Privacy policy

Effective September 30, 2026

PaperSteady is a PDF editor that runs on your own computer. This policy explains what happens to your documents and information when you use PaperSteady, its Chrome add-on ("Open in PaperSteady"), and its optional connections to MerusCase and Google Drive.

In short: your documents are opened, edited and saved on your own computer. We don't run servers that receive your documents, and PaperSteady has no ads, analytics or tracking. Information goes to another service only when you choose to send it there — a MerusCase case, an email, or your own Google Drive.

Your documents

PaperSteady works with your files on your computer. Editing, signing, redacting, text recognition (OCR), conversion and saving all happen locally. We (the makers of PaperSteady) never receive, see or store your documents.

To recover unsaved work and reopen recent files, PaperSteady keeps copies of your open documents and a list of recent files in your browser's storage on your computer. You can clear them by closing the documents or clearing your browser's site data for PaperSteady.

Information we collect

None. PaperSteady doesn't send us usage data, crash reports, analytics or personal information, and it doesn't use cookies for tracking. If you email us for support, we receive what you choose to write.

MerusCase (optional)

If you connect PaperSteady to MerusCase, your MerusCase connection details are stored on your computer only, in a file readable only by your computer account. PaperSteady uses them to talk directly to MerusCase on your behalf: to list your cases and documents, open a document, add a document to a case, record time charges, and send emails you write. That information goes between your computer and MerusCase only, under MerusCase's own terms and privacy policy.

Google Drive (optional)

If you choose "Share as Google Drive links" in PaperSteady's email box and sign in with Google, PaperSteady asks Google for:

Access to only the Drive files PaperSteady creates (Google's drive.file permission). PaperSteady cannot see, open or change any other file in your Google Drive.
Your Google account's email address, to show you which account documents are shared from.

With that access, PaperSteady does only what you ask: it creates a "PaperSteady shares" folder and folders inside it for each case and email, uploads the documents you choose to send, shares them with the people you choose (or with anyone who has the link, if you choose that), renames a folder when you ask, and reads back the links to put in your email.

Your Google sign-in (the access token Google provides) is stored on your computer only, in a file readable only by your computer account. It's used only to make the requests above, directly between your computer and Google. We never receive it, and we don't receive, store, sell or share any of your Google data. It isn't used for advertising, and it isn't used to develop or train artificial intelligence or machine-learning models.

PaperSteady's use and transfer to any other app of information received from Google APIs will adhere to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.

You can remove PaperSteady's access at any time in your Google Account at myaccount.google.com/permissions, or by choosing "switch account" in PaperSteady. Files already shared stay in your Google Drive, under your control, until you delete them there.

The Chrome add-on

The "Open in PaperSteady" add-on works only on MerusCase's website and on PaperSteady running on your computer. It opens MerusCase documents in PaperSteady instead of Chrome's viewer, and carries out the email actions you start in PaperSteady inside your own MerusCase tab. It doesn't collect your browsing history or send information anywhere else.

Email

Emails you send from PaperSteady go out through MerusCase, using your MerusCase account. PaperSteady remembers the addresses you've emailed recently, on your computer only, to suggest them next time.

Security

PaperSteady's helper program listens only to your own computer — it can't be reached from the internet or other computers on your network — and accepts requests only from PaperSteady's own page. Stored sign-in details are kept in files readable only by your computer account.

Children

PaperSteady is made for businesses and professionals and isn't directed to children under 13.

Changes to this policy

If we change how PaperSteady handles information, we'll update this page and its effective date.

Contact

Questions about privacy: support@papersteady.com.