Privacy Policy
Last updated: July 15, 2026
Pear ("Pear," "we," "us," or "our") provides a cashless tipping service that lets guests tip service workers by tapping an NFC bracelet, scanning a QR code, or paying with a card, and lets workers and businesses receive and manage those tips. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use and share it, and the choices you have. It applies to our websites (including tipwithpear.com and app.tipwithpear.com), our mobile app, and related services (together, the "Services").
1. Information We Collect
Information you provide
- Account & profile. When you sign up, we collect your name, email address, and (optionally) a profile photo and a "what I do" service icon. Authentication is handled by our identity provider, Clerk. If you sign up using a third-party login such as Sign in with Apple or Google, we receive the name and email address those services share with us.
- Tip & message content. When a guest sends a tip, we collect the tip amount, currency, and any optional message the guest chooses to include.
- Business & team data. If you use Pear as part of an organization (for example, a café or salon), we collect your role, team/pool membership, and tip-distribution inputs such as hours or points used to split pooled tips.
- Support communications. Information you provide when you contact us for support or feedback.
Payment information
Payments and payouts are processed by Stripe. When a guest pays a tip, or when a worker sets up payouts, payment details (such as card numbers and bank account information) are collected and stored directly by Stripe under Stripe's Privacy Policy. Pear never receives or stores full card numbers or bank account credentials. We retain non-sensitive transaction references from Stripe (for example, a payment or payout identifier and the amounts involved) to operate the Services.
Information collected automatically
- Device & usage data. Basic technical data such as IP address, browser or device type, and app interactions, collected to keep the Services secure and working.
- Tip source. Whether a tip came from an NFC tap, a QR scan, or an in-person card tap, and the tip link or device involved.
- Cookies & similar technologies. We (and our providers, such as Clerk for sessions) use cookies and local storage to keep you signed in and to secure the Services.
2. How We Use Your Information
- Create and manage your account and personal tip link.
- Process tips and payouts and calculate fees and tip splits.
- Display tip history, earnings, and team dashboards.
- Provide customer support and respond to your requests.
- Detect, prevent, and investigate fraud, abuse, and security incidents.
- Comply with legal, tax, and regulatory obligations.
- Improve and maintain the reliability of the Services.
3. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We share it only as follows:
| Recipient | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Stripe | Payment processing and payouts (money transmitter of record). |
| Clerk | Account authentication and session management. |
| Cloudflare & hosting providers | Website/app hosting, content delivery, and security. |
| Your organization | If you join a team, your managers can see your tip and payout data relevant to running the team's tipping and pools. |
| Legal & safety | When required by law, to enforce our terms, or to protect rights, safety, and the integrity of the Services. |
| Business transfers | In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets. |
4. Data Retention
We keep your information for as long as your account is active and as needed to provide the Services. We retain certain transaction records for longer where required for tax, accounting, legal, or fraud-prevention purposes. When information is no longer needed, we delete or anonymize it.
5. Your Rights & Choices
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, export, or delete your personal information, and to object to or restrict certain processing. To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@tipwithpear.com. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights.
Account & data deletion
You can delete your account at any time from within the app (Settings) or by emailing privacy@tipwithpear.com. When you delete your account, we delete or anonymize your personal profile data, subject to transaction records we must retain for legal and financial-compliance reasons.
6. Security
We use industry-standard safeguards, including encryption in transit, to protect your information. Payment data is handled by PCI-compliant providers. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.
7. Children's Privacy
The Services are not directed to children under 13 (or the minimum age required in your jurisdiction), and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.
8. International Users
We are based in the United States, and your information may be processed in the United States and other countries where we or our service providers operate. These countries may have data-protection laws different from those in your country.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date above and, where appropriate, provide additional notice. Your continued use of the Services after changes take effect means you accept the updated policy.
10. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, contact us at privacy@tipwithpear.com.