Privacy Policy for Voice Out

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains what information Voice Out ("we", "us") collects when you use the Voice Out browser extension for Chrome and Edge, the voiceout.app website, and the Voice Out Reader on the web and mobile (together, "Voice Out"), how we use it, and the choices you have.

The short version: you can use Voice Out's free browser and device voices without an account. When you create an account, use premium voices, upload documents to the Reader, or buy Premium, we process the information needed to provide those features. We do not sell your personal information.

2. Information We Collect

Account information

When you create an account we collect your email address, your name if you provide it, and your password, which we store only in hashed form. If you sign in with Google, we receive your name, email address and basic profile information from Google.

Text you have read aloud

• Browser and device voices are generated by your browser or operating system. The text is not sent to us.
• Premium voices: the text being read is sent to our servers and to the text-to-speech provider for the voice you chose, which returns the audio. We do not store the text or the audio. We keep a count of characters used per voice to track usage and credits, and short-lived server logs may contain fragments of text.
• Google voices offered for free (such as the "Google Translate" and "Google Standard" voices) send the text directly from your browser to Google.
• Voices using your own API key send the text directly from your browser to the provider you configured. Your API keys are stored only in your browser.

Reader documents and saved pages

Documents you upload to the Voice Out Reader and pages you save from the extension are stored on our servers so you can listen to them on any device. They remain there until you delete them or ask us to delete them.

Settings and pronunciation rules

Your extension settings are stored in your browser. Pronunciation rules you create are also saved to your account so they sync across devices.

Payment information

Payments are processed by Stripe, PayPal or Dodo Payments. We never receive or store your full card number. We keep records of your plan, subscription status, transactions and receipts, your country, and the billing name and address used on invoices.

Usage, device and log information

• When you sign in, we record your IP address, browser (user agent) and the time of sign-in, and we derive your approximate country from your IP address. We use this for security, fraud prevention and regional pricing.
• When you are signed in to the extension, it sends usage events to our analytics provider, including the address of the page being read, the voice and language used, and the extension version.
• When the extension checks your Premium status, it sends your license code and a random installation identifier; we record the request along with your IP address and browser.
• Our web servers keep standard access logs, including IP addresses.

Analytics and error reports

Our website uses Google Analytics and PostHog to understand how it is used, and associates that usage with your account when you are signed in. We use Sentry to diagnose errors; error reports may include your account details, IP address and details of the request that failed.

Communications and feedback

We keep copies of the emails we send you and of messages you send to support. If you fill in our feedback form (for example after uninstalling the extension), we store your answers and the email address you provide, if any.

Referrals

When someone opens a referral link, we record the visit, including IP address, browser and the referring page, and credit the person who shared the link when a new account is created.

3. How We Use Information

• To provide Voice Out: generating audio, storing and syncing your Reader documents and pronunciation rules, and managing your account, subscription and credits.
• To process payments and issue receipts and invoices.
• To send emails about your account and subscription, such as receipts, renewal and payment notices and password resets.
• To send product and onboarding emails. You can unsubscribe from these at any time using the link in the email.
• To keep Voice Out secure and prevent fraud and abuse.
• To understand how Voice Out is used, fix problems and improve the product.
• To respond to support requests and to comply with legal obligations.

4. How We Share Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share it only with service providers that help us run Voice Out, and only as needed for them to provide their services:

• Text-to-speech providers (OpenAI, Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, Lemonfox, DeepInfra and Cloudflare) receive the text you have read aloud with premium voices.
• Payment processors (Stripe, PayPal and Dodo Payments) receive the information needed to process payments, such as your email address and name.
• Analytics and error monitoring (Google Analytics, PostHog and Sentry) receive usage and diagnostic information as described above.
• Email delivery (Amazon SES, and our own mailing-list software) receives your email address and the content of the emails we send you.
• Google receives information needed for "Sign in with Google" when you use it.
• Hosting providers store our servers and data.

We may also disclose information when required by law or to protect the rights and safety of our users and of Voice Out, and as part of a merger, acquisition or sale of assets, in which case this policy will continue to apply to your information.

5. Cookies

We use cookies to keep you signed in, protect forms against forgery, remember your user ID and referral links, and, for Google Analytics and PostHog, to measure how the site is used. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, but parts of Voice Out, such as signing in, may stop working.

6. Data Retention

We keep your account information for as long as your account is active. Reader documents stay until you delete them. We keep payment records for as long as needed for tax and accounting purposes. Server logs are kept for a limited period and then deleted.

7. Your Choices and Rights

• You can use Voice Out with your browser and device voices without creating an account.
• You can update your name and delete your account from your account settings. Deleting your account deactivates it, cancels any active subscription and removes your Google sign-in connection.
• You can ask us for a copy of your personal information, ask us to correct it, or ask us to delete it, including your Reader documents, by emailing support@voiceout.app. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights under local law, and we will honor requests as the law requires.
• You can unsubscribe from product emails using the link in any of them.

8. Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including encrypted connections and hashed passwords. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. International Transfers

Our service providers operate in the United States and other countries, so your information may be processed outside the country where you live.

10. Children's Privacy

Voice Out is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child under 13 has given us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will post the new version on this page and update the effective date above.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at support@voiceout.app.