Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 11, 2026

1. Introduction

Great Church Tools ("Company," "we," "us," "our," or "Great Church Tools") operates the website and related services. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website (greatchurchtools.com) and use our services. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our website or services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

  • Account Registration: Name, email address, church name, ministry name, organization details, and password
  • Payment Information: Billing address, credit card information (processed securely through third-party payment processors - we do not store full credit card details)
  • Content You Upload: Video files, sermon content, transcripts, and any other materials you submit to our platform
  • Communication: Email messages, contact form submissions, support requests, and feedback
  • Profile Information: Ministry details, pastor information, organizational affiliation

2.2 Information Automatically Collected

  • Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, clicks, scroll depth, and actions taken within our platform
  • Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device type, and unique identifiers
  • Cookies and Tracking Technologies: Session cookies, persistent cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies
  • Referring/Exit Pages: URLs of pages that referred you to our website and pages you visit when leaving our website
  • Performance Data: Loading times, errors, and technical performance metrics
  • Location Data: Approximate geographic location based on IP address (not precise GPS location)

2.3 Third-Party Information

  • Information from analytics providers (Google Analytics)
  • Information from advertising partners
  • Information from payment processors
  • Information from YouTube API (when connected)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

  • Service Delivery: Providing, maintaining, and improving our transcription and sharing services
  • Account Management: Creating and maintaining user accounts, managing subscriptions, and processing payments
  • Customer Support: Responding to inquiries, troubleshooting, and providing technical support
  • Communication: Sending service-related announcements, updates, newsletters, and promotional materials (with consent)
  • Analytics and Improvement: Analyzing usage patterns, trends, and performance to improve our services
  • Security and Fraud Prevention: Protecting against fraudulent activities, unauthorized access, and other security threats
  • Marketing: Personalizing advertisements, conducting marketing campaigns, and measuring campaign effectiveness
  • Legal Compliance: Complying with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes
  • Aggregated Data: Creating anonymized, aggregated data for research and statistical purposes

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

4.1 What We Do NOT Do

  • We do NOT sell your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes
  • We do NOT share your sermon content or transcripts without your permission
  • We do NOT share your church's private data with unaffiliated organizations

4.2 When We DO Share Information

We may share your information with:

  • Service Providers: Payment processors (Stripe, PayPal), hosting providers (AWS, Azure), email service providers, analytics services, and customer support platforms - bound by confidentiality agreements
  • YouTube: When you authorize integration with YouTube API for video transcription and content pulling
  • Law Enforcement: When required by law, court order, or to protect our legal rights
  • Business Transfers: In the event of merger, acquisition, bankruptcy, or sale of assets - users will be notified
  • With Your Consent: When you explicitly agree to share information with specific third parties
  • Publicly: If you choose to make your ministry featured (Gold tier), basic information may be displayed on our platform

4.3 Google Ads and Advertising Partners

We use Google Ads and other advertising networks to display targeted advertisements. In doing so:

  • We allow Google and other advertisers to use cookies and similar tracking technologies to serve personalized ads based on your browsing history
  • We share hashed, anonymized data with advertising partners for audience targeting and campaign measurement
  • Google may collect and use data in accordance with Google's Privacy Policy
  • You can opt-out of personalized advertising through Google Ads Settings or the Network Advertising Initiative

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

5.1 Types of Cookies We Use

  • Essential Cookies: Required for website functionality, authentication, and security
  • Performance Cookies: Track usage metrics and website performance (Google Analytics)
  • Marketing Cookies: Enable targeted advertising and campaign measurement
  • Preference Cookies: Remember your theme choice and other user preferences

5.2 Cookie Management

You can control cookies through your browser settings:

  • Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being set
  • If you disable cookies, some features of our website may not function properly
  • Our use of cookies is governed by our Cookie Policy (see section 7 below)

5.3 Third-Party Tracking

  • Google Analytics: We use Google Analytics to understand user behavior and improve our services
  • Google Ads Conversion Tracking: We track conversions to measure advertising effectiveness
  • Social Media Pixels: We may use Facebook, Twitter, or other social media tracking pixels

6. Data Security

We implement comprehensive technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information:

  • Encryption: SSL/TLS encryption for data in transit; AES-256 encryption for sensitive data at rest
  • Access Controls: Role-based access restrictions and authentication requirements for staff accessing personal data
  • Firewalls and Security Monitoring: Advanced firewalls and intrusion detection systems
  • Regular Security Audits: Periodic security assessments and vulnerability scanning
  • Data Backup: Regular backups of critical data with secure storage
  • Incident Response: We have a data breach response plan and will notify users of any material security incidents as required by law

Important Note: While we implement strong security measures, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your information.

7. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

7.1 General Rights (All Users)

  • Access: Request a copy of your personal data we hold
  • Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
  • Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data (subject to legal obligations)
  • Opt-out of Marketing: Unsubscribe from promotional emails and communications
  • Portability: Request your data in a portable format

7.2 GDPR Rights (EU/EEA Users)

  • Right to be forgotten (erasure)
  • Right to restrict processing
  • Right to object to processing
  • Right to lodge a complaint with your data protection authority
  • Right to withdraw consent at any time

7.3 CCPA Rights (California Users)

  • Right to know what personal information is collected
  • Right to know whether personal information is sold or disclosed
  • Right to delete personal information collected from you
  • Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information
  • Right to non-discrimination for exercising CCPA rights

7.4 Exercising Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at:

  • Email: support@greatchurchtools.com
  • Mailing Address: 7014 13th Ave, Suite 3, Brooklyn, NY 11228
  • Response Time: We will respond to valid requests within 30 days (or as required by applicable law)

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations:

  • Account Data: Retained for the duration of your account and 12 months after account deletion (unless required longer by law)
  • Sermon Content: Retained in your account until you delete it; we maintain backups for 30 days after deletion
  • Transaction Records: Retained for 7 years for tax and legal compliance purposes
  • Analytics Data: Google Analytics data is typically retained for 26 months
  • Log Files: Technical logs are retained for 90 days

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for children under the age of 13 (or the applicable age of digital consent in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete such information and terminate the child's account. Parents who believe their child has provided information to us should contact us immediately at support@greatchurchtools.com.

10. International Data Transfers

Your personal information may be transferred to and stored in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from your home country. By using our services, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries outside of your country of residence, which may include countries that do not have the same level of data protection. We implement appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses to protect your information during international transfers.

11. Third-Party Links and Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites and services (including YouTube, Google, social media platforms, etc.). This Privacy Policy applies only to our website and services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites. Please review the privacy policies of any third-party services before providing your information.

12. Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" feature. Currently, there is no industry standard for recognizing DNT signals, and our website does not respond to DNT browser signals. However, you can use other tools to control data collection and use, such as browser cookie settings and opt-out mechanisms for advertising.

13. California Privacy Rights (CCPA Compliance)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants you specific rights. In the preceding 12 months, we have collected and may have shared the following categories of personal information:

  • Identifiers (name, email, account ID)
  • Commercial information (purchase history, pricing tier)
  • Internet activity (browsing history, usage data)
  • Device information (IP address, device type)
  • Geolocation data
  • Inferences (user preferences and interests)

We share this information with service providers, advertising partners, and analytics providers. We do NOT sell personal information for monetary consideration, but targeted advertising may be considered a "sale" under CCPA. To opt-out of targeted advertising, visit the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page.

14. Google Ads Policy Compliance

Great Church Tools complies with Google's policies and requirements:

  • Transparency: We clearly disclose the use of Google Ads and tracking technologies
  • Data Protection: We protect user data and do not engage in data practices that violate Google's policies
  • Cookie Consent: We provide users with information about cookies and tracking technologies
  • Restricted Content: We do not promote prohibited content on our website
  • User Choice: We respect user privacy preferences and provide opt-out options for personalized advertising
  • Compliance: Our privacy practices comply with GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable regulations

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, and other factors. We will notify you of material changes by updating the "Last Updated" date and, where required, by sending you an email notification or displaying a prominent notice on our website. Your continued use of our website and services after changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

16. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, concerns about your privacy, or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us:

  • Email: support@greatchurchtools.com
  • Mailing Address: 7014 13th Ave, Suite 3, Brooklyn, NY 11228
  • Phone: (650) 265-1193
  • Response Time: We will respond to inquiries within 30 days

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may file a complaint with your local data protection authority or regulatory agency.

17. Additional Information

For additional information, please also review: