Privacy Policy

Short version: We collect minimal, anonymized analytics to understand how ToolNest is used. We do not sell your data, do not require accounts, and do not store the text or files you process with our tools. Read on for the full details.

1. Overview

ToolNest ("we", "us", "our") operates the website available at toolnest.io and all subpages (the "Service"). This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you use the Service, how we use that information, and your choices regarding your information.

By using ToolNest, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the Service.

2. Data We Collect

2.1 Analytics Data (Automatically Collected)

When you visit ToolNest, our server automatically records the following information for analytics purposes:

• Hashed IP address — your IP address is hashed with a daily salt (SHA-256) before storage. The original IP is never stored. This means we cannot identify you individually from this data.
• Page views and slugs — which pages and tools you visit, to understand what's popular and what needs improvement.
• Referrer URL — the URL of the page that linked you to us (truncated to 500 characters).
• Device type — whether you're on desktop, tablet, or mobile, derived from your user-agent string. The raw user-agent string is stored temporarily for bot detection but is not linked to you.
• Session identifier — a temporary session ID used to group page views from a single visit. This is not stored persistently.
• Timestamp — date and time of the visit (UTC).

We do not collect: your name, email address, physical address, or any personally identifying information through passive analytics. Bots and crawlers are detected and excluded from analytics.

2.2 Contact Form Data

If you use our Contact page to get in touch, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your message. This information is used solely to respond to your inquiry. We do not add you to any mailing lists without explicit consent, and we do not share this information with third parties except as required by law.

2.3 Tool Input Data

The text, files, and other inputs you provide to our tools are processed in your browser wherever possible and are never transmitted to our servers. For tools that require server-side processing, inputs are processed and discarded immediately — we do not log, store, or analyze the content of your tool inputs.

3. Cookies & Local Storage

3.1 Session Cookies

We use a PHP session cookie to maintain your session during a visit. This cookie is temporary and is deleted when you close your browser. It contains only a session ID; no personal information is stored in the cookie itself.

3.2 Local Storage

We store your theme preference (light or dark mode) in your browser's localStorage under the key tn_theme. This data never leaves your device and is not accessible to our servers.

Some tools may use localStorage to save your last-used settings (such as unit preferences or recent inputs) for your convenience. This data remains on your device and is never transmitted to us.

3.3 Third-Party Cookies

Third-party services such as Google AdSense and Google Analytics (if enabled) may set their own cookies. Please refer to their respective privacy policies for details.

4. Google AdSense

ToolNest is free to use, and we support the Service through advertising. We use Google AdSense to display ads on certain pages. Google AdSense may use cookies and web beacons to serve ads based on your prior visits to ToolNest and other websites.

• Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on your visits to our site and/or other sites on the Internet.
• You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings.
• You may also opt out of third-party cookies via the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page.

For more information on how Google uses data, see How Google uses data when you use our partners' sites or apps.

5. Third-Party Services

We may use the following third-party services. Each has its own privacy policy that governs their data practices:

• Google Analytics 4 (GA4) — if enabled in our settings, we use GA4 to collect aggregated usage statistics. Data is anonymized and IP addresses are not stored by GA4 in regions where this is required. Google Privacy Policy.
• Google AdSense — for displaying advertisements (see Section 4).
• jsDelivr / CDN providers — we load some JavaScript libraries from public CDNs, which may log your IP address as part of standard CDN operations.

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal data with any third parties for marketing purposes.

6. Data Retention

• Analytics data (page views, hashed IPs) — retained for 90 days, then automatically purged.
• Contact form messages — retained for up to 12 months or until our response is complete, whichever comes first.
• Session data — expires within 2 hours of inactivity and is cleared when you close your browser.
• Error logs — retained for 30 days for debugging purposes. These logs do not contain personally identifiable information.

7. Your Rights

If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or other regions with applicable data protection laws, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right of access — you may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to rectification — you may request correction of inaccurate personal data.
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten") — you may request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal obligations.
• Right to data portability — you may request your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Right to object — you may object to processing of your personal data in certain circumstances.
• Right to withdraw consent — where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time.

Because we collect only anonymized analytics data, we are generally unable to identify you from that data alone. To exercise any of the above rights for contact form data or other identifiable information, please contact us at privacy@toolnest.io.

If you are in the EEA and believe we have not handled your data lawfully, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority.

8. Children's Privacy

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

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. For significant changes, we will post a notice on our home page. Continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

We recommend reviewing this page periodically to stay informed about our privacy practices.

10. Contact Us

For any privacy-related questions, requests, or concerns, please contact us: