Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 18, 2026

Introduction

Channel Surfer ("we", "our", or "us") operates channelsurfer.tv. This page explains what data we collect, how we use it, and who helps us run the service.

We do not sell your personal data. We share it only with the service providers we need to deliver and support the service, listed below.

Information We Collect

Account information

If you create an account, we collect your email address and basic profile information (display name, profile image if you provide one) through our identity provider, Clerk. We store a corresponding account record in our database so we can sync your settings, unlock paid features, and contact you about your account.

Imported channel data

If you use the bookmarklet or paste tool to import your YouTube subscriptions, we store the imported channel list. Today, that list is kept in your browser’s local storage. As we add cross-device sync (planned), imports will also be saved to our database against your account so you can access them from other devices.

Channel Surfer product-update emails

When you create a Channel Surfer account, your email address is automatically subscribed to our Channel Surfer product-update list. These are low-volume emails about new features, important changes, and occasional announcements. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email we send you. These communications are sent through a third-party email service provider on our behalf.

Payment information (paid plans only)

If you subscribe to a paid plan, Stripe processes your payment on our behalf. We receive a limited set of subscription metadata from Stripe (plan, status, current period end, customer and subscription IDs, billing email) and store it against your account. We do not receive or store your full card number or CVC. Stripe’s own privacy terms govern how they handle your payment details.

Usage analytics

We use Plausible Analytics, a privacy-focused analytics tool. Plausible collects anonymous, aggregated usage data (pageviews, referrers, broad country-level geography, device type). It uses no cookies and does not track you across other sites. Plausible complies with GDPR, CCPA, and PECR.

We also keep anonymous Channel Surfer watch telemetry in our own database, such as aggregated watch seconds, channel tune-ins, channel source (default or imported), and a random visitor/session ID. We use this to understand which channels are watched and to operate internal stats. We do not store raw YouTube watch history from your YouTube account.

Security signals

To prevent abuse of the account sign-up flow, we use a bot-protection challenge (for example, a visible "I’m not a robot" widget) and temporarily store short-lived rate-limiting counters and device fingerprints. These are retained only as long as needed to throttle abusive traffic, typically hours to days.

How We Use Your Information

• To create and operate your account, including signing you in and letting you manage settings across devices
• To process paid subscriptions, send receipts, and enforce access to paid features
• To send service emails (account verification, billing notices, security alerts)
• To send Channel Surfer product updates to account holders, with an unsubscribe link in every email so you can opt out at any time
• To understand how visitors use the site, via anonymous aggregated analytics
• To prevent abuse, spam, and fraud

Third-Party Services We Rely On

Channel Surfer uses a small number of service providers to operate the service, including a hosting and content-delivery provider, a database provider, an email delivery provider for our product updates, and a bot-protection provider. These providers process your information on our behalf and only to deliver the service. The providers most directly tied to data you give us are named below.

• Clerk – authentication and identity. Handles sign-up, sign-in, and session management.
• Stripe – payment processing and subscription billing (if you subscribe to a paid plan).
• Plausible Analytics – privacy-focused, cookie-free usage analytics.
• YouTube – video content is embedded from YouTube via the official IFrame Player API. YouTube’s own privacy policy and terms apply to playback and to any data YouTube collects when you watch videos.

Cookies and Local Storage

Channel Surfer uses local storage to save your channel preferences, settings, imported channel list, and a random anonymous watch telemetry visitor ID on your device.

When you’re signed in, Clerk sets a small number of cookies required to keep you logged in. We do not use cookies for marketing or advertising.

Children’s Privacy

Channel Surfer is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take appropriate steps to delete it. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us personal information, please contact us.

Data Retention

• Account records are kept while your account is active. If you delete your account, we mark the record as deleted; we may retain it for a short period for fraud prevention and regulatory reasons, then purge it.
• Subscription records are retained for as long as required by applicable tax and accounting rules, even after cancellation.
• Newsletter subscription records are retained until you unsubscribe, plus a short retention of the unsubscribe record itself so we honour your opt-out.
• Analytics data is aggregated and contains no personal information.

Your Rights

You can:

• Delete your account from the account dashboard (or by emailing us)
• Unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time using the link in any email you’ve received
• Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Cancel or change a paid subscription at any time through the Stripe customer portal, linked from your dashboard
• Clear local browser data at any time to remove locally-stored channels and settings

Account deletion and marketing email are separate

Deleting your Channel Surfer account does not automatically unsubscribe you from our newsletter or product-update emails. The newsletter list is managed separately (and you may have subscribed independently of your account). To stop receiving marketing emails, use the unsubscribe link in any email. If you want both your account deleted and your email removed from the newsletter, do both and we’ll honour them independently.

Content Removal Requests

Channel Surfer surfaces videos hosted on YouTube and does not host video content itself. If you are a rights holder or the subject of a video and you want a specific channel removed from our curated guide, contact us and we’ll review the request promptly. A formal DMCA intake form is coming soon; until then, please reach out via the link below.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes to the service or the law. The "Last updated" date at the top indicates when it was last revised. Material changes will be announced on the site or via email.

Contact Us

Questions about this policy, data requests, or content removal? Contact us.