Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

BuildThePuzzle provides printable puzzle generation tools for teachers, homeschool parents, and families. Our website allows users to create word search puzzles, crossword puzzles, and printable PDF files with answer keys.

Website: https://buildthepuzzle.com

Contact email: [Insert Support Email]

2. Information we collect

We collect only the information needed to operate the website, deliver digital products, process payments, protect the service from abuse, and improve the user experience.

Information you provide

• Email address for email verification, PDF delivery, account access, and free PDF credit tracking.
• Billing details entered during WooCommerce checkout.
• Puzzle inputs such as topic, grade level, difficulty, puzzle type, and optional vocabulary words.
• Messages you send through contact forms, support emails, or customer service requests.

Information collected automatically

• IP address or hashed IP address for security, abuse prevention, and fraud prevention.
• Browser cookie identifiers used to manage puzzle usage, free PDF limits, cart sessions, and login status.
• Device, browser, and general usage data, such as page views, button clicks, and PDF export events.
• Order and payment status information from WooCommerce and Stripe.

Information we do not request

• Student names.
• Student email addresses.
• School ID numbers.
• Photos of children.
• Sensitive classroom records.

3. How we use your information

We use collected information for the following purposes:

• To generate puzzle previews and printable PDF files.
• To send email verification links.
• To deliver PDF download links.
• To track the 5 free PDF exports allowed per verified email.
• To process paid PDF downloads and monthly access through WooCommerce and Stripe.
• To show your PDF history when available.
• To prevent abuse, fraud, spam, and repeated misuse of the free PDF system.
• To troubleshoot errors and improve the puzzle generator.
• To respond to customer support requests.
• To comply with legal, tax, accounting, and security obligations.

4. Email verification and free PDF credits

BuildThePuzzle gives each verified email address 5 free PDF exports forever. We use your email address to verify that you are a real user, deliver PDF links, track free PDF usage, and prevent repeated abuse of the free credit system.

Verification links expire after a limited period. If your verification link expires, you may request a new one.

5. Puzzle content and AI assistance

BuildThePuzzle may use OpenAI or similar AI services to help generate topic-based vocabulary words, crossword clues, puzzle titles, or teacher-friendly instructions. AI requests are sent from our server, not directly from your browser.

Do not enter private student data, confidential school records, sensitive personal information, or information about a child into the puzzle generator.

We may store puzzle inputs, generated words, clues, puzzle layout data, and PDF export history to provide the service, support user access, and improve reliability.

6. Payments and billing

Payments are processed through WooCommerce and Stripe. BuildThePuzzle does not store full credit card numbers on our servers.

We may receive and store order details such as product purchased, payment status, order ID, billing email, access status, refund status, and subscription status when applicable.

Stripe and WooCommerce may process your information according to their own privacy policies and security practices.

7. Cookies and similar technologies

BuildThePuzzle, WordPress, WooCommerce, Stripe, security tools, analytics tools, and related services may use cookies or similar technologies.

Cookies may be used to:

• Keep the website working correctly.
• Manage shopping cart and checkout sessions.
• Remember verified email status where applicable.
• Help prevent abuse of free PDF credits.
• Understand how visitors use the website.
• Improve site speed, security, and reliability.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Blocking some cookies may affect checkout, login, PDF access, or generator functionality.

8. How long we keep information

We keep information only as long as reasonably needed for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy.

• Email verification tokens may expire after 24 hours or another configured period.
• Free user PDF files may be deleted after approximately 30 days.
• Paid user PDF history may be kept for approximately 12 months.
• Order records may be kept as required for accounting, tax, legal, fraud prevention, and business records.
• Security logs and abuse prevention records may be kept as needed to protect the website.

9. When we share information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share limited information with service providers that help us operate BuildThePuzzle.

These providers may include:

• Website hosting providers.
• WordPress and WooCommerce tools.
• Stripe or payment processors.
• Email delivery services or SMTP providers.
• OpenAI or AI service providers when AI generation is used.
• Security, analytics, backup, and maintenance tools.
• Legal, tax, accounting, or compliance providers when needed.

10. Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational safeguards to protect personal information. These may include encrypted connections, secure payment processing, server-side API requests, hashed verification tokens, access controls, and security monitoring.

No online service is completely secure. You should avoid submitting sensitive or confidential information that is not required to use the service.

11. Children’s privacy

BuildThePuzzle is intended for use by adults, including teachers, homeschool parents, and caregivers. The service is designed to create educational puzzle materials for children, but it is not designed to collect personal information directly from children.

We do not knowingly ask children to submit personal information. Adults should not enter student names, student emails, school IDs, photos of children, or sensitive child information into the generator.

12. Your privacy choices

Depending on your location, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or receive a copy of personal information we hold about you. You may also have the right to object to certain processing or opt out of certain data sharing.

To make a privacy request, contact us at:

[Insert Support Email]

We may need to verify your identity before completing a request.

13. California privacy notice

If you are a California resident, you may have rights under California privacy laws. These may include the right to know what personal information is collected, the right to request deletion, the right to correct inaccurate personal information, the right to opt out of certain sharing or sale of personal information, and the right not to be discriminated against for exercising privacy rights.

BuildThePuzzle does not sell personal information for money. If we use advertising or analytics tools that may be considered sharing under applicable law, we will provide required choices where applicable.

14. International visitors

BuildThePuzzle is operated from the United States. If you access the website from outside the United States, your information may be processed in the United States or other locations where our service providers operate.

15. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The updated version will be posted on this page with a revised “Last updated” date.

16. Contact us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or want to make a privacy request, contact us at:

[Insert Support Email]