Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains what information DownSub ("DownSub", "we", "us", "our") collects when you use our website, how we use it, and the choices you have.

This Privacy Policy applies to the public DownSub website at https://downsub.com. DownSub is a free tool that lets you download subtitles from supported video platforms. You do not need to create an account to use it.

Services provided through app.downsub.com are governed by a separate Privacy Policy, available at https://app.downsub.com/privacy.

If you have any questions, contact us at [email protected].

1. Information We Collect

Video links you submit. To download subtitles, you paste a link to a video. We send the link (or the video ID taken from it) to our servers, which retrieve the available subtitles and video details, such as the title and thumbnail, from the video platform. We do not store submitted links in a database. Links and video IDs may appear in our server logs, for example when a request fails (see Section 8).

Technical information. Like any website, our servers and infrastructure providers receive standard request data when your browser connects to them: your IP address, browser type and version (user agent), device and operating system information, the page requested, and the date and time of the request. Your approximate country is derived from your IP address. We use this information to deliver the website, protect it from abuse, and route subtitle requests.

Analytics information. We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors use the website (see Section 3).

Advertising information. We display ads provided by Adsterra, which may collect information about your device and your interaction with ads (see Section 5).

Information stored only in your browser. The website saves your preferences in your browser's local storage: interface language, theme, download settings, favorite subtitle languages, and dual-subtitle and translation preferences. If download history is enabled (it is on by default), the titles and links of videos you looked up are also saved there. This information stays on your device and is not sent to our servers.

Information you send us. If you email us, we receive your email address and the content of your message. If you make a donation through PayPal or Buy Me a Coffee, the payment is handled by that service, and we may receive the information it shares with recipients, such as your name, email address, and the amount.

2. How We Use Information

Essential uses, needed to provide the website:

• Processing your subtitle requests and delivering subtitle downloads.
• Keeping the website working, and troubleshooting errors.
• Protecting the website, including detecting abuse, preventing fraud, and limiting excessive requests.
• Responding to your messages.

Analytics and advertising, which are not needed to deliver subtitles:

• Measuring traffic and website performance with Google Analytics.
• Displaying advertisements through Adsterra, which help keep DownSub free.

We do not use the links you submit or the subtitles you download to build profiles of you.

3. Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4), a web analytics service provided by Google, to understand how many people visit DownSub, which pages they use, and whether features such as downloads work as intended.

GA4 collects information such as the pages you visit, events such as subtitle downloads (the subtitle format and language), your browser, device and operating system, screen size, the referring website, and your approximate location derived from your IP address. GA4 uses first-party cookies (_ga and _ga_<ID>) to distinguish visitors.

We configure the website so that the video link you submit is removed from the page address sent to Google Analytics, and result pages are reported with a generic title instead of the video title. Subtitle content is never sent to Google Analytics.

GA4 event data is kept for no longer than 14 months, the maximum retention period Google Analytics offers. Aggregated reports may be kept longer.

You can prevent Google Analytics from collecting your data by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, or by blocking or deleting cookies in your browser. To learn more, see Google's Privacy Policy and Safeguarding your data in Google Analytics Help.

4. Google Tag Manager

We use Google Tag Manager (GTM), a tool provided by Google, to load and manage the Google Analytics tag on our website. GTM is not an analytics or advertising service in itself, but loading it requires your browser to connect to Google's servers, which receive standard request data such as your IP address and browser information. The tags that GTM loads, such as Google Analytics, may collect information as described in this policy.

5. Advertising (Adsterra)

DownSub is free, and we show ads to cover our costs. Our advertising provider is Adsterra. When an ad script loads, Adsterra and its advertising partners may process information such as:

• your IP address and approximate location;
• browser type and version, operating system, device information and time zone;
• the ads you are shown and how you interact with them, such as clicks;
• cookie identifiers and similar identifiers.

Adsterra uses this information to deliver and measure ads, limit how often you see the same ad, and detect fraud, and it may use it to select the ads you see. We do not control how Adsterra or its partners use this information. According to Adsterra's Privacy Policy, data linked to its cookies is normally kept for no more than one year. To learn more, see Adsterra's Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy.

Clicking an ad may take you to an advertiser's website, which has its own privacy policy.

6. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Cookies are small text files stored by your browser. Local storage is a similar browser feature that lets a website save information on your device. DownSub uses:

• Essential local storage (set by DownSub): your language, theme, download settings, favorite languages and, if enabled, your download history. DownSub itself does not set cookies.
• Analytics cookies (set by Google Analytics): _ga and _ga_<ID>, used to distinguish visitors and sessions.
• Advertising cookies and similar technologies (set by Adsterra and its partners): used to deliver, measure and limit ads and to prevent fraud.

Managing cookies. You can block or delete cookies and local storage in your browser settings, use your browser's private mode, or use content-blocking extensions. You can also install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. Blocking analytics or advertising cookies does not affect subtitle downloads. Clearing local storage resets your DownSub settings and history.

7. Third-Party Video Platforms and Websites

DownSub processes subtitle requests for videos hosted on third-party platforms, such as YouTube, Vimeo, Viki, Viu, WeTV, and iQIYI. To display results, video thumbnails are loaded directly from the platform's servers, which receive your IP address and browser information. These platforms have their own privacy policies, and we do not control how they handle your data.

DownSub is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by YouTube or any other video platform it supports. All platform names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. We do not control those websites, their content, or their privacy practices.

You are responsible for your use of DownSub, including the links you submit and how you use the subtitles you download. Make sure your use complies with the terms of the platform concerned, copyright law, and other applicable laws.

Some features link to other websites and send information only when you choose to use them:

• Edit opens the Editsub subtitle editor and passes it the video title and the subtitle link.
• DownSub Pro links open app.downsub.com and may include the link of the video you were viewing.

8. Data Retention

• Submitted links: not stored in a database. Links and video IDs that appear in our server application logs are deleted automatically after 30 days.
• Cached video information: publicly available video details (such as titles and available subtitle tracks) may be cached by video ID for up to 4 hours to speed up repeated requests. This cache does not contain your IP address or other information about you.
• Subtitle files: created when you request them and delivered to your browser. Our subtitle service does not save copies of the files you download.
• Infrastructure logs: our hosting and infrastructure providers may keep request logs, which can include IP addresses, for a limited period for security and operational purposes.
• Browser storage: download history is deleted from your browser after 7 days. You can turn history off or delete it at any time on the History page. Other preferences stay until you clear your browser's storage.
• Analytics: no longer than 14 months (see Section 3).
• Advertising: as described in Adsterra's policies (see Section 5).
• Emails: kept as long as needed to respond to you and keep a record of our correspondence.

9. Data Sharing

We share information only as needed to operate the website:

• Google (Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager): analytics information described in Sections 3 and 4.
• Adsterra and its advertising partners: advertising information described in Section 5.
• Hosting and infrastructure providers that host, deliver and protect the website and our subtitle services: technical information such as IP addresses and request data.
• Network service providers that help us retrieve publicly available subtitles from video platforms: the video link or ID and your approximate country, but not your IP address.
• Translation service: when you request a translated subtitle, the subtitle text is sent to a translation service to produce the translation.
• Video platforms: our servers request subtitle and video information from the platform that hosts the video. Some of these requests include your browser's user agent.

We may also disclose information if required by law, or to protect the rights, safety and security of DownSub and its users.

10. International Data Transfers

The providers listed above may process information in countries other than your own, including the United States and other countries outside the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom. Data protection laws in those countries may differ from those in your country. According to Adsterra's Privacy Policy, Adsterra operates through companies in Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates and may store data outside the European Economic Area.

11. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live, including the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, and some US states such as California, you may have the right to:

• access the personal information we hold about you;
• correct inaccurate information;
• delete your information;
• object to or restrict certain processing;
• receive a copy of your information in a portable format;
• opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information for targeted advertising, where applicable;
• withdraw consent, where processing is based on consent;
• lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

To make a request, email [email protected]. Because DownSub does not have user accounts, we usually cannot link logs to a specific person. To help us find relevant records, please include details such as the video link and the approximate date and time of your request. You can delete information stored in your browser yourself, by clearing your history on the History page or clearing your browser's storage. For data collected by Google or Adsterra, you can also use their tools and contact them directly.

12. Data Security

We use reasonable measures to protect information. The website and our subtitle services are served over HTTPS, requests to our subtitle services are additionally encrypted, and access to server logs is restricted to the people who operate DownSub. We do not collect passwords or payment details on downsub.com. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

13. Children's Privacy

DownSub is not directed to children under 13, or under the minimum age required by the law of your country (such as 16 in parts of the European Economic Area). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has sent us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The latest version is always posted at https://downsub.com/privacy, and the "Last updated" date at the top of this page shows when it last changed. This policy may be available in several languages; if there is any difference between versions, the English version prevails.

15. Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your personal information, email us at [email protected].