# Private Kit — Private Location Logging

> Privacy-first GPS trail logging app storing data locally. (iPhone/iPad app by Massachusetts Institute of Technology.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-kit/id1501903733 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](https://appshunter.io/developer/353590322)
- Category: Utilities
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.70/5 from 121 App Store ratings · 59 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 9.0 · 32 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2020-03-15
- Data updated: 2026-08-16
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-kit/id1501903733/reviews.md

## What is Private Kit?

PrivateKit MIT is a ‘privacy-first’ app that allows you to log your GPS trails on your own phone. The information is stored locally and never shared with anyone (not even with us or MIT) until you explicitly decide to manually export the data. The location log generated by Private Kit cannot be accessed from outside the user’s device. Location information can be imported and exported by the user and used in other projects and applications.

Private Kit’s trail generator logs your device’s location once every five minutes and stores 28 days of data in under 100KB of space – less space than a single picture.  But what is truly exciting about Private Kit is its privacy protection.

The app needs access to your location and motion tracking sensors to work.

## Key features

- Privacy-first location logging
- Local data storage
- Manual data export
- Efficient data storage
- Location import/export

## What do users think of Private Kit?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 💡 Great idea for contact tracing
- 🔒 Private data logging
- 👍 Appreciated effort by MIT
- 🚀 Potential to slow virus spread
- 👍 Can log location without app open
- 👍 Can export data for contact tracing

**Cons**

- ❓ Confusing and unclear UI/UX
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes
- 🤷 No idea how to use it
- 📉 Poor execution and polish
- 🚫 No support or response
- 📉 Data import not intuitive
- 📉 Map lags and shows no info
- 📉 GPS data not accurate
- 📉 App doesn't log trips consistently
- 📉 UI elements are hidden or off-screen
- 📉 Location data clusters or shows incorrect locations
- 📉 App doesn't work as intended for many users
- 📉 Incomplete instructions

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App crashes when trying to view movements on map
- Map crashes/closes app before loading
- App crashes when trying to open map
- App crashes when trying to view overlaps
- Map shows zoomed out view and crashes
- App crashes when visualizing data streams
- App doesn't show location
- App doesn't log trips consistently
- Map doesn't update routes
- Import/Export/News icons are hidden or inaccessible
- Three vertical dots (menu) are off-screen
- GUI displays incorrectly on smaller screens
- News button does not work
- Import button shows 'Rolling out soon'
- Export button text is cut off
- Description box covers half the screen
- Latest update broken for some users
- Latest update forgot previous weeks log
- Update from two days ago prevents tapping start logging button
- GPS data not accurate, shows incorrect locations
- Map overlay shows incorrect wandering
- Cannot access three buttons (import, export, news) due to screen size
- The 'for more information' box hides import/export/news buttons
- Location logging clusters locations in one spot
- Location data placed at locations never visited
- Map is zoomed out by default
- Cannot get import/export/news icons
- Cannot access three vertical dots upper right hand corner
- App not optimized for iPhone SE screen size

**Most requested features**

- Better howto and help information
- More rigorous and robust app development
- Simple notebook feature for user contacts
- Clearer explanation of map features (green targets, red pins)
- Option to add locations when without phone
- Explanation of what a 'Hit' looks like
- Make data-sharing opt-out instead of opt-in
- Consider implementation on existing platforms like Facebook
- Explanation for the number in the circle on the map
- How to input a positive test result
- Default map view should be zoomed to data limits
- Make GUI elements fully accessible on smaller screens
- Explanation of import/export/news buttons
- More detailed documentation for data import/export
- Option to add manual entries for contacts
- Clearer explanation of data sources and trusted authorities

## Recent user reviews (10 of 59)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-kit/id1501903733/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Too complex

*2020-06-19, version 0.5.19*

I simply cannot figure out how to use it.

### 1/5 — Needs better howto and help info

*2020-05-27, version 0.5.19*

No idea how to add health authorities. This app needs much better howto and help info so users know what to do with it, how to configure and operate it. Seems potentially useful.

### 2/5 — Data import not intuitive home screen always says not enough data. No support

*2020-05-19, version 0.5.19*

Tried numerous time to import locations data from google with out success. Documentation is thin on how to do this . Preferred file type . What to do if you encounter problems . Good idea but need polish to be useful

### 2/5 — Great Idea - Poor Execution

*2020-05-01, version 0.5.19*

Always On makes no sense. There are very specific times - vector points - that need to be tracked. Please put more resources into developing a more rigorous and robust app.

### 1/5 — No support

*2020-05-01, version 0.5.19*

Is this app working as intended anywhere; for anyone?

I emailed various staff and received two replies. I provided feedback over at least two updates, again no response. 

Incomplete instructions such as : select trusted authority but no explanation or source list for one near by. And the import your google movements is useless without cheater instructions. At the top the app states: open this place again and the download will automatically import. 

So get with it team or go back to gaming. Thanks

### 2/5 — Needs work

*2020-04-30, version 0.5.19*

Great at logging my movement, keeping my data private, and exporting these data if I ever need to do that. UI needs work. It also crashes when I try to view my movements on the map on my iPhone 8.

### 1/5 — Huh

*2020-04-26, version 0.5.19*

Doesn’t work, confusing instructions, map lags and shows no info

### 3/5 — Good idea, still lots of bugs

*2020-04-22, version 0.5.19*

Every time I try to open the map it crashes/closes the app before loading anything. 

I think this app is still in beta stage, so I’m expecting bugs. However it’s not very usable at this stage. I’m keeping it so it’s still recording my locations Incase I need them, and hopefully the next updates will make it useful. 

The previous version didn’t crash, but it didn’t display any data on the map either.

### 1/5 — Great Idea with poor system workout

*2020-04-18, version 0.5.19*

It looks as an App done by some MIT students in their free time. I can not see my routes, and the intersection information, as tested against my friends here - are simply nonexistent. Reporting is not obvious and data fidelity overall seems unreliable.

### 1/5 — Does not Import Past Locations

*2020-04-18, version 0.5.19*

It downloads my past locations but will not upload them to the app.

Without location history you get a message that says, “Not enough data,” which makes the app useless.

## Frequently asked questions about Private Kit

### What does Private Kit do?

Private Kit is a privacy-focused application that enables you to log your GPS trails directly on your own device. It records your location history locally, ensuring that your data is never shared with anyone unless you explicitly choose to export it.

### How does Private Kit protect my privacy?

The app's core design is 'privacy-first.' All your logged GPS data is stored exclusively on your device and cannot be accessed by anyone, including the developers. You retain complete control over your location information.

### How much data does Private Kit store?

Private Kit is very efficient with storage. It logs your location once every five minutes and stores 28 days of data using less than 100KB of space, which is less than a single picture. This ensures minimal impact on your device's storage.

### Can I use my logged data elsewhere?

Yes, you can manually export your location logs. This allows you to import the data into other projects and applications, giving you flexibility in how you use your recorded GPS trails.

### What permissions does Private Kit require?

To function correctly, Private Kit requires access to your device's location services and motion tracking sensors. These permissions are necessary for the app to accurately log your GPS trails.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 0.5.19 — 2020-04-16

Add button to stop logging
Improve Maps visualization

### 0.5.15 — 2020-04-15

Brand new UI!

### 0.5.14 — 2020-04-09

A few bug fixes on the export functions

### 0.5.11 — 2020-04-02

Bluetooth Contact Tracing V1
Added Kannada Language support 
Added Urdu language support 
Hindi translation update 
CS (Czech) translation 
Windows development scripts
Export fix for iOS
FR locale update 
[Dev setup] Mac fixes, and clearer instructions
Update Overlap screen to update when it comes into focus 
Fix disable location sharing ble 
Disable share button on Export screen if no log data 
Marathi Translation Update 
Catalan translation

### 0.5.10 — 2020-03-30

Translation improvements.

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All apps by Massachusetts Institute of Technology: https://appshunter.io/developer/353590322

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-16.*