Privacy policy
Last updated 13 November 2026
- Files you add, including PDFs, are read in your browser and never uploaded.
- Only the text of each reference is sent to our lookup service, and we don't store it.
- No accounts, no advertising and no tracking cookies.
- If you buy Pro, Polar processes your payment and shares your email and order with us.
What happens to your references
When you add a file, your browser reads it and finds the reference list. The file itself never leaves your device. When you run a check, the text of each reference (and any DOI, arXiv ID, title, year and author names we found in it) is sent to our lookup service. The service searches Crossref, arXiv and Semantic Scholar for that reference and returns the result to your browser. We don't keep the references you check or the results.
To search, the lookup service sends parts of each reference, such as its title, DOI or authors, to those databases. Each database has its own privacy policy. We don't send them anything that identifies you.
What we store in your browser
RefSure uses your browser's local storage, not cookies, for two things: a count of how many references you've checked today (to apply the free limit) and, if you have Pro, your license key so Pro stays unlocked. You can clear both at any time by clearing this site's data in your browser.
Purchases
Payments are handled by Polar Software Inc., our merchant of record. Polar collects your name, email address, billing country and payment details to process the payment, calculate tax and send receipts, under its own privacy policy. Polar shares your email address, order details and license key with us so we can provide Pro and answer support requests. We never receive your card details.
When you return from checkout, the page asks our server for your license key using the checkout reference in the address bar, so Pro can unlock right away. The key is only shown in that browser.
Hosting and logs
RefSure is hosted by Cloudflare. Like any website, Cloudflare processes your IP address and basic request information to deliver the site and protect it from abuse. We don't use these for advertising or to build profiles. We don't use analytics or advertising trackers.
If you email us, we use your message and email address only to reply and keep a record of the conversation. If you have the yearly plan, we may email you about your subscription, for example before a price change.
Your rights
You can ask us what personal information we hold about you, ask us to correct it, or ask us to delete it, by emailing tinyusefulthings003+refsure@gmail.com. Purchase records that Polar holds are covered by Polar's privacy policy, and some must be kept for tax reasons.
Changes
If we change this policy, we'll update the date at the top of this page.