Privacy policy
Last updated 30 September 2026
The short version
- We keep what you write so you can use Ownotes, and use it for nothing else.
- No ads, no tracking, and we never sell your data.
- We never use your notes to train AI.
- Email us to get a copy of your data or delete your account.
Who runs Ownotes
Ownotes is run by Morten Kjaerulff. Questions about your data go to ownotesadmin@gmail.com.
What we keep and why
You need these to use Ownotes:
- Your account: username, email, password (stored scrambled, so we can’t read it), the name you show on cards, your founding number and who invited you.
- Your writing: notes, write-ups, highlights, sources, and links and your reasons for them.
- Your progress: words written, milestones, invites sent, how many times each shared card was shared and viewed, and when you last opened each note, so older notes can come back to you.
And to run the service:
- Invite requests: your email and whether you came from the website or a shared card, so we can send your invite.
- Server logs: the IP address, time, page and browser of each visit, to fix problems and stop abuse.
- Cookies: the app uses two, one to keep you signed in and one to protect forms. The website uses none.
- Counts: the website counts visits and demo use without cookies or identifying you. We also count how Ownotes is used, for example notes written each week, to see whether it helps. These counts stay with us.
Shared cards
A milestone card you share shows the milestone and your founding number. Your name appears only if you choose to show it. It never shows your notes. Anyone with the link can see it.
Where it’s kept
Ownotes runs on Amazon Web Services in London. The EU recognises UK data protection as equal to its own. Emails you send us go through Gmail.
How long we keep it
- Your account and writing: until you delete your account.
- Archived notes: 30 days after you archive them.
- Invite requests: 30 days after we send your invite. While you’re waiting for a place: 6 months.
- Server logs: 30 days. Backups: 7 days.
Your rights
You can ask to see, correct, get a copy of or delete your data, or object to how we use it. You can change your name, email and password on your Profile page. For anything else, email us from your account’s address and we’ll reply within 30 days. Deleting your account removes everything in it within 30 days.
If you’re unhappy with how we handle your data, you can complain to your local data protection authority. In the UK that’s the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Age and changes
Ownotes is for students aged 13 or over. If we learn that someone younger has an account, we’ll delete it. Before we use your data in a new way, we’ll update this page and email members.