Privacy Policy

AutoDesign ("we", "us", "our") provides web-based structural design and analysis tools for engineers. This policy explains what information we collect when you visit our website or use our application, how we use it, and the choices you have. We keep it short and plain because we believe that is how it should be.

1. Information We Collect

Account information. If you create an account or sign in (with an email and password, or with Google), we collect and store:

• Email address — used to identify your account and contact you.
• Name (first and last), and, if you provide them, phone number, username, company, profession, country, and profile photo.
• Authentication data — managed by our authentication provider (Supabase), including a securely hashed password and/or your Google sign-in identity. We never see or store your Google password.

Design data you create. Calculation inputs and results you enter in the app are processed to produce your designs. Most calculation work happens in your browser. If you save a design, it is stored as described in "Local file storage" below.

Usage & analytics data. If you allow analytics, we may collect limited usage data such as page views, page paths, referrer, device/browser information, and interactions such as button clicks. We do not link analytics data to your identity unless you explicitly identify yourself through a separate action.

Advertising data. If you are on our free plan, we may show ads served by Google AdSense (see "Advertising" below). For ad serving and measurement, Google and its partners may collect data such as your IP address, device/browser information, and ad interactions, and may use cookies or similar technologies, subject to your consent.

2. How We Use Your Information

• Create and secure your account and sign you in.
• Provide the design tools and save/restore your work.
• Communicate with you about your account and the product.
• Understand which features engineers use most and improve the product.
• Show and measure ads on the free plan (only with your consent where required).

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. Every email from us includes a way to opt out of non-essential messages.

3. Advertising (Google AdSense)

We use Google AdSense to display ads to users on our free plan. Paid plans and signed-out visitors are not shown ads. Google, as a third-party vendor, uses cookies and similar technologies to serve ads based on your prior visits to our and other websites.

• Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on your visits to this and other sites. You can learn more and manage your ad personalization at Google's My Ad Center.
• You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings, or opt out of some third-party vendors' use of cookies at aboutads.info/choices.
• For more on how Google uses data from sites that use its services, see Google's "How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services".

Where required (e.g. for visitors in the EEA, UK, and Switzerland), we ask for your consent before serving personalized ads. You can change your ad/analytics consent at any time by clearing the consent preference stored in your browser.

4. Local File Storage ("My Files")

If you link a folder to save your designs locally, AutoDesign uses your browser's File System Access API to read and write files in the folder you choose, and stores the access handle on your device (in your browser's local database). These files stay on your device — we do not upload them to our servers. Only the display name of the linked folder is saved to your account so we can show it back to you.

5. Third-Party Services

We rely on a small number of well-known services to run the site:

• Supabase — authentication and database for your account and profile. Their privacy policy.
• Google — Google sign-in (OAuth) and Google AdSense advertising. Their privacy policy.
• PostHog — product analytics, only after you opt in to analytics. Their privacy policy.
• Cloudflare Turnstile — helps protect our forms from spam and abuse. Their privacy policy.
• Netlify / Cloudflare — host and deliver the website. Their servers may log standard request data (such as IP address and browser type) for security and reliability.

6. Cookies & Browser Storage

We store a small consent preference in your browser's local storage so we can remember whether you accepted or declined analytics and ads. If you accept analytics, PostHog may use cookies or similar storage to recognize returning visitors. If you are shown ads, Google AdSense may set cookies to serve and measure ads. Cloudflare Turnstile may use cookies or similar technologies when you interact with our forms. Signing in stores a session token in your browser so you stay logged in. You can clear cookies and site storage at any time through your browser settings.

7. Your Rights

At any time, you can request that we:

• Tell you what information we have on file for you.
• Correct anything that is wrong (much of which you can edit in your account settings).
• Delete your account and associated personal information from our records.

You can also manage ad personalization and analytics consent yourself as described above. To make a request, email us with the subject "Privacy request" and we will act on it within 30 days.

8. Data Retention

We keep your account information for as long as your account is active, or until you ask us to delete it. Analytics data is retained by PostHog per their retention policy, and advertising data is handled by Google per its policies. Locally saved design files remain on your device until you delete them.

9. Children

AutoDesign is intended for professional engineers and is not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect information from minors below the age of consent in their jurisdiction.

10. Changes to This Policy

As the product evolves we may update this policy. The "Last updated" date at the top will reflect any revision. Significant changes will be communicated through the app or by email.

11. Contact

Questions or requests about privacy? Email me at contactautodesignpro@gmail.com.