Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to ResearchPad's Privacy Policy. At ResearchPad, we believe that powerful AI research tools should not require sacrificing your privacy. This document explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you use our services.

Our Core Privacy Principle: Your research documents never leave your device. ResearchPad is designed with a local-first architecture that keeps your PDFs and research materials on your own computer.

Information We Collect

Account Information

When you create an account on researchpad.cc, we collect:

• Email Address: For account authentication and important communications
• Name: For personalizing your experience
• Payment Information: Processed securely through our payment provider (Stripe) - we never store your full card details

Usage Analytics

We collect minimal, anonymized usage data to improve our services:

• App version and operating system
• Feature usage statistics (which tools you use most)
• Error reports (to fix bugs)

We do NOT collect:

• The content of your research documents
• Your AI prompts or responses
• Any text extracted from your PDFs

API Usage

When you use AI features with cloud-based models (GPT-4, Claude, Gemini), your text is sent directly to the respective AI provider. ResearchPad does not store, log, or have access to this data. Each provider has their own privacy policy:

• OpenAI Privacy Policy
• Anthropic Privacy Policy
• Google AI Privacy Policy

For maximum privacy, you can use local AI models that process everything on your device.

How We Use Your Information

We use your information for:

• Providing and maintaining your account
• Processing payments and managing credits
• Sending important updates about our services
• Improving ResearchPad based on anonymous usage patterns
• Responding to support requests

We will never:

• Sell your personal data to third parties
• Use your data for advertising purposes
• Access the content of your research documents

Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures:

• All data transmitted between your browser and our servers is encrypted with TLS
• Passwords are hashed using bcrypt
• Access keys are encrypted and stored securely
• We conduct regular security audits

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Correction: Update inaccurate information
• Deletion: Delete your account and all associated data
• Export: Download your data in a portable format

To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected].

Data Retention

• Account data: Retained while your account is active
• Usage analytics: Anonymized and retained for 2 years
• Support communications: Retained for 3 years

When you delete your account, all personal data is permanently removed within 30 days.

Third-Party Services

ResearchPad uses the following third-party services:

• Stripe: Payment processing
• Better Auth: Authentication services
• Analytics: Anonymous usage tracking

Each service processes only the minimum data necessary for its function.

Children's Privacy

ResearchPad is not intended for users under 16 years of age. We do not knowingly collect data from children.

International Data Transfers

Your data may be processed in countries outside your residence. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for any international transfers.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Significant changes will be communicated via email. The latest version is always available at researchpad.cc/privacy-policy.

Contact Us

For privacy-related questions or concerns:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Contact Form

Last updated: February 8, 2026