Legal
Privacy Policy
Paper is a voice-to-text app for Mac that turns what you say into clear writing and actions across the apps you already use. This policy explains what information Paper collects when you use it, why we collect it, and what we do with it.
The short version
- Your dictated text and drafts are processed in the moment and not stored on our servers.
- When you dictate, your voice is sent to Groq to be transcribed, then discarded.
- The text is sent to Anthropic (Claude) to be cleaned up, structured, or turned into an action, then discarded.
- If you use a screen-aware feature, Paper captures your screen only at that moment to give the AI context, then discards it.
- When you connect a tool (Slack, Linear, Notion, Granola, Gmail, and similar), Paper sends or reads data there only to carry out what you asked.
- Your account (email, plan, monthly word count) is managed by Clerk. Payments are handled by Stripe, so we never see your card details.
- We don't sell your data, and we don't use your content to train AI models.
Who we are
Paper is operated by David Hartley as a sole proprietor. You can reach us at davidoskar11@gmail.com.
Information we collect
Account information
When you create a Paper account through Clerk, we receive your email address and, if you sign in with Google, your name and profile picture, along with a unique account identifier. This information is stored by Clerk on our behalf. We do not store your password.
Voice recordings (transient)
When you dictate, the audio is streamed from your Mac to our backend, forwarded to Groq for speech-to-text transcription, and discarded as soon as the text is returned. If Groq is briefly unavailable, transcription may fall back to OpenAI. We do not retain voice recordings.
Transcribed and dictated text (transient)
Your text is sent to Anthropic's Claude API to be cleaned up, structured, or turned into the action you asked for. The text and the result are returned to your Mac and are not stored on our servers.
Screen context (transient, only when you ask)
Some features, such as drafting a reply based on what's on your screen, work by capturing the contents of your current screen at the moment you trigger the feature. That snapshot is sent to the AI provider to give it context, used to produce the result, and then discarded. Paper does not monitor or record your screen in the background, and screen captures are not stored on our servers.
Connected apps
You can connect third-party tools (such as Slack, Linear, Notion, Granola, Gmail, and Google Calendar) so Paper can act on them for you. When you do, you authorize Paper to send data to, or read data from, those tools only as needed to carry out the action you requested, for example posting a message you dictated or pulling a meeting note you asked for. Your use of each tool is also governed by that tool's own terms and privacy policy. You can disconnect a tool at any time from Settings.
Your content
The writing Paper produces is inserted into whatever app you're using, or sent to the tool you chose. Aside from the brief processing described above, your content stays on your device and is not stored on our servers.
Usage data
We count the number of words you transcribe each month so we can enforce plan limits. The counter resets at the start of each calendar month and is stored by Clerk in your account metadata.
Payment information
If you upgrade to Pro, payments are processed by Stripe. We never see your card number. We do receive a record of whether your subscription is active and which plan you're on.
Logs
Our backend keeps short-lived operational logs (request timings, error traces) for debugging and reliability. Logs are not designed to contain your transcript, screen, or message content.
How we use information
We use the information we collect to:
- Provide and operate the Paper app and the service that powers it
- Authenticate you and keep your session secure
- Turn your voice into clear text and the actions you ask for
- Carry out actions in the tools you've connected, at your request
- Enforce free-tier word limits
- Process subscription payments
- Communicate with you about the service when needed
We do not sell your data. We do not use your voice, text, screen context, or content to train AI models, and the AI providers we use do not train on it under the API plans we use.
Third-party processors
We rely on these companies to operate the service. Each is bound to protect the data it processes.
- Groq: speech-to-text transcription. Privacy policy
- Anthropic: text cleanup, structuring, and tool actions via the Claude API. Does not train on API content. Privacy policy
- OpenAI: fallback transcription if Groq is unavailable. Does not train on API content by default. Privacy policy
- Clerk: authentication and account management. Privacy policy
- Stripe: payment processing. Privacy policy
- Google: if you sign in with Google, OAuth is handled by Google. Privacy policy
- Render: backend hosting (US region). Privacy policy
- Vercel: website hosting. Privacy policy
- Connected tools you enable (Slack, Linear, Notion, Granola, Google, and similar) receive or provide data only when you ask Paper to act on them, under their own terms.
Data retention
- Voice recordings: not retained; discarded after transcription.
- Transcripts and dictated text: not retained; discarded after processing.
- Screen context: not retained; discarded after the result is produced.
- Your content: kept on your device for as long as you keep it; not retained on our servers.
- Account information and usage counters: kept while your account is active.
- After account deletion: data is removed within 30 days, except where we're required to retain it (for example, billing records for tax purposes).
Your rights
Depending on where you live, you may have rights to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you
- Correct inaccurate data
- Delete your account and associated data
- Export your data in a portable format
- Object to or restrict certain processing
- Withdraw consent at any time, where processing is based on consent
To exercise any of these rights, email davidoskar11@gmail.com. We'll respond within 30 days.
Permissions on your Mac
Paper may ask for these macOS permissions:
- Microphone: required for dictation.
- Accessibility: required to listen for the global hotkey that triggers Paper from anywhere, and to insert the finished text into the app you're using.
- Screen Recording: required only for screen-aware features, and used only at the moment you trigger one, to capture the current screen for context.
These permissions are granted to the app on your device. We do not use them to capture data outside the flows you trigger.
Children's privacy
Paper is not intended for use by anyone under 13. We don't knowingly collect data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, contact us and we'll delete it.
International transfers
Our backend currently runs in the United States. If you're using Paper from outside the US, your data will be transferred to and processed in the US. We rely on standard contractual clauses or equivalent safeguards where required by law.
Changes to this policy
If we make material changes, we'll update the date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify you by email. Continued use after changes take effect constitutes acceptance.
Contact
For privacy questions, data requests, or concerns, email davidoskar11@gmail.com.