iOS vs Android App Permissions: Which One Respects User Privacy More?

Managing Permission and Access Control on Android

Android has changed enormously over the years. In the past, permissions would be granted at the time of installation. The Android platform has changed, whereby permissions will be issued at runtime.

In the last few years, updates have included:

• A new feature, Privacy Dashboard, has been included in Android 12 to show which apps have accessed sensitive information over the prior 24 hours.
• Approximate Location Access: Android enables the user to make a call if the application needs their precise location or approximate location.
• In addition, Android privacy settings have been more centralized; users can still limit the differences in privacy settings, as each manufacturer, like Samsung, OnePlus, etc., has its own interface.
  
  

While Android will always be changing, it is still an open ecosystem, and there will be limited shaking off potential issues for developers, putting mobile data protection in danger if developers do not act responsibly.

Permission Transparency: Which platform has a better experience?

Let’s talk about user experience.

• For iOS, permission prompts are universal across devices and versions. Users also know exactly what they’re saying yes or no to.
• For Android, permission dialogues differ by manufacturer. So a Xiaomi user may see a completely different prompt than someone with a Pixel.
  
  

This inconsistency will cause confusion or worse, users will grant access they didn’t want without knowing. Ideally, this makes permission-explaining apps even more paramount on Android.

Real-time permission requests: iOS vs Android

Timing is everything.

• iOS requires real-time permission requests. If an app wants to access location or the camera, it must ask at the moment of asking permission, i.e., it must request permission exactly when the user is trying to take a photo or when they are trying to share a location.
• Android still requires permission to be asked in real time, but some developers try to exploit this system, which allows developers to request access rights after installation, where users just blindly say “OK.”
  
  

Based on AppCensus’ 2023 study, 36% of Android apps in the sample requested permission before it was time. The number for iOS apps was much lower because of platform enforcement.

Background Access and Data Tracking Discrepancies

Now, this is where we start to get spicy.

• iOS has some very strict limitations on background access. Any application that tries to track users in the background could face rejection from the App Store.
• Android has historically been more lenient – apps could access location and Wi-Fi data with the app entirely closed! Of course, Android 10 and later Android versions now require background location access approval during the review process, but historically, Android has provided a more lax ability to access location or data even when not even open.
  
  

In fact, a 2022 DuckDuckGo audit found that while using and accessing free apps, more than 60% of shared data with third-party trackers on Android, even when the application wasn’t being used. This is a huge red flag for users who pride themselves on the terms of the privacy-focused mobile OS landscape.

Granular Controls and Customization on Both Platforms

Who serves users up more controls?

• iOS has more restrictive defaults, but fewer customization options. By design, it’s locked down.
• Android provides users and power users with more granular controls: battery optimization by app, background data control, with custom permission managers.
  
  

For advanced users, Android’s flexibility can be liberating. For everyday users? iOS wins for simplicity and security.

Privacy Labels and App Store Policies: Apple vs Google

Transparency is not only about what the OS is doing, but also how app stores apply their policies.

• Apple has “Privacy Nutrition Labels” on the App Store that summarize what data an app collects and how the data is used. Submission of the “Privacy Nutrition Labels” is required for each app.
• Google Play Store has an added Data Safety section that was introduced in 2022, but the Data Safety sections are self-reported disclosures by developers. A Washington Post article published in 2023 found that over 40% of apps incorrectly stated their data collection practices on the Play Store.
  
  

If you care about app security when it comes to iOS vs Android privacy, the comparison in enforcement is important.

Security Concerns over Loose versus Strict Permissions

Permissions are not just a privacy issue; they represent a liability for app security iOS vs Android.

• Loosely granted permissions provide additional avenues for the device to be attacked with malware, phishing, or unauthorized surveillance.
• Norton’s 2024 Mobile Threat report identifies Android has 15x more malicious apps installed than iOS – most commonly attributed to sideloading and its relatively loose gatekeeping.
  
  

And, if by chance malware does get onto an iOS device, due to strict data access permissions and sandboxing, malware has extreme limitations to cause damage.

Which operating system provides more user control? The final answer.

To put it bluntly. If you believe user privacy is non-negotiable on mobile systems, and prefer predictable policies, and transparency to users, then iOS wins.

• If you value flexibility in controls, custom controls, and greater flexibility of developers to manipulate the operating system, Android wins, but comes at a cost to user privacy.
• Both systems have matured substantially from their beginnings; however, Apple’s top-down approach with its closed system often allows stricter compliance, while Android is much more permissive and flexible and can be exploited.
  
  

Also, for those considering ASO services in Ahmedabad, take note: how permissions play with your app can affect ranking, reviews, and even approval in the App Store or Play Store.

Final Thoughts

In a world where mobile data protection is synonymous with brand trust, the platform you choose is more important than ever. As tech-savvy CEOs and marketers, it’s now more than just the release of an app; it’s also about how ethically your app processes user data. 

Apple’s walled garden may feel restrictive, but at the very least, it offers standardized, transparent privacy defaults. In contrast, Android will provide you with more flexibility, but you will need to be much more active in terms of managing Android app permissions and settings.

So, when you next consider platform dominance, don’t just compare features, compare philosophies. Because in 2025, privacy isn’t just a feature. It’s bedrock.

And that is something any progressive brand and any good ASO services provider in Ahmedabad should be building on.