Notewell · Last updated: July 8, 2026
Short version: Notewell does not collect, store, transmit, or sell any personal data. Everything happens locally in your browser.
What we collect
Nothing. Notewell does not collect or transmit any personal information, browsing history, or usage analytics. The developer has no servers and receives no data from your use of the extension. Notewell makes no network calls of its own and sends nothing to the developer or any third party.
What is stored on your device
Your highlights and sticky notes, the tags and colors you assign to them, and your Notewell settings are stored only on your own computer using Chrome's local storage (chrome.storage.local). This is your private, local-first board. None of it ever leaves your device unless you choose to export it to a file, and you can clear it at any time from the board or by removing the extension.
Permissions and why they are needed
- Access to the websites you visit (all sites): highlights and notes can be made on any page, so Notewell's content script has to be able to run anywhere to place your highlights and sticky notes on the page you are viewing. It only works with the text you highlight and the pages you attach notes to; it does not collect your browsing or send page content anywhere.
- Storage and unlimited storage: to save your highlights, notes, and board on your own device. Unlimited storage avoids the default storage cap so a large library of highlights and notes still fits.
- Scripting: to add the highlighter and sticky-note tools to a page when you use them.
- Context menus: to add a right-click option for highlighting the selected text or adding a note.
- Tabs: to read the current page's address and title so a note attaches to the right page and the board can link back to where it came from.
None of these permissions are used to read, collect, or send your data anywhere.
Third parties
Notewell does not share data with any third party, because it does not collect any. The optional "Donate" link opens an external page (Ko-fi) only if you click it; any payment there is handled by that service under its own privacy policy.
Children
Notewell is a general-purpose productivity tool and does not knowingly collect information from anyone, including children.
Changes
If this policy changes, the updated version will be posted on this page with a new "last updated" date.
Contact
Questions? Contact the developer at contact@mcguigansoftware.com.
© 2026 McGuigan Software. This policy applies to the Notewell browser extension.