Privacy Policy

Last updated: February 17, 2026

Austen ("we", "us", or "our") operates the Austen platform. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our service.

1. Information We Collect

Account Information

When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, and password. If you sign in via Google, we receive your name, email, and Google account identifier. We do not receive or store your Google password.

Payment Information

Payment processing is handled by Stripe. We do not store your credit card number or bank details. We retain Stripe customer and subscription identifiers to manage your billing.

Content You Provide

We store the content you create within the platform, including projects, ideas, plans, articles, and related data. This content belongs to you.

Usage Data

We collect anonymous analytics using Fathom Analytics, a privacy-focused analytics provider that does not use cookies or track personal data. We also log API usage for rate-limiting and billing purposes.

Third-Party Integrations

If you connect your Google Search Console account, we store encrypted OAuth tokens to retrieve your analytics data. You can disconnect this integration at any time. If you provide Proofed API credentials, these are stored encrypted and used solely to submit orders on your behalf.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Provide, maintain, and improve the platform
  • Process your transactions and manage your subscription
  • Generate content based on your inputs using AI language models
  • Send transactional emails (account verification, password resets)
  • Monitor usage to prevent abuse and enforce fair-use limits

3. AI Processing

Your content inputs are sent to third-party AI providers (currently OpenAI) for processing. We do not use your content to train AI models. The AI providers' own data policies apply to the processing of your content through their APIs.

4. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We share data only with:

  • Service providers who help us operate the platform (Stripe for payments, OpenAI for content generation, Proofed for editing services, email providers for transactional mail)
  • Legal authorities when required by law or to protect our rights

5. Data Security

We use industry-standard measures to protect your data, including encrypted storage for sensitive credentials (API keys, OAuth tokens), HTTPS for all connections, and bcrypt password hashing. However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure.

6. Data Retention

We retain your account and content data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we remove your personal data within 30 days. Anonymised usage data may be retained for analytics purposes.

7. Your Rights

You may:

  • Access, update, or delete your account information via your profile settings
  • Export your content (articles are downloadable as Markdown, HTML, or ZIP packages)
  • Delete your account, which removes all associated data
  • Disconnect third-party integrations at any time

For data requests that cannot be handled through the platform, contact us at the email below.

8. Cookies

We use only essential cookies required for authentication and session management. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies. Our analytics provider (Fathom) is cookieless.

9. Children's Privacy

Our service is not directed to individuals under 16. We do not knowingly collect information from children.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify registered users of material changes by email. Your continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance.

11. Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at help@austenapp.com.