HELP for help.

We do not sell or share your SMS opt-in data or personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. No mobile information is shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Your number is used only to send the Tempo Chess game alerts you asked for, through our text-message provider. See how to opt in on our game text alerts page.

Who helps us run Tempo

  • Vercel hosts the website.
  • Fly.io hosts the game server that stores accounts, games, and settings.
  • Twilio delivers text messages, if you turn them on.
  • Apple and Google confirm who you are, if you sign in with them. We receive your name (Apple shares it once), your email address (or an Apple relay address), and an account id; never your password.
  • Your browser's push service (for example Apple, Google, or Mozilla) delivers app notifications, if you turn them on.
  • Anthropic writes some game-review explanations. We send it the chess moves and facts about the position, not your name, email, or phone number.

They process information only to provide these services to us.

How long we keep it

We keep your account and game history while your account exists. Turning off texts or notifications removes their use straight away; you can also clear your phone number in settings at any time.

Your choices

  • Change notification and text settings on the Me page.
  • Delete your account and its data yourself on the Me page (Delete account), or ask us to see, correct, or delete it.

Children

Tempo is for players 13 and older. If you believe a child under 13 has made an account, contact us and we'll delete it.

Changes

If we change this policy, we'll update the date at the top of this page.

Contact us

Questions, or a request about your data? Email support@tempochess.online.