PlainTools

Privacy policy

Last updated 2026-09-24

Draft — needs review. This page is a starting template, not legal advice. It has not been reviewed by a lawyer. Have it reviewed before relying on it.

The short version

PlainTools has no accounts, no sign-up and no server that stores what you look up. The tools run in your browser.

That has one consequence worth understanding: when you use a tool, your browser contacts the data source directly. Those outside services therefore see your IP address and whatever you typed into the tool, in the same way they would if you visited their own website. Every such service is listed below.

What this site collects itself

Nothing that identifies you. This site is a set of static files. There is no database, no login, no contact form and no server-side logging of your queries. Addresses, coordinates and other values you type into a tool are used to build the request and are not retained after you leave the page.

The site sets no cookies of its own and does not use browser storage to track you between visits.

This site uses Google Analytics to count visits and see which pages are used. It records usage data such as pages viewed, approximate location and device type.

Services your browser contacts

When you run a tool, your browser sends a request to the services below. Each one has its own privacy policy, which governs what it does with that request.

USDA NRCS Soil Data Access

Why it is contacted:
Looks up the soil survey record for a set of coordinates. Used by What Soil Type Is My Property?
What it receives:
Your IP address and the latitude/longitude being looked up. Your address text is never sent here — only the coordinates it resolved to.

Photon (Komoot)

Why it is contacted:
Turns a typed address into coordinates, and coordinates back into a place name. Used by What Soil Type Is My Property?
What it receives:
Your IP address and the address text or coordinates you entered.
Its privacy policy:
https://www.komoot.com/privacy

Google Analytics

Why it is contacted:
Counts visits and which pages are used, sitewide.
What it receives:
Your IP address, approximate location, device/browser type, and the pages you view.

This list is generated from the site’s own configuration, so it stays in step with the tools that are actually published. If you would rather a service did not receive your query, do not run the tool that uses it — the tool page names its source before you enter anything.

Your choices

Because no personal data is stored here, there is nothing on this site to request, correct or delete. Requests about data held by the services listed above have to go to those services directly, using the contacts in their own privacy policies.

Depending on where you live, you may have rights under laws such as the GDPR or the CCPA. Those rights apply to whoever holds your data; for anything you typed into a tool, that is the service that received the request, not this site.

Children

This site is not directed at children and knowingly collects no information from anyone, of any age.

Changes and contact

If a new tool introduces a new outside service, it is added to the list above at the same time the tool is published, and the date at the top of this page changes. Questions go to [email protected].