Privacy Policy

1. Our Privacy-First Architecture

PixalTools is fundamentally different from most online tools. All file processing happens locally in your web browser. When you compress an image, convert a video, trim audio, or perform any other operation on PixalTools, your files are processed entirely on your device using technologies like WebAssembly and the Canvas API.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information We Do NOT Collect

• Media files: Your images, videos, and audio files are never sent to any server.
• File contents: We cannot see, access, or analyze the content of files you process.
• Personal accounts: We do not require registration, login, or personal information to use our tools.
• Payment information: All tools are free. We do not collect credit card or payment data.

2.2 Information We May Collect

We collect limited, non-personal data to improve our service and maintain the website:

• Usage analytics: Page views, tool usage frequency, session duration, and referral sources through Google Analytics (see Section 4).
• Technical data: Browser type and version, operating system, screen resolution, and device type. This helps us optimize tools for different devices.
• Error reports: Anonymized error logs when tools encounter issues, used solely for debugging and improvement.
• Communication data: If you email us voluntarily, we receive your email address and message content.

3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

3.1 Essential Cookies

• Theme preference: Remembers your light/dark mode choice.
• PWA state: Manages the Progressive Web App installation state.

3.2 Analytics Cookies (Google Analytics)

We use Google Analytics (property ID: G-X2SFNCZ2WZ) to understand how visitors use our website. Google Analytics collects:

• Pages visited and time spent on each page
• Geographic region (country/city level, not precise location)
• Device type, browser, and operating system
• Referral source (how you found PixalTools)

Google Analytics uses cookies including _ga, _ga_*, and _gid. Data is retained for 14 months. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

3.3 Advertising Cookies (Google AdSense)

We display advertisements through Google AdSense (publisher ID: ca-pub-5074699817777191) to fund the ongoing development and hosting of PixalTools. Google AdSense may use cookies to:

• Serve ads based on your prior visits to PixalTools or other websites
• Measure ad effectiveness and interactions
• Limit the number of times you see a particular ad
• Compile anonymized analytics about ad performance

Google's advertising cookies include __gads, __gpi, IDE, and others. You can manage your Google ad personalization settings at Google Ads Settings. You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting aboutads.info/choices.

4. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services:

5. Data Retention

• Media files: Not applicable — files are never sent to our servers.
• Analytics data: Retained by Google Analytics for 14 months, then automatically deleted.
• Email communications: Retained for as long as needed to resolve your inquiry, then deleted.
• Cookies: Session cookies are deleted when you close your browser. Persistent cookies expire after their set duration (typically 1-24 months depending on the cookie).

6. Your Rights Under GDPR (European Users)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have the following rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Right of access: You can request a copy of any personal data we hold about you.
• Right to rectification: You can request correction of inaccurate data.
• Right to erasure: You can request deletion of your personal data.
• Right to restrict processing: You can request that we limit how we use your data.
• Right to data portability: You can request your data in a machine-readable format.
• Right to object: You can object to data processing for direct marketing purposes.

Since PixalTools does not require user accounts and does not process media files on our servers, the personal data we hold is limited to analytics cookies and any emails you may have sent us. To exercise any of these rights, contact us at leveromate@gmail.com.

7. Your Rights Under CCPA (California Users)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) provides you with additional rights:

• Right to know: What personal information we collect and how it is used.
• Right to delete: Request deletion of your personal information.
• Right to opt-out: Opt out of the "sale" of personal information. Note: We do not sell personal information. Google's advertising cookies may constitute a "sale" under CCPA's broad definition — you can opt out via Google's Ad Settings.
• Right to non-discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights.

8. Children's Privacy

PixalTools is not directed at children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can take appropriate action.

9. Data Security

We take reasonable measures to protect the limited data we collect. Our website is served over HTTPS encryption. However, since PixalTools processes all media files locally in your browser, the primary security responsibility for your files rests with your own device security. We recommend keeping your browser and operating system updated.

10. International Data Transfers

Analytics and advertising data collected through Google services may be transferred to and processed in countries outside your country of residence, including the United States. Google provides appropriate safeguards for these transfers under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and Standard Contractual Clauses.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, if appropriate, provide notice through the website. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your data rights, or have concerns about privacy practices, please contact us:

• Email: leveromate@gmail.com
• Website: pixaltools.com/contact

We aim to respond to all privacy-related inquiries within 30 days.