Shmerling Radio privacy policy
Last updated: 30 September 2026
Shmerling Radio is an app for Android TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android phones and tablets, made by Shmerling Apps ("we", "us"). It plays radio stations from the open radio-browser.info directory. This policy explains what information the app uses, where it goes, and the choices you have. It applies to every version of Shmerling Radio, including those installed from Google Play and the Amazon Appstore.
1. The station directory
The list of stations, the countries, genres and languages, and your searches come from the radio-browser.info directory (https://www.radio-browser.info), a community project that runs several servers. When you browse or search, the app asks one of those servers, and the server sees your IP address and the words you searched for, as any website does. When you start a station, the app tells the directory which station it was, so the directory can rank stations by how much they are played. The directory has its own policy.
2. The stations themselves
The sound is streamed directly from the station's own server, which sees your IP address like any website. Station logos are loaded from the stations' own servers too. We are not part of that connection and do not see it.
3. What stays on your device
Your favourites, recently played stations, the songs you heard (Pro), the stations you added yourself (Pro) and the app's settings are stored on your device only. "Near you" uses the country of your device's language settings; the app does not ask for your location.
4. Google sync (optional, Pro)
If you switch on Google sync, you sign in with Google by scanning a code with your phone. The app asks Google for permission to see only the files it creates in your Google Drive, and for your e-mail address, which it shows so you know which account is used.
The app keeps one file in your own Google Drive, "Shmerling Radio - library.json". It holds your favourites, your recently played stations and the songs you heard, with the station addresses and the times. The file stays in your Google Drive: we never receive it. You can sign out in Settings > Google sync and delete the file from your Google Drive at any time. Google's privacy policy applies to your Google account: Google.
5. Songs
Stations announce the title of the song that is playing. With Pro the app keeps a list of them on your device. Only when you choose a song in that list does the app open a web search for its title in your browser.
6. Subscriptions and payments
Pro is sold and billed by Google Play or the Amazon Appstore. We never receive your card or billing details. The app only receives from the store whether your subscription is active. Store privacy policies apply to purchases: Google, Amazon.
7. Cards for our other apps
The free app shows a card for one of our other apps from time to time. It is our own picture and text stored inside the app: no ad network is contacted, and nothing about you is sent anywhere. You can say you are not interested in an app, and Pro has no cards.
8. What we collect
We collect nothing. Shmerling Radio has no account with us, no analytics, no tracking and no server of ours that receives your data. We do not sell, rent or share personal data, because we do not have any.
9. Children
Shmerling Radio is not directed at children.
10. Deleting your data
Clear your history and songs in My radio, or remove favourites one by one. If you use Google sync, sign out in Settings > Google sync and delete "Shmerling Radio - library.json" from your Google Drive. Uninstall the app to remove everything it stored on the device.
11. Changes
If this policy changes, the new version is published on this page with a new date.
12. Contact
Questions about privacy: support@shmerling.app.