A privacy scanner for Android mobile applications
by AppCensus, Inc. from Albany, USA
AppCensus is a mobile app privacy analysis platform that scans Android apps to show what data the app/SDKs actually access and transmit, where it goes, and whether flows align with regulatory and app-store disclosure requirements. It does so without needing access to your source code.
AppCensus is positioned for teams that need assurance and evidence (e.g., CNIL-focused audits in France, minors/children risk controls, and keeping Google Play Data Safety labels accurate as app versions change). The results of scans are delivered via the AppCensus console and supported by an SDK behavior knowledge base and expert guidance.
AppCensus supports the following use cases:
- (Technical) mobile app privacy assessments to understand permissions, data transfers, and third-party/SDK behavior.
- Child / minor protection by validating that data sharing/ads/consent controls behave as intended in practice.
- App-store compliance support, including checking whether changes require updates to Google Play Data Safety labels.
- Audit readiness by documenting SDKs, data flows, consent and permissions, and by providing ongoing monitoring of the application.
AppCensus has the following key features:
- Real-time behavioral scanning on virtual and live devices for SDK/third-party activity.
- Visibility into root causes: app behavior, permission usage, and data transfer analysis (pre-release + Google Play apps).
- SDK detection + documentation, including hidden trackers and background data flows.
- Data flow mapping: what data is collected, who receives it globally, and whether connections are secure.
- Consent validation by simulating real app use to test whether tracking stops when it should.
- Ongoing monitoring across versions (scan each new version pre-release; scan many versions over time).
- Support layer: SDK knowledge base + access to legal/technical/privacy experts; optional custom reports/summaries.
- Security controls for results through secure environments, customer-specific encryption keys and optionally customer control of keys.
AppCensus advertises support for the following legal obliations:
- Commercial terms
- Google Play Data Safety Labels (app-store disclosure requirement)
- Accountability principle (article 5 GDPR)
- Risk-based security measures (article 32 GDPR)
- Regulatory guidance (CNIL)
Note: the vendor specifically advertises that the solution supports compliance assessment against the French Data Protection Regulator’s (CNIL) App guidelines. It is worth noting that these guidelines are interpretations of the EU General Data Protection Regulation. The solution may thus offer helpful compliance assurance for the wider European market.
Disclaimer: for this review we rely on public information released by the solution developer. We have not assessed whether the solution complies with all applicable laws. We also make no assertion as to the adequacy of the solution for your specific situation in this general review. It is your responsibility to assess the suitability of the solution for your specific use case and to obtain appropriate legal advice before procuring, implementing or using the solution.
- Software-as-a-Service: you upload an Android APK or a link to the Google Play store and AppCensus scans it. The results are provided online in the AppCensus console.
- No implementation is required (no sharing of source code, no implementation of SDKs or use of APIs).
AppCensus offers packages based on:
- Subscription fees