Are Online Image Tools Safe? A Privacy Guide
When a tool says "drag your photo here", ask one question: does it stay on my device, or get uploaded? For passports, IDs and personal photos, the answer matters a lot.
Updated June 2026 · 5 min read
Upload-based tools vs in-browser tools
Many popular image sites send your file to their servers, process it there, and send the result back. Even with a "deleted after 30 minutes" promise, your image leaves your device and sits on someone else’s infrastructure.
In-browser tools (like every GPJam tool) run entirely on your own device using the Canvas API and WebAssembly. The file is never uploaded — so there is nothing to leak, cache or train on.
What to remove before sharing
Photos carry hidden metadata — camera model, date, and sometimes GPS coordinates. Strip it with Remove Metadata, or inspect it first with View Metadata. Learn what it contains in our EXIF entry.
How to verify a tool is private
Open the tool, then disconnect from the internet and try it. If it still works, processing is local. Every core GPJam tool passes this test. More on our approach in our privacy commitment and about GPJam.