Privacy Policy
Last updated: July 2026
SimplRead at simplread.com (“we”, “us”) explains what we collect, why we collect it, and the choices you have. This policy covers the website, web app, Chrome extension, and mobile apps that sign into the same account.
Who we are
SimplRead is a reading tool that simplifies articles into slides. Contact for privacy requests: privacy@simplread.com.
What we collect
- Account: email address and hashed password when you sign up; email verification status.
- Settings: preferred AI provider and model; optional API key encrypted at rest; reading preferences (theme, dyslexia-friendly options, and similar).
- History: article titles, source URLs, simplified slides, categories, and favourites you save.
- Usage & billing: credit purchases, free-allowance counters, and technical logs needed to operate quotas and prevent abuse.
- Cookies & local storage: essential session cookie; optional consent choice; advertising cookies when ads load in the reader (see Cookie Policy below).
How we use data
- Provide the reading service, sync settings between web, extension, and apps, and store your history.
- Hosted tokens: call our platform AI providers to simplify content you submit, using our keys, within your free allowance or purchased credits.
- BYOK: call your AI provider with your encrypted API key when you choose bring-your-own-key. We do not use your key for other customers.
- Process payments via Stripe (web) or the relevant app store for credit packs.
- Show ads in the reader via Google AdSense when your access path includes ads, to help cover hosting and development.
- Respond to support emails and security incidents.
AI providers and your content
When you simplify an article, the extracted text is sent to an AI model (ours for hosted paths, yours for BYOK). Those providers process data under their own terms. Do not submit material you are not allowed to process. Simplifications stored in your history remain until you delete the item or your account.
Retention
We keep account and history data until you delete your account (or delete individual history items). Purchase records are retained as required for accounting and fraud prevention. Short-lived anonymous read sessions expire after about one hour.
Cookie Policy
- Essential: authentication session cookie — required to stay signed in.
- Advertising: Google AdSense may set cookies when ads are displayed in the reader.
- Personalization (optional): additional cookies only if you accept optional cookies in the banner.
- Local storage:
tldr_cookie_consentstores your cookie choice.
You can change your mind by clearing site data for simplread.com or waiting for the banner to appear again after clearing consent. Ads are limited to the reading experience; we do not fill empty content pages with ad units.
Sharing
We do not sell your personal information. We share data with processors who help us run the service: hosting, email delivery, payment providers, AI model APIs (as described above), and Google AdSense when ads are shown. We may disclose information if required by law or to protect the service and its users.
Your rights (GDPR and similar)
- Access and correct account data in Settings.
- Delete your account and associated data from Settings → Delete my account.
- Request export or other assistance: privacy@simplread.com.
- Withdraw optional cookie consent by clearing stored consent as described above.
Lawful basis
We process account, history, and billing data to perform our contract with you (providing SimplRead). Security and abuse-prevention logs are based on legitimate interests in running a safe service. Optional personalization cookies rely on your consent. Ads fund free tiers of the product.
Children
You must be at least 16 years old to create an account. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 16.
Changes
We may update this policy. The “Last updated” date at the top will change when we do. Significant changes will be highlighted on the site where practical.
Data controller
SimplRead — contact: privacy@simplread.com