Privacy Policy

At EssayGenius, we take your privacy seriously. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our Service. Please read this policy carefully.

The short version

• Your essays are stored locally on your device by default
• We only access your content to provide AI features you request
• We do not sell your data or use it for advertising
• You can delete your data at any time

1. Information We Collect

We collect different types of information depending on how you use our Service.

Information you provide

• Account information: Email address, name, and password when you create an account
• Essay content: Essays, notes, sources, and other content you create in EssayGenius
• Communications: Messages when you contact us for support or feedback
• Payment information: Billing details when you subscribe to a paid plan (processed by Stripe)

Information collected automatically

• Usage data: How you interact with features, pages visited, and actions taken
• Device information: Browser type, operating system, and device identifiers
• Log data: IP address, access times, and referring URLs

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve our Service
• Process AI-powered writing assistance when you use those features
• Sync your content across devices when you enable cloud sync
• Send you important updates about your account or the Service
• Respond to your questions and support requests
• Process payments and prevent fraud
• Analyze usage patterns to improve our product
• Comply with legal obligations

3. Data Storage

Your essays are stored locally in your browser by default. We use IndexedDB to store your content directly on your device. This means your work stays on your computer unless you choose to sync it.

Local storage

Without an account, your essays exist only on your device. No data is sent to our servers.

Cloud sync

When you create an account, you can sync your essays across devices. Cloud data is encrypted in transit and at rest.

4. Third-Party Services

We use trusted third-party services to provide certain features:

AI Providers

When you use AI features, relevant portions of your text are sent to our AI providers (such as OpenAI and Anthropic) to generate suggestions. These providers are contractually prohibited from using your content to train their models.

Supabase

We use Supabase for authentication and cloud storage. Your synced data is stored in secure, encrypted databases.

Stripe

We use Stripe to process payments. We do not store your full credit card number; Stripe handles all payment processing securely.

Academic Databases

When you search for sources, we query academic databases like OpenAlex and Crossref. Search queries do not include your essay content.

5. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We only share your information in the following circumstances:

• Service providers: With trusted third parties who help us operate our Service
• Legal requirements: When required by law, legal process, or to protect our rights
• Business transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets (you would be notified)
• With your consent: When you explicitly agree to share information

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information:

• All data transmitted to our servers uses TLS encryption
• Cloud-synced data is encrypted at rest
• Passwords are hashed using industry-standard algorithms
• We regularly review and update our security practices

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide our Service and fulfill the purposes described in this policy.

• Local data: Remains on your device until you delete it or clear your browser data
• Account data: Retained while your account is active, then deleted within 30 days of account deletion
• Usage logs: Retained for up to 12 months for analytics and troubleshooting

8. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Portability: Export your essays and data in a machine-readable format
• Deletion: Request that we delete your personal information

To exercise these rights, contact us at hey@essaygenius.ai. We will respond within 30 days.

For EU/EEA residents (GDPR)

We process your data based on your consent, contractual necessity, or our legitimate interests. You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

For California residents (CCPA)

You have the right to know what personal information we collect, request deletion, and opt out of the sale of your information. We do not sell personal information.

9. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to provide and improve our Service:

Essential cookies

Required for the Service to function. These keep you logged in and remember your preferences.

Analytics cookies

Help us understand how you use the Service so we can improve it. We configure analytics to avoid sending your name or email as analytics identifiers, and we disable session replay while keeping text inputs masked if recording is ever re-enabled.

We do not use advertising or tracking cookies. You can control cookies through your browser settings.

10. Children's Privacy

EssayGenius is designed for students, including those under 18. If you are under 16 (or the age of digital consent in your country), please have a parent or guardian review this policy and consent to your use of the Service.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

11. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including standard contractual clauses approved by relevant authorities.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you by email or through the Service before the changes take effect.

The "Last updated" date at the top of this page indicates when this policy was last revised. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at hey@essaygenius.ai. We aim to respond to all privacy inquiries within 30 days.