1. Overview

OCR.chat ("we", "us", "the Service") provides optical character recognition and document conversion tools that turn images and PDFs into text, tables, Markdown, and math. We collect only the information we need to run the Service, and we treat the files you upload as private and confidential. This policy describes the data we handle and the choices you have.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of information:

Account information, if you register, your email address and a securely hashed password. We never store your password in plain text.
Uploaded files, the images and PDFs you submit for OCR, and the text we extract from them. These are processed only to fulfill your request.
Usage data, pages processed, the tools and export formats you use, and your remaining page balance, so we can meter usage and run your account.
Technical data, IP address, browser type, and basic request logs used for rate limiting, security, and debugging.
Payment data, handled entirely by our payment processor; we never see or store your full card number.

3. Your Documents Are Processed for OCR Only

The files you upload are used for one purpose: to perform the OCR you requested. Uploaded files and their extracted results are deleted automatically from our servers shortly after processing. We do not sell, rent, or share your documents with third parties, and we never use your documents or extracted text to train artificial intelligence models without your explicit consent. You retain full ownership of everything you upload and everything we extract.

4. How We Use Information

We use the information we collect to:

Provide, operate, and improve the OCR and conversion features you use
Create and secure your account and authenticate API requests
Meter usage, apply page balances, and process payments
Prevent abuse, enforce rate limits, and keep the Service secure
Send essential account, billing, and support communications

5. Cookies and Analytics

We use a small number of cookies that are necessary to sign you in, keep your session, and remember your language preference. For privacy-respecting traffic analytics we use Clicky, which helps us understand aggregate usage without building advertising profiles of individual visitors. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though some features may stop working.

6. Service Providers

We rely on a limited set of trusted providers to operate the Service. Payments are processed by Stripe, which handles your card details directly under its own security and privacy standards; we receive only the information needed to confirm a transaction. We share data with service providers only as necessary to run the Service, and never for their own marketing.

7. Data Retention

Uploaded files and their OCR results are deleted automatically from our servers shortly after processing. Account information is retained while your account is active and for a reasonable period afterward to meet legal, accounting, and security obligations. You can request deletion of your account and associated personal data at any time.

8. Data Security

We use industry-standard technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including encryption in transit (HTTPS), hashed passwords, access controls, and automatic deletion of processed files. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we work continuously to safeguard your data.

9. Your Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:

Access the personal information we hold about you
Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
Request deletion of your account and personal data
Export a copy of your data in a portable format
Object to or restrict certain processing

10. Children's Privacy

The Service is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we will delete it.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the revised policy on this page and update the date below. Your continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this policy or how we handle your data, please reach out through our contact page and we will be happy to help.

13. OCR.chat Browser Extension

The OCR.chat extension for Chrome and Firefox reads nothing and sends nothing until you ask it to extract text. When you do, it sends to OCR.chat:

The image you chose: a picture you right-clicked, an area of the page you captured, or an image you pasted, dropped or picked. If a site does not let the extension read a picture directly, the extension sends the address of that one picture instead and our server downloads it.
A random install ID created when the extension was installed. It is used only to count the free daily limit and is not linked to your name, email address or browsing.
The questions you ask about the extracted text, and any answer you choose to report.
Your OCR.chat API token, only if you add one in the extension settings, so the request counts against your account.

Images are sent to OCR.chat only to extract their text, and are then handled like any other upload under this policy: used for OCR only, deleted automatically shortly after processing, never sold and never used to train AI models. The extension does not read pages in the background, does not track the sites you visit, contains no analytics or advertising code and loads no remote code. Error reports are off unless you turn them on in the extension settings, and they never contain images or text. Your settings and the install ID are stored in your browser and are removed when you remove the extension.