Privacy & Terms.
Boring but important. Here's how we handle your data (spoiler: we don't).
Your files are processed entirely in your browser. We never see, store, or transmit your files or the metadata in them. We collect anonymous usage analytics and record some visits as masked session replays to find bugs; neither includes your filenames or file contents. MetaStrip is completely free with no accounts required.
Information We Do NOT Collect
MetaStrip is designed to minimize data collection. We do not collect, store, or transmit the following:
Your files, images, documents, or any content you process through MetaStrip. All file processing occurs entirely within your web browser using client-side JavaScript. Files are never uploaded to our servers or any third-party servers.
The metadata contained within your files, including but not limited to GPS coordinates, author names, timestamps, device information, and any other embedded data.
Personal information such as your name, address, phone number, or any identifying information beyond what is described in this policy.
User accounts, profiles, or login credentials. MetaStrip does not have a user account system.
Information We Collect
We collect the minimum information necessary to operate the service:
Analytics data: We use PostHog for product analytics, configured to use localStorage instead of cookies and to respect the Do Not Track browser setting. PostHog collects page views, click interactions (without the text or attributes of what was clicked), referral sources, browser type, and approximate location derived from your IP address. The tool also records which file types are cleaned and which kinds of metadata they carried, such as GPS or AI tags; never filenames, file contents or metadata values. No personal profiles are created for anonymous visitors.
Session replays: Some visits are recorded as session replays so we can find and fix bugs. Text inside the tool, including your filenames and the metadata it shows you, is masked in your browser before anything is sent, and the location map is left out of recordings entirely.
Tips via Ko-fi: If you choose to leave a tip, payment is processed entirely by Ko-fi. We do not receive, process, or store any payment information. Tips are completely optional and do not unlock additional features.
How We Process Your Files
MetaStrip processes files using client-side JavaScript libraries running in your web browser. Specifically:
Image files (JPEG, PNG, WebP) are processed using piexifjs and custom parsing code that runs entirely in your browser's JavaScript engine.
PDF files are processed using pdf-lib, a pure JavaScript PDF library that runs in your browser.
Office documents (DOCX, XLSX, PPTX) are processed using JSZip, which unpacks and modifies files entirely in browser memory.
Video files (MP4, MOV, M4V) are processed using a custom in-browser MP4 atom walker that locates and overwrites metadata atoms (udta, meta, ©xyz, loci, and similar) without touching audio or video stream data.
Audio files (MP3, M4A, FLAC, WAV) are processed using custom in-browser parsers for ID3v1/v2 tags, Vorbis comments, RIFF LIST/INFO chunks, and Broadcast Wave (bext) extensions. All parsing and rewriting happens in browser memory.
At no point during processing are your files or any part of their contents transmitted over the network. You can verify this yourself by monitoring your browser's Network tab in Developer Tools while using MetaStrip.
Processed files are generated in your browser's memory and downloaded directly to your device. Once you close or refresh the page, all file data in memory is discarded by your browser.
Cookies and Local Storage
MetaStrip does not use cookies.
Our analytics provider (PostHog) stores an anonymous, randomly generated ID in your browser's localStorage so visits can be counted, and respects the Do Not Track browser setting. Clearing this site's data in your browser removes it.
Third-Party Services
Ko-fi processes optional tips. See ko-fi.com/privacy.
PostHog provides product analytics. See posthog.com/privacy.
GitHub Pages hosts MetaStrip's website as static files. GitHub may collect standard server access logs (IP address, user agent) when serving the site. See GitHub's privacy statement.
Data Retention
Since we do not collect personal data beyond payment receipts, there is minimal data to retain.
PostHog retains aggregate analytics data. No personal profiles are created for anonymous visitors.
Your Rights
Under GDPR, CCPA, and similar privacy regulations, you have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal data. Since MetaStrip collects minimal personal data, most of these rights are satisfied by default.
If you have any privacy concerns, please contact us at hello@metastrip.app.
Children's Privacy
MetaStrip is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Continued use of MetaStrip after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact
For privacy-related questions or concerns, contact us at hello@metastrip.app.
Questions about our policies?
We're happy to clarify anything.