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Built a local-first privacy extension. Looking for feedback.

Hey everyone,

I've been building GetPawsOff, a local-first privacy extension for Chrome, over the last few weeks as a solo project.

The goal is simple: give people more privacy without sending their browsing data to another company.

Right now it can:

  • Automatically reject cookie banners when it's safe to do so.
  • Block email tracking pixels and many known trackers.
  • Analyze Terms of Service and privacy policies locally and highlight potentially concerning clauses.

It's open source and still a work in progress, so I'm looking for honest feedback before the Chrome Web Store launch.

Website: https://getpawsoff.app

GitHub: https://github.com/Alfa-Dev404/GetPawsOff

I'd really appreciate any thoughts on the idea, architecture, UX, or features you'd like to see.

on July 5, 2026
  1. 1

    Honest feedback on the idea: you've got three products here with three different competitors, and only one of them is a reason to install GetPawsOff specifically. Auto-rejecting cookie banners is Consent-O-Matic's job, tracker and pixel blocking is uBlock Origin's, and both are free and established, so leading with them makes you look like a me-too in a crowded shelf. The ToS and privacy-policy analyzer is the one nobody owns. That's your wedge. I'd position the whole thing around "see what you're actually agreeing to" and let the blocking be a bonus, not the headline.

    On the Pro tier: your "local-first, no account, no telemetry" stance is great for trust but it boxes you in on monetization, since you can't charge for server features or usage limits you can't measure. The version of Pro that fits is deeper judgment on the analyzer, not more blocking: explain what a scary clause actually means for the user, diff a site's policy when it quietly changes, flag the worst offenders. Sell the reading, not the blocking, because blocking is already free.

    1. 1

      Really appreciate this. It's helpful to hear how someone new immediately categorizes the product; that's valuable feedback for me.

  2. 1

    I like that you're treating privacy as an architectural decision rather than just a feature.

    A lot of privacy tools still ask users to trust another company with their data. Building locally changes that relationship because the product earns trust through its design, not just its promises.

    1. 1

      Thank you, I really appreciate that. That's exactly the philosophy I'm trying to build around.

      1. 1

        I appreciate that.

        Reading your reply left me thinking about one implication of that design philosophy that becomes much more important as the product evolves. It's not immediately obvious, and I don't think I can do the reasoning behind it justice in a thread.

        If you're open to it, what's the best email to reach you on?

        1. 1

          Thanks, I really appreciate it. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to email me at [email protected] if that's easier.

          1. 1

            Thanks! I’ve just sent it over.

            Looking forward to hearing your thoughts whenever you have a chance.

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