Privacy Policy
Castmate is published by Halberd LLC. Last updated October 28, 2026.
Short version: Castmate works inside your browser. It doesn't have accounts, analytics, ads or trackers, and it doesn't send what you browse or watch to us.
What the extension reads, and why
- Addresses of video files and stream manifests (for example
.m3u8,.mpd,.mp4) that a page loads, so it can list the videos on that tab. This is the extension's single purpose and the reason it asks to read data on the sites you visit. - The page's title and preview image (from its title,
og:tags or player poster), so each video in the list has a readable name and thumbnail.
This information is kept in the browser's session storage for the tab it came from. It's removed when you close the tab or the browser. The only thing saved longer is your setting for the optional relay switch.
What leaves your browser
- When you press Cast: the video's address, title and thumbnail go to the TV you pick (Chromecast or a Google Cast device, or an Apple TV with AirPlay). The cast page uses Google's Cast SDK, which Google serves; Google's privacy policy covers that SDK.
- The cast page is a static page hosted on Cloudflare Pages. The extension puts the video details after the
#in its address, a part browsers never send to the server. Cloudflare, like any host, may log ordinary request data such as IP address and browser type. - Missing thumbnails: if a page has no preview image, the extension may ask that same site's public oEmbed service (for example Dailymotion, Vimeo, Reddit or Loom) for one, sending it the page's address.
- Optional relay: if you run the Castmate relay on your own computer, streams that need it pass through that relay. If you set it up with a tunnel service, traffic also passes through that service.
- Where you stopped, and your queue: the cast page remembers where you stopped each video so casting it again resumes there, and the extension keeps the videos you queue. Both stay in this browser on this computer only (local storage) and never reach us. Clearing the site's data or the extension's queue removes them.
- Subtitles: if the page has subtitle files, their addresses go to the cast page and your TV with the video. With the relay running, the TV fetches them through the relay on your computer.
- Phone remote: if you open it, your phone talks to the relay on your computer over your own network, using a random code from the QR. The relay keeps only what's playing right now, in memory.
- Saving a video: when you press Download and Save, the extension fetches the video from the site it came from and writes it to a file on your computer. It goes straight from that site to you; nothing passes through us.
- Problem reports, only when you send one: if you press "Report it" and then Send, we receive that page's address and title, the video's address without its query string, the video type, what you wrote, your extension version, browser type and language, and your email if you typed one. We use this only to fix support for that site and, if you gave an email, to tell you when it's fixed. We keep reports until the problem is closed, then delete emails. Ask us at the address below to delete a report sooner.
What we don't do
- We don't collect, store or sell your browsing history, watch history or personal information. The only exception is a problem report you choose to send, described above.
- We don't use data for advertising or credit decisions, and we don't let people read it.
- Castmate doesn't get around DRM, encryption, paywalls or logins, and it doesn't save videos from sites whose terms forbid it.
Castmate's use of information received from Chrome APIs follows the Chrome Web Store User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.
Payments
If a paid plan is added later, payments will be handled by a payment processor (Stripe). We'd receive only what's needed to confirm your plan, and this policy will be updated before that happens.
Contact
Questions: halberdsolutions@gmail.com
Chromecast and Google Cast are trademarks of Google LLC. Apple TV and AirPlay are trademarks of Apple Inc. Castmate is not affiliated with or endorsed by Google or Apple.