Cookie Policy

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, provide a better user experience, and provide information to website owners. Cookies can be categorized as follows:

- Persistent Cookies remain on your device until they reach their expiration date or until you delete them manually. They are activated each time you visit the website that created the cookie.

- Session Cookies are temporary and are deleted when you close your browser. They are used to keep track of your activities during a single browsing session.

- First-Party Cookies are set by the website you are visiting.

- Third-Party Cookies are set by a domain other than the website you are visiting.

We use cookies for the following purposes:

(a) Authentication and Security: To verify your identity when you log in and maintain your authenticated session. The session token cookie is essential for the Service to function — without it, you cannot stay logged in.

(b) Language Preference: To remember your selected interface language so you don't have to choose it each time you visit.

We do not use cookies for analytics, advertising, behavioral targeting, or cross-site tracking purposes. All application data (transcriptions, translations, session settings, etc.) is stored using browser local storage (IndexedDB), not cookies.

ScribeMate uses only two cookies:

Session Token (authjs.session-token): A secure, HTTP-only cookie set when you log in. It contains an encrypted JWT that identifies your authenticated session. This cookie expires after 30 days or when you sign out. It is essential — the Service cannot function without it.

Language Preference (NEXT_LOCALE): Stores your selected interface language (e.g. "en" or "zh-CN"). This cookie persists for 1 year and is set when you change the language in the navigation bar or settings. It is a convenience cookie — without it, the site defaults to English on each visit.

We do not use analytics cookies, advertising cookies, or any other tracking cookies.

Some cookies on our Service may be set by third-party services that we use:

(a) Authentication Providers: If you sign in using Google or GitHub OAuth, these providers may set their own cookies on your device according to their respective cookie policies.

(b) Payment Processor: Creem, our payment processor, may set cookies when you interact with payment forms. These cookies are governed by Creem's cookie policy.

We do not allow any third-party advertising networks to set cookies on our Service. We do not engage in cookie-based advertising or sell cookie data to third parties.

You have several options for managing cookies:

(a) Browser Settings: Most web browsers allow you to view, manage, and delete cookies through the browser's settings or preferences menu. You can configure your browser to block all cookies, accept all cookies, or notify you when a cookie is set.

(b) Clearing Cookies: You can delete cookies that have already been set through your browser settings. Please note that clearing the session token cookie will sign you out of the Service, and clearing the language cookie will reset your language preference to the default.

(c) Blocking Cookies: If you block all cookies, you will not be able to log in to the Service. The language preference cookie is optional — blocking it simply means the site will default to English on each visit.

Please be aware that cookie management choices are browser- and device-specific. If you use multiple browsers or devices, you will need to manage cookies separately for each.

In addition to cookies, we may use similar technologies such as:

(a) Local Storage (localStorage and IndexedDB): We use browser local storage extensively as part of our local-first architecture to store your transcription data, session history, and application state on your device. This data persists until you clear it through the application's settings or through your browser.

(b) Web Workers: We use web workers for background processing of audio data and other computationally intensive tasks. Web workers do not store personal data persistently.

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legislation, our business practices, or the cookies we use. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically. Material changes will be communicated to you through the same mechanisms described in our Privacy Policy.

If you have any questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us at:

Email: privacy@scribemate.app