In one sentence
Lingowl has no server, no accounts, and no analytics or tracking. The text you select is sent only to the AI provider you choose, and your API key stays in your own browser.
What we collect
The developer collects no data. Lingowl has no backend and includes no analytics, advertising, or crash-reporting service.
Where your data goes
When you trigger a lookup (by selecting text, the context menu, or the keyboard shortcut), the extension sends the following to the AI provider selected in Settings (DeepSeek, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, OpenRouter, or a compatible endpoint you enter yourself):
- the word or phrase you selected and the sentence it appears in;
- your target language and source language setting (if any);
- your API key (only in the request header, to authenticate with that provider).
Requests go only to the provider address you chose, never through any other server. How the provider handles this content is governed by its own privacy policy and your account settings.
Not sent: the page URL or title, the full page text, your browsing history, or your other settings.
What is stored locally
| Item | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| API key | chrome.storage.local |
Local only, never in synced storage. Optionally encrypted with a master password (AES-GCM, key derived from the password). The UI only shows a masked value |
| Unlock state | chrome.storage.session |
Exists only when a master password is enabled; cleared when the browser closes |
| Lookup cache | chrome.storage.local |
Recent results (up to 500 entries), no key; removed on uninstall |
| Word list | chrome.storage.local |
Only words you add with the bookmark button: the word, pronunciation, example sentences, meanings, and the page title and URL (query string removed). Local only, never synced or uploaded; delete or export it on the Word list page; removed on uninstall or “Clear all data” |
| Settings (language, appearance, trigger, blocklist, …) | chrome.storage.sync |
No key. If you are signed in to your browser with sync on, the browser syncs these settings by its own mechanism |
Uninstalling the extension removes all local data above.
Feedback forms
The issue and uninstall feedback forms are hosted by Google Forms, and filling them in is entirely voluntary:
- After you uninstall Lingowl, the browser opens an uninstall feedback page. You can simply close it.
- Choosing “Send feedback” in the extension opens the form in a new tab. When it does, the URL pre-fills the extension version, the browser name, and the interface language. It does not include page content, your settings, your API key, or the text you selected.
- The extension itself sends no request to Google; it only has the browser open that page. The “Feedback” link in this site’s footer is likewise a plain link: the site embeds no form and loads no Google scripts.
- What you submit is stored by Google and is covered by Google’s privacy policy (policies.google.com/privacy).
Permissions
The permissions are used only to: read the text you select (activeTab, a content script that runs on all sites), add a context-menu item (contextMenus), show the result card on the page, call your chosen AI provider (preset provider domains; any custom domain needs your explicit grant in Settings), and save settings (storage). The content script itself makes no network requests.
Risks you should know
- If your computer has malware or a malicious extension, Lingowl cannot protect your key.
- Use a dedicated key for Lingowl and set a spending limit in the provider console.
- Do not select text on pages with sensitive information; the selection is sent to the AI provider.
Children
Lingowl is not directed at children under 13 and does not knowingly collect personal information.
This website
The sections above cover the browser extension. This website collects nothing either:
- No accounts, analytics, tracking, ads, or third-party comment or chat widgets, and no cookies.
- Pages make no requests to any address outside this site: fonts, images and scripts are all served from here.
- The only thing stored in your browser is your theme preference (light or dark) in
localStorage. It stays in your browser and is never sent to anyone; clearing the site’s data in your browser removes it. - The selection demo on the home page uses canned results. It calls no AI and sends nothing you select.
Changes and contact
Changes will be posted on this page with a new date. Contact: alpacatomoon@gmail.com.