Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 1, 2026

Cool Apps LLC ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding your data when you use the Paywall Hero Chrome extension, web app, or website (collectively, the "Service").

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information:

• Account information: Your email address and password (hashed) when you create an account via Firebase Authentication.
• Usage data: The number of times you use Paywall Hero features (Hero Clears, Hero Window, Hero Search, Hero AI Summaries). We do not record which specific articles or URLs you visit.
• Referral data: Your unique referral code and the number of clicks your referral link receives.
• Payment information: Billing details are handled entirely by Stripe. We do not store your credit card number or payment details on our servers.
• Email communication data: We store your email address in order to send transactional emails (account verification, welcome, subscription reminders) via Resend, and marketing emails regarding our products.

2. How We Use Your Information

• To create and manage your account
• To enforce free trial limits and subscription entitlements
• To process payments and manage your subscription via Stripe
• To send transactional emails (verification, welcome, nudges) via Resend
• To send marketing emails regarding our products
• To operate the referral program and credit Bonus Trial rewards
• To power AI article summaries via the Anthropic API (article content is sent to Anthropic for summarization; we do not store the content)
• To improve the Service and fix issues

3. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services, each with their own privacy policies:

• Firebase (Google): Authentication and database — firebase.google.com/support/privacy
• Stripe: Payment processing — stripe.com/privacy
• Resend: Transactional and marketing email — resend.com/legal/privacy-policy
• Anthropic: AI article summarization — anthropic.com/privacy

4. Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, your personal data will be removed from our systems within 30 days, except where retention is required by law (e.g., billing records).

5. Cookies and Local Storage

The Paywall Hero Chrome extension clears cookies on specific news sites at your direction in order to bypass soft paywalls. We do not read, store, or transmit the content of those cookies. The extension uses Chrome's local storage solely to maintain your authentication state.

6. Children's Privacy

Paywall Hero is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal data. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at support@coolapps.llc. We will respond within 30 days.

8. Security

We use industry-standard security practices including encrypted connections (HTTPS), Firebase Authentication, and Stripe's PCI-compliant payment infrastructure. No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

Cool Apps LLC
30 N Gould St, Ste N
Sheridan, Wyoming 82801
support@coolapps.llc