NimbleCalPrivacy guide
A short, practical guide on how to protect your calendar data and what to watch for in other calendar apps.
Calendar Privacy Risks
Your calendar contains sensitive information about your life - who you meet with, where you go, how you spend your time, and personal notes. Many calendar apps sync event content to a provider's servers, which can mean the provider (and anyone with access) can see the details of your schedule.
How Calendar Apps Collect Your Data
Calendar apps typically collect data through cloud sync, third-party integrations (connected apps gain access), analytics (usage tracking), and account information. Even "free" calendar services come with tradeoffs - sometimes privacy, sometimes ads, sometimes lock-in.
Essential Privacy Features to Look For
When choosing a calendar app, prioritize end-to-end encryption for event content (if you want the provider to be unable to read it), local-first storage, minimal data collection, no ads or third-party analytics trackers in the app, and a clear privacy policy.
Understanding End-to-End Encryption
End-to-end encryption ensures your event content is encrypted on your device before being sent anywhere. The service stores encrypted data, but cannot read it without your keys. NimbleCal encrypts calendar content end-to-end before syncing, while still storing limited account and sync metadata so the service can function.
The Benefits of Local-First Software
Local-first software offers data ownership (your data lives on your devices first), offline access, better performance, longevity (data remains accessible even if service shuts down), and privacy by design. NimbleCal's local-first approach means your calendar works for you, not for data collectors.
Practical Privacy Tips
Use unique, strong passwords for calendar accounts. Be selective about third-party integrations. Review privacy settings regularly. Avoid putting sensitive information in calendar titles if using non-encrypted services. Consider using separate calendars for personal and professional events.