Privacy Policy
Last updated: October 20, 2026
Plain-language summary
- We collect only what we need to deliver books: mainly email addresses, names, and what's needed to keep listening links from being shared.
- Readers' details belong to the author they bought from. We hold them on the author's behalf.
- We don't sell personal data, and we don't use advertising trackers.
- Card details go to Stripe. They never reach Listenkeep or the author.
- Email hello@listenkeep.com to see, export or delete your data.
1. Who we are
Listenkeep runs listenkeep.com, author pages on its subdomains and on authors' own domains, and short links on lsk.onl. We're based in the United States, and your data is stored and processed in the US. This policy explains what we collect, why, and your choices. It goes with our Terms of Service.
2. Authors and readers: who decides
- Authors' own data (your account, plan and billing): Listenkeep decides how it's used, as described here.
- Readers' data (people who buy or receive an author's books): the author is responsible for it, as the seller. Listenkeep processes it on the author's behalf, only to deliver books, support readers and run the service. Authors can see their readers' names and email addresses in their dashboard and may contact them under the law and their own privacy policy.
3. What we collect
From authors
- Account details: name, email address, password (stored only as a secure hash), handle, and your API key.
- Your books and content: audio, ebooks, covers, descriptions, prices, branding, logo and domain settings.
- Payments: we receive your connected Stripe account's ID and status, and your plan subscription details, from Stripe. We don't see full card or bank numbers.
- Records of your sales, deliveries, orders and fees, so we can show them to you and bill correctly.
From readers
- Email address and name, given at checkout or when an author sends you a copy, and a shipping address if you order a printed copy (from Stripe checkout). For signed copies, the name you ask to have it signed to.
- Purchase details from the author's Stripe checkout: what you bought, the amount, and whether it was refunded. Card details stay with Stripe.
- Device information: when you open your listening link on a device, a cookie identifies that browser as one of your devices, and we store a short description of it (its browser "user agent") so you can recognize it in your device list.
- Network check: to spot links being shared widely, we record the network your link was used from, shortened to the first three parts of the IP address (a /24 network, never your full address), for up to 3 days.
- Listening and download activity: your saved position in the book, when you first opened it, and how many personal downloads you've made. If you're an advance reader, where you plan to review and any review link you share.
- Your name in your copy: personal downloads (M4B audiobooks and EPUB ebooks) have your name and email written into them. Stamped audiobook files are deleted from our servers after 48 hours.
From everyone
- Basic server logs (such as IP address, page requested and time), kept briefly to run and secure the service.
- Short codes used to limit abuse, such as sign-up and email-code attempts, kept for about a day.
4. Why we use it
- To deliver books: the player, device limits, downloads and the emails with your link.
- To protect authors' books from link sharing and abuse.
- To run author accounts, plans, billing and the success fee.
- To send service emails: delivery links, device codes, receipts, ARC reminders, and account or policy notices. We don't send marketing to readers on our own behalf.
- To support you, fix problems, keep the service secure, and meet legal and tax obligations.
5. Cookies and browser storage
| What | Why | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Author login cookie | Keeps you signed in to your dashboard | 30 days, or until you log out |
| Device cookie (one per listening link) | Remembers that this browser is one of your devices | Up to 1 year |
| Cart (browser storage, on book pages) | Remembers what's in your cart before checkout | Until you clear it or check out |
| Saved chapters (browser storage, in the player) | Encrypted chapters you chose to save for offline listening | Until you remove them |
We don't use advertising cookies or cross-site tracking.
6. Who helps us run Listenkeep
We share data only with service providers that help us run Listenkeep, and only what they need:
- Stripe: payments for authors' sales (in the author's own Stripe account) and for Listenkeep plans.
- Resend: sending email.
- Kamatera: the servers that host Listenkeep and its files.
- ittle.co: our link partner that runs lsk.onl short links. It records clicks on short links, such as time, referring page and approximate location.
- Google Fonts: fonts on our pages, loaded from Google, which receives your IP address when they load.
- cdnjs (Cloudflare): some pages load open-source scripts (the audio player and QR codes) from this network, which receives your IP address when they load.
We also share data when the law requires it, to protect people's rights and safety, or if Listenkeep is reorganized or sold (the new owner would keep these promises). We never sell personal data.
7. How long we keep it
- Author accounts: while your account is open. After you close it, we delete your content and account data within 90 days, except records we must keep for tax, billing or legal reasons.
- Readers' records: as long as the author's book and account are active, so your link keeps working. When the author closes their account, we delete them within 90 days. Ask us (or the author) to delete yours sooner.
- Network checks: 3 days. Stamped audiobook files: 48 hours. Abuse-limit records: about a day.
8. Your choices and rights
- See, export, correct or delete your data: email hello@listenkeep.com from the address you use with Listenkeep. Readers can also ask the author they bought from.
- Deleting a reader's data switches off their listening link, so download your copy first if you want to keep it.
- Depending on where you live (for example California, or the EU and UK), you may have further rights, such as to object or to complain to a regulator. We'll honor them as the law requires.
9. Security
We use HTTPS everywhere, store passwords only as secure hashes, encrypt audiobook streams, and limit who can access our servers. No service is perfectly secure; if a breach affects your data, we'll tell you as the law requires.
10. Children
Listenkeep isn't meant for children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect their data. Authors must be at least 18. If you believe a child has given us their data, email us and we'll delete it.
11. Changes
If we change this policy in a way that matters, we'll update the date above and email authors before it takes effect.
12. Contact
Privacy questions or requests: hello@listenkeep.com.