Draw on a Map was built with a simple premise: you should be able to quickly sketch a route, annotate a location, and share it without handing over your personal information. We are proud to be a privacy-first map drawing tool.
The TL;DR
- Optional accounts: You can use the drawing tools without an account. Accounts are only needed for saved maps and Pro subscriptions.
- No tracking cookies: We don't use tracking cookies or consent banners for analytics. A single functional session cookie is used only if you sign in.
- Share links stay client-side: Standard share links store drawing data inside the URL. Saved maps are stored on our servers only when you choose to save them.
- Minimal account data: If you sign in, we store your email address so you can access saved maps and subscription status.
- Payments handled by Stripe: We use Stripe for Pro checkout, billing, and subscription management. We do not store your full card number.
What we DON'T collect
Unlike many online mapping tools, we operate with a strict data-minimization approach.
- Standard shared drawings: When you draw on the map and click "Share", your drawing data is compressed directly into the URL link. It lives on your device and in the link you send. It is not uploaded to or stored on our servers.
- Your Location: If you use the "Locate Me" button, your browser accesses your device's GPS coordinates to center the map. This happens entirely client-side. We do not see, transmit, or store your location history.
- Payment card details: Pro payments are processed by Stripe. We do not receive or store your full payment card number.
What we DO collect
To keep the site running smoothly and improve the user experience, we collect a minimal amount of anonymous data.
- Anonymous Product Analytics: We track generic interactions (e.g., "A user clicked the pen tool" or "A user clicked the share button"). This helps us understand which features are popular. This data is aggregated and not tied to you.
- Technical Diagnostics: If the application crashes or throws an error, we may log technical details (like the error type and a code snippet) so we can fix the bug. This does not contain personal data.
- Approximate location on first visit: When you first load the map, we use your IP address to estimate your general region so we can center the map near you. This is done via our server and is not stored. Clicking "Locate Me" uses your device's GPS entirely in your browser, which is more precise and also not stored by us.
- Account data: If you sign in, we store your email address, login sessions, saved map records, and subscription status.
- Billing records: If you upgrade to Pro, Stripe processes your checkout and subscription. We store the Stripe customer ID and plan status needed to unlock Pro features and manage billing.
We use Ahrefs Analytics as a third-party provider and a self-hosted Plausible instance running on our own infrastructure. Both are privacy-centric, cookieless alternatives to traditional analytics platforms. No personal identifiers are collected.
We use Stripe to process Pro subscriptions, payment methods, invoices, and billing portal access.
Local Storage
We use your browser's local storage solely to remember your UI preferences (for example, if you dismissed the instructions banner, we remember not to show it to you again). This is stored locally on your device and is never sent to our servers.
Advertising and Third-Party Services
We display ads via Google AdSense on some pages to help support the free version of the tool. Google may use cookies or similar technologies to serve personalized or non-personalized ads. You can manage your ad preferences through Google's Ads Settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Draw on a Map track my location?
No. When you use the 'locate me' feature, your device's location is processed entirely in your browser to center the map. We do not transmit or store your location data.
Are my map drawings stored on a server?
Standard share links store your drawings entirely in your browser and within the generated URL. We do not store anonymous annotations or routes. Saved maps and account data are stored on our servers only when you choose to sign in and save them.
Does this site use cookies or collect PII?
We do not use tracking cookies. If you sign in, we store your email address and account records needed for saved maps and Pro subscriptions. We only use local storage to save UI preferences, like closing a panel.
How are payments handled?
Pro subscriptions are handled by Stripe. Stripe processes payment details, invoices, and subscription management. We store only the Stripe customer ID and plan status needed to provide Pro access.
What analytics do you collect?
We collect 100% anonymous product analytics (e.g., which drawing tools are clicked) and limited technical error logs to improve the site's reliability. We use Ahrefs Analytics and a self-hosted Plausible instance, both of which are privacy-centric and cookieless.