Effective version: PairPane 1.0.1
Last updated: July 22, 2026
PairPane is a local-first Chrome extension for aligning, comparing, and reviewing two pages selected by the user. PairPane has no account system, advertising, behavioral analytics, remote executable code, or PairPane-operated backend.
PairPane handles information only as needed for a feature the user invokes.
PairPane temporarily stores paired tab identifiers, scroll positions, scrolling-panel identities, alignment points, permission state, and active tool state in chrome.storage.session. This information normally ends with the browser session.
After the user invokes Smart Align, PairPane reads bounded page headings, heading IDs, hierarchy, and local positions. The information is compared locally to propose explainable alignment points. It is not sent to PairPane servers.
After the user invokes Difference Lens, PairPane reads bounded visible text blocks from the main page content. PairPane excludes inputs, textareas, selects, options, password fields, editable content, scripts, styles, noscript content, and hidden content. Extracted comparison text is transient unless the user explicitly adds a result to a saved review.
After the user invokes Page Signals, PairPane reads limited document metadata including titles, headings, canonical links, descriptions, robots directives, language, Open Graph presence, and structured-data presence. Processing is local.
PairPane captures the active tab’s visible page area only after an explicit user action. A capture can contain private information visible on the page. PairPane provides preview, crop, blur, solid-mask redaction, retention, and deletion controls.
Capture image blobs are stored in extension-owned IndexedDB. Lightweight capture metadata and indexes are stored in chrome.storage.local. New captures default to session retention unless the user chooses another retention period or explicitly attaches the capture to a saved review or report.
PairPane can persist the following locally when requested:
PairPane rejects credential-like query keys such as passwords, tokens, secrets, session identifiers, authorization values, and API keys.
activeTab grants temporary access after the user invokes PairPane on a selected page.scripting injects packaged PairPane code only into selected pages.storage keeps session state and explicitly saved local information.sidePanel hosts the persistent comparison workspace.PairPane does not request broad host access at installation.
PairPane does not automatically transmit page text, captures, browsing URLs, review notes, or profile data to a PairPane server. Core extension features contain no runtime network client.
When a user exports and saves or shares a report, the exported file leaves PairPane’s control. The export preview lists included routes, URLs, notes, statuses, and capture references. Query strings are stripped by default; only explicitly approved profile query keys may be retained when the user changes that setting.
PairPane does not use behavioral analytics or page-level browsing telemetry. Performance measurements and workflow counters, where present, remain local unless the user explicitly creates and shares sanitized diagnostics. Diagnostics exclude browsing URLs, page text, screenshots, and notes.
The Privacy and local data settings view shows local storage usage by category and provides scoped deletion for:
Users can preview and delete individual captures, rebuild the capture index, revoke optional origin access, clear transient comparisons, and export selected review information.
PairPane does not synchronize clicks, typing, form values, file inputs, authentication, payments, destructive actions, or form submissions. Path Sync performs only safe route navigation within explicitly saved origins.
Material privacy changes must update this policy and the Chrome Web Store disclosures before release. Features that introduce remote processing, accounts, or third-party integrations require separate, explicit disclosure and user consent.