Privacy Policy

Last updated: March 2, 2026

SmartSnap ("we", "our", or "us") is an AI-powered homework assistant Chrome extension. This policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and your rights.

1. What We Collect

• Screenshots — When you trigger a snap, the visible area of your current browser tab is captured as an image and sent to our servers for AI processing. Screenshots are used only to generate an answer and are not stored after processing is complete.
• Device ID — A random identifier generated on first install and stored locally in your browser. It is sent with each request solely to enforce daily usage limits. It is not linked to your identity.
• Email address — Only collected if you voluntarily enter it to activate a Pro subscription. Used to verify your purchase and is not shared with third parties.
• Usage counts — The number of snaps you have taken today, stored locally in your browser to display your usage bar. Also returned from our API to enforce plan limits.
• Chat messages — If you use the chat feature, your conversation messages are sent to our servers to generate follow-up responses. A session is kept active for the duration of your chat. Chat sessions are not retained after the session ends.

2. What We Do Not Collect

• We do not collect your name, address, or payment details (payments are handled by Stripe).
• We do not track your browsing history or monitor pages you visit.
• We do not run in the background — the extension is only active when you explicitly trigger a snap.
• We do not sell, rent, or share your data with advertisers or third parties.

3. How We Use Your Data

• Screenshots and chat messages are sent to our AI API to generate answers and explanations.
• Device IDs are used only for rate limiting (free: 10 snaps/day, Pro: 100 snaps/day).
• Email addresses are used only to verify an active Pro subscription.

4. Data Storage & Retention

• Local storage: Device ID, usage counts, hotkey preference, and recent chat history are stored in your browser's local storage and never leave your device except as described above.
• Server storage: Screenshots are processed in memory and discarded immediately — they are never written to disk. Chat sessions expire after the session ends. We do not maintain long-term logs of your queries.
• Supabase: If you create an account, your email and subscription status are stored in our Supabase database. You can request deletion at any time by emailing us.

5. Third-Party Services

• Stripe — Handles all payment processing. We never see or store your credit card details. Stripe's privacy policy: stripe.com/privacy.
• Supabase — Stores account and subscription data. Supabase's privacy policy: supabase.com/privacy.
• Vercel — Hosts our API. Function logs may contain request metadata for up to 7 days per Vercel's default retention.
• AI Model Provider — Screenshots are processed by an AI model to generate answers. Images are not retained by the model provider after the request completes.

6. Permissions Explained

The Chrome extension requests the following permissions:

• activeTab — To capture a screenshot of your current tab when you press the snap button.
• scripting — To display the answer notification overlay on your page after a snap.
• storage — To save your device ID, usage count, and settings locally in your browser.
• notifications — To show a system notification if a snap completes while you're away from the tab.
• sidePanel — To open the chat interface in Chrome's side panel.

The extension only communicates with smartsnap-api.vercel.app. It does not have access to all websites — it only reads your current tab when you explicitly trigger a snap.

7. Children's Privacy

SmartSnap is designed as a learning tool and may be used by students. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under 13. We collect only a random device ID (not linked to identity) and, optionally, an email for Pro activation.

8. Your Rights

• You can clear your local extension data at any time via Chrome → Extensions → SmartSnap → Remove, which deletes all locally stored data.
• To delete your account or request data deletion, email us at the address below.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy as the extension evolves. Significant changes will be noted in the extension's update release notes. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

10. Contact

For privacy questions or data deletion requests, contact us at: privacy@smartsnap.io

SmartSnap is operated as an independent product. This policy applies to the SmartSnap Chrome extension and the smartsnap.io website.