Effective Date: April 8, 2026
THE SHORT VERSION
Your tabs stay 100% on your device. We never see your saved tabs, URLs, or browsing history. TheTab uses anonymous analytics (PostHog) to understand how the extension is used — things like which features are popular and how often tabs are saved. No personal data is ever collected.
WHAT WE DON'T COLLECT
We take privacy seriously. Here's what TheTab will never collect:
- Your browsing history
- Your saved tab URLs or titles
- Your IP address
- Your email (we don't require accounts)
- Personally identifiable information of any kind
WHAT WE DO COLLECT
TheTab uses PostHog, an analytics service, to collect anonymous usage data. This helps us understand how the extension is used and improve it. Here's exactly what PostHog collects:
- Feature usage events — which buttons you click and which features you use (e.g., "saved tabs", "restored a group", "opened settings")
- Extension version — so we know which versions are in use
- Browser language — to prioritize translations
- A random anonymous ID — a randomly generated identifier stored locally, not linked to your identity
PostHog does NOT collect your tab URLs, page content, browsing history, or any personal information. Session recording is disabled. No cookies are used. The anonymous ID cannot be traced back to you.
WHERE YOUR DATA IS STORED
Everything stays on your device by default. TheTab uses your browser's built-in local storage (localStorage API) to save your tabs. This data never leaves your computer unless you opt in to cloud sync.
Your browser manages this storage space. If you clear your browser data or uninstall TheTab, your saved tabs are deleted from local storage.
OPTIONAL CLOUD SYNC
TheTab offers optional encrypted cloud sync via Google Drive or WebDAV. This feature is entirely opt-in — you must explicitly enable it in settings.
When cloud sync is enabled, your saved tabs are encrypted end-to-end with a passphrase you set before leaving your device. We never see your data in plaintext. The encrypted data is stored in your own Google Drive or WebDAV server — TheTab has no server that stores your data.
You can disable cloud sync at any time. Your local data remains intact regardless of sync status.
EXPORT/IMPORT FEATURE
When you export your tabs, TheTab creates a JSON file on your computer. This file contains your saved tab data. We never receive or store this file. It stays entirely under your control.
When you import tabs, the file is read locally by your browser. Again, nothing is sent to any server.
PERMISSIONS EXPLAINED
TheTab requires these browser permissions to function. Here's every single one and why:
- "tabs" — To read tab titles/URLs and close tabs when you save them. This is why your browser shows a "browsing history" warning — the tabs permission includes access to tab URLs, which the browser categorizes as browsing data. We only use this when you click save.
- "storage" — To save your tab groups in local browser storage
- "unlimitedStorage" — To store large numbers of saved tabs without hitting browser storage limits
- "tabGroups" — To detect and preserve your Chrome tab groups when saving
- "sidePanel" — To provide the side panel interface for quick access
- "contextMenus" — To add right-click save options (save tab, save group, etc.)
- "alarms" — To schedule periodic tasks like auto-cleanup of old data
- "bookmarks" — To enable the "save as bookmarks" feature
- "notifications" — To confirm completed actions (e.g. "12 tabs saved") and alert about backup completions
- "identity" — To authenticate with Google Drive for optional encrypted cloud sync (opt-in only)
No permission to access your location, no permission to read page content, no permission to track you across websites. Every permission above is used for a specific, user-facing feature.
THIRD-PARTY SERVICES
TheTab uses one third-party service:
- PostHog (analytics) — Collects anonymous usage events as described above. Data is sent to PostHog's servers. No personal data, no tab URLs, no browsing history. PostHog's privacy policy
We do not use Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, ad networks, or any other tracking services. No ads. No data brokers. No selling data. Ever.
TheTab also retrieves favicon images for your tabs, which is handled by your browser's built-in favicon cache. We don't control this or receive any data from it.
GDPR & CCPA COMPLIANCE
We collect no personal data. The anonymous analytics data collected by PostHog cannot be linked to any individual. Your saved tabs, URLs, and browsing history never leave your device.
Since we don't collect personally identifiable information, there is no personal data for us to provide, modify, or delete on request. Your tab data is stored locally and fully under your control.
CHILDREN'S PRIVACY
TheTab is safe for users of all ages. We don't collect data from anyone, including children under 13. Parents can rest assured that TheTab cannot and will not gather any information about their children.
CHANGES TO THIS POLICY
If we change this privacy policy, we'll update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We'll also notify users through the extension if any changes affect how your data is handled.
Privacy is core to TheTab. We built this because we believe tab managers shouldn't need your personal data. That principle guides every decision we make.
DATA BREACHES
Your tab data is stored locally on your device — we don't have it, so it can't be breached on our end. The anonymous analytics data collected by PostHog contains no personal information and cannot identify you.
The security of your saved tabs depends on your device's security. Keep your computer safe, and your tabs are safe.
YOUR RIGHTS
Since we don't collect your data, you automatically have full control:
- Right to access: All your data is visible in TheTab's interface
- Right to delete: Clear your data anytime through TheTab or your browser settings
- Right to export: Use TheTab's export feature to download your data
- Right to portability: Take your exported data anywhere you want
THE BOTTOM LINE
We built TheTab for ourselves and people like us who are tired of extensions that harvest personal data. Your tabs are yours. Your browsing history is yours. We use minimal anonymous analytics to improve the product, but we never see your tabs, your URLs, or anything personal.
Transparency is the promise. This policy reflects exactly what TheTab does today.