Creator Check

Backed byPay yourAI agentsAI agentsbased on resultsTrack performance, calculate payouts,and pay anyone in the world.Book a DemoBook a Demo1,600+Contractors paid$1M+Paid out190+CountriesSarah JenkinsContractor$4,200@carlos.devDeveloper€5,500Yuki TanakaAI Agent$280Total Payout$52,400.00USDRecipients12 contractorsDateJan 02, 2026Approve & Pay$30M+Ad Spend2.1M+Users40+Clients3000+Customers50+ClientsHow it works1Connect via API2Set payment rules3Approve and pay1Connect via API2Set payment rules3Approve and payConnect your systemsIntegrate via API. We pull in your contractor and agent data, track their output, and calculate what they've earned.Reach423,352Views842,429Connect via APIAPI EndpointConnectGradeJan 5to meYour $1,260 payout for Glowup is readyLet's get you started1. Fill in your details2. Connect your bank account3. Payout will be sent in 1-3 business daysOne platform for performance payoutsSpring 2026ActiveFeb 1, 2026 - Feb 28, 2026Contractors26Active Projects8ContractorProjectsRoleRatingSarah Jenkins@sarah.j_lifestyle16Contractor4.8Yu Wei@yuwei_eats18Developer4.9David Russo@drusso_tech8AI Agent4.7Track performance in real timeSee what each contractor earns based on output. One dashboard for all your payees.Oliver HayesContractor£420@claire.designsDeveloper$3,500Hana TanakaContractor¥580,000@chen.codesAI Agent¥28,000Pay anyone, anywhereSend payouts to 190+ countries with the payment methods they prefer.Fixed RatePerformance basedFixed & Performance basedFlexible payment rulesFlat fees, performance-based rates, or bonuses. Update rules anytime without rebuilding payouts.@drusso.dev€480Yu Wei$3,200Sarah J.$4,200Wallet Balance$48,000invoice.pdfWallet Top UpOne invoice for financeTax forms collected once. Compliance handled. Finance gets one consolidated bill."Paying contractors used to be a dreaded, time-consuming mess that didn’t scale. With Grade, payouts are automated, the process is clear, and we don’t worry about mistakes anymore. It’s made it easy to grow our contractor program and hire contractors with confidence."Rahul BhardwajCEO @ Valid ($30m+ Ad spend)"Working with a large number of contractors at scale can be extremely time-consuming. Grade removes a significant part of the payment and tracking workload from our team, saving us a substantial amount of time."David ŠkrbecGrowth @ Astra AI (2.1M+ users)"Before, I’ve been worried about scaling contractors because of the hassle of managing payments (especially since i’m hiring globally). Luckily, I found Grade. The degree of customization for bonus structures and convenience it brings is unmatched."Lawrence TanCEO @ Hayai Learn (3k+ customers)"Paying contractors used to be a dreaded, time-consuming mess that didn’t scale. With Grade, payouts are automated, the process is clear, and we don’t worry about mistakes anymore. It’s made it easy to grow our contractor program and hire contractors with confidence."Rahul BhardwajCEO @ Valid ($30m+ Ad spend)"Working with a large number of contractors at scale can be extremely time-consuming. Grade removes a significant part of the payment and tracking workload from our team, saving us a substantial amount of time."David ŠkrbecGrowth @ Astra AI (2.1M+ users)"Before, I’ve been worried about scaling contractors because of the hassle of managing payments (especially since i’m hiring globally). Luckily, I found Grade. The degree of customization for bonus structures and convenience it brings is unmatched."Lawrence TanCEO @ Hayai Learn (3k+ customers)"Paying contractors used to be a dreaded, time-consuming mess that didn’t scale. With Grade, payouts are automated, the process is clear, and we don’t worry about mistakes anymore. It’s made it easy to grow our contractor program and hire contractors with confidence."Rahul BhardwajCEO @ Valid ($30m+ Ad spend)"Working with a large number of contractors at scale can be extremely time-consuming. Grade removes a significant part of the payment and tracking workload from our team, saving us a substantial amount of time."David ŠkrbecGrowth @ Astra AI (2.1M+ users)"Before, I’ve been worried about scaling contractors because of the hassle of managing payments (especially since i’m hiring globally). Luckily, I found Grade. The degree of customization for bonus structures and convenience it brings is unmatched."Lawrence TanCEO @ Hayai Learn (3k+ customers)Why teams switch to GradeZero onboardingConnect via API. No accounts to create, no platforms to join.Auto-generated invoicesEvery payout creates an invoice automatically. No manual work, no follow-ups.One invoice for financeFinance gets one invoice from us, not hundreds of contractor invoices.190+ countries supportedPay globally through local rails, crypto, or traditional methods.Performance visibilitySee who delivered what and how much they earned, all in one dashboard.Bulk payouts in minutesReview payouts, then approve and send them all at once.Ready to automate your payouts?See how Grade handles performance tracking, compliance, and global payments in one platform.Get Started --- Featured PostVideoMake Your Numbers Undeniable Before Selling Your AppWhen you're looking to sell your app, buyers don't care about your vision. They care about math.James HeaneyFebruary 2, 2026All Articles💡Why Paywalls Matter More ThanfinanceWhy Paywalls Matter More Than You ThinkWe made a mistake once. Our app was supposed to have a soft paywall — the kind with a skip button so people could browse around first, get a feel for...James HeaneyFebruary 5, 2026financeHow to Pay Contractors for Output (Not Hours) Without Starting a MutinyWhen we were running UGC campaigns for Pray Screen, we paid creators by the hour. $25/hour seemed reasonable.James HeaneyFebruary 4, 2026operationsWhen to Convert a Contractor to Full-Time (And When Not To)Six months in, your contractor knows your codebase better than half your team. They hit deadlines, they write clean code, they show up to standups even...James HeaneyFebruary 3, 2026operationsHow to Onboard Contractors in 24 Hours (Not 2 Weeks)We hired a frontend contractor in Colombia last year. She was available to start immediately, which was the whole point — we needed someone fast.James HeaneyFebruary 2, 2026growthVideoYou Don't Need Viral — You Need a Repeatable Growth Machine99% of apps on the App Store make less than $100 a year. If you want to break out of that 99%, chasing viral TikToks isn't going to get you there.James HeaneyJanuary 31, 2026financeLate Payments Are Quietly Killing Your Contractor RelationshipsI lost a designer I really liked working with. Not because the work dried up or because she found a better gig. She left because I paid her 11 days late.James HeaneyJanuary 31, 2026financeVideoThree Ways to Pay Creators (and Which One Actually Works)Most brands pitch creators with a flat rate and call it a day. Here's $200 for a video, take it or leave it.James HeaneyJanuary 30, 2026operationsThe Misclassification Trap: When Your "Contractors" Are Actually EmployeesA friend of mine runs a 15-person startup in Austin. Last year he got a letter from the Texas Workforce Commission.James HeaneyJanuary 30, 2026financeThe 1099 Nightmare: Why Most Startups Screw Up Contractor TaxesI spent my first tax season as a founder manually filling out 1099s in PDF form. At 2am. With coffee that had gone cold hours ago.James HeaneyJanuary 29, 2026growthVideoThe One Question That Filters Out 90% of UGC CreatorsWhen you're hiring creators for your app, the portfolio question separates the pros from the hobbyists.James HeaneyJanuary 28, 2026financeThe Project That Never Ends: How to Stop Scope Creep With Remote ContractorsI hired a designer for a "quick logo refresh." Three weeks and $2,400 later, we were debating whether the gradient should be 0.3% more teal.James HeaneyJanuary 28, 2026financeWhat to Do When a Contractor Ghosts You Mid-ProjectThree weeks into a rebrand, my designer stopped replying. No warning. No "hey, something came up." Just silence.James HeaneyJanuary 27, 2026growthVideoThe 4-Step Paywall Structure That Actually ConvertsMost apps throw a paywall at users and hope for the best. That approach has a terrible conversion rate, and there is a better way to structure it.James HeaneyJanuary 26, 2026growthThe UGC Creator Brief That Actually Gets You Good ContentI sent my first creator brief in a Slack DM. Three sentences. "Make videos about our app. Post daily. Be authentic." Two weeks later I had 14 videos I couldn't use.James HeaneyJanuary 26, 2026growthFrom Viral to Revenue: How to Track Whether Your UGC Creators Are Actually Making You MoneyLast month we had a creator get 2.3 million views on a video. The comments were glowing. The shares were through the roof. We paid her a $400 CPM bonus. And then we looked at our actual revenue numbers.James HeaneyJanuary 25, 2026growthVideoYou're Hiring UGC Creators Wrong (Here's What Actually Works)Finding and managing UGC creators is harder than most founders expect. We learned this firsthand running campaigns for our apps, and made plenty of mistakes along the way.James HeaneyJanuary 24, 2026financeHow to properly deal with United States taxes when paying UGC CreatorsOne of the things we see most overlooked with brands or agencies paying out UGC creators is properly filing their taxes.James HeaneyJanuary 24, 2026growthVideoMost Paywalls Fail Before the User Even Hits SubscribeYour paywall is not the problem. Everything that happens before it is.James HeaneyJanuary 23, 2026financeHow to track creator videos and accounts (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube)Grade tracks all of your videos and accounts within the platform to accurately keep track of how many views, likes, comments, and shares your creators...James HeaneyJanuary 23, 2026financeHow to setup payment terms for a creatorGrade allows you to pay your creator in just about every way you can imagine. Below are the options we offer on the platform.James HeaneyJanuary 22, 2026growthVideoIf Your Paywall Feels Like a Blocker, You Are Using It WrongA paywall is one of those things everyone has an opinion about but few people can explain simply. So here is the simplest way to think about it.James HeaneyJanuary 21, 2026financeHow to pay a creator with just their emailOften times when you’re working with creators, it can be such a hassle to coordinate invoices and handle filing their tax forms; Grade makes this dead...James HeaneyJanuary 21, 2026financeHow to payout multiple creators at onceWith Grade, we allow you to import a CSV and payout creators in one click. Many of our customers take advantage of this to do tens of thousands of dollars...James HeaneyJanuary 20, 2026growthVideo80% of Paid Conversions Happen During OnboardingOver 80% of free-to-paid conversions happen during onboarding. Not after. Not once users have explored your product for a week. During onboarding.James HeaneyJanuary 19, 2026operationsHow to Scale a Freelance Dev Team Without Losing Your MindI hired my first freelance dev because we needed to move faster than our budget allowed for full-time hires.James HeaneyJanuary 19, 2026growthVideoYour Paywall Sucks (Here's How to Fix It)Most app developers put their paywall in the wrong place. They wait until after users have experienced the app for free, then ask them to pay. By then, it's too late.James HeaneyJanuary 18, 2026financeHow to Scale Data Labelling Operations for Your AI StartupMost AI startups hit the same wall: the model works on your test set, but you need 10x more labeled data to make it production-ready.James HeaneyJanuary 18, 2026financeHow to Go from 5 to 50 Global Contractors Without a Full-Time Ops PersonSomewhere between 10 and 20 contractors, most founders start asking the same question: do I need to hire an ops person?James HeaneyJanuary 17, 2026financeHow to Pay Freelance Developers GloballyMy first international contractor was a backend dev in Ukraine. Great work, reasonable rate, good timezone overlap with my afternoons.James HeaneyJanuary 16, 2026financeThe Best Way to Pay Data Labellers in 2026Data labelling has a payment problem that most AI companies don't talk about.James HeaneyJanuary 15, 2026financeA Founder's Guide to Paying International ContractorsMost founders I talk to in YC are grinding themselves into the ground. Coding until 2am, doing customer support in the morning, then jumping on sales...James HeaneyJanuary 14, 2026engineeringWhere to Find Freelance Developers in 2026 (Beyond Upwork)Everyone starts with Upwork. It's the default. You need a developer, you post a job, you get 50 applications within an hour.James HeaneyJanuary 13, 2026financeHow to Source Data Labellers for Your AI ProjectEveryone building AI eventually hits the same wall: you need humans to label your data, and you have no idea where to find them.James HeaneyJanuary 12, 2026financeHow to Build a Global Contractor Network from ScratchMy first international contractor was a disaster. Found him on Upwork, hired him for a quick project, paid him half upfront.James HeaneyJanuary 11, 2026financeW-9s, 1099s, and Paying US Freelance Developers: What You Need to KnowNobody starts a company thinking about tax forms. Then January rolls around and you realize you paid a developer $15,000 last year and have no idea what...James HeaneyJanuary 10, 2026financeTax Compliance When Paying Data Annotation TeamsTax compliance for a single freelance developer is straightforward. One W-9, maybe one 1099 at year end, done.James HeaneyJanuary 9, 2026financeThe Complete Guide to US Tax Compliance for International Contractor PaymentsWhen we started paying international contractors, the tax side felt intimidating. FATCA, withholding requirements, W-8 forms with multiple variants.James HeaneyJanuary 8, 2026financeWhy We Stopped Using Deel (And What We Use Instead)Let me be clear upfront: Deel is a good product. They've built something real that solves real problems. This isn't a hit piece.James HeaneyJanuary 7, 2026financeHow to Structure Contractor Agreements That Actually Protect YouEarly on, we didn't bother with contracts for small projects. A few hundred bucks, quick turnaround, what could go wrong?James HeaneyJanuary 6, 2026operationsRemote Team Playbook: Managing Contractors Across 10+ Time ZonesAt one point we had contractors in the Philippines, Ukraine, Argentina, Nigeria, and the UK. That's almost every time zone.James HeaneyJanuary 5, 2026financeThe True Cost of Paying International Contractors (It's Not Just the Fee)When we started paying international contractors, we thought we understood the costs. The contractor's rate plus some payment fees. Simple math.James HeaneyJanuary 4, 2026growthThe Contractor-First Hiring Strategy: Test Roles Before You CommitLast year I hired a "Head of Growth" who looked perfect on paper. Stanford MBA, 8 years at top startups, great references. Three months and $45,000 later, we parted ways.James HeaneyJanuary 3, 2026growthHow to Scale UGC to Grow your AppA complete guide to scaling from 5 to 50+ UGC creators without losing your mind.James HeaneyJanuary 2, 2026financeHow to Pay UGC Creators and What Payment Methods are BestOne of the biggest questions we had when we were working with UGC creators was how do we send money to them? You might be asking yourself that right now,...James HeaneyJanuary 1, 2026growthHow to find UGC creators in 2026We get asked all the time where you can find the best UGC creators, so we have put together this simple guide which outlines all the ways our clients have...James HeaneyDecember 31, 2025Ready to scale your contractor payouts?With just their email, you can track results, send payouts, and automate tax forms.Try Grade Free → --- Terms & ConditionsLast updated: March 2026Grade – General Terms of Service1. IntroductionGrade operates as the merchant of record for performance-based creator services. This means that Grade acts as the contractual reseller, purchasing creator services on behalf of clients and reselling them. Grade collects the required tax documentation (W-9 or W-8BEN) from creators and submits 1099 forms on their behalf at year-end. These Terms of Service govern the relationship between Grade and all users of the platform, including clients, creators, administrators, and financial stakeholders. The purpose of this document is to establish clarity, predictability, and compliance across all operations, ensuring that performance-based compensation can occur safely, transparently, and globally.2. Scope of ServicesGrade acts as the merchant of record for creator service transactions. When a client engages a creator through Grade, Grade contractually purchases the creator's services and resells them to the client. This structure means that the primary contractual and financial relationship for payments flows between Grade and the creator, and separately between Grade and the client. Our services include performance aggregation from supported APIs, real-time dashboards, automated global payout infrastructure, tax documentation and filing, fraud detection systems, and reporting suites designed for finance, compliance, and audit teams. As merchant of record, Grade handles all formal aspects of the transaction including invoicing, tax withholding, and regulatory compliance related to creator payments.3. User Roles and ResponsibilitiesClients are responsible for defining campaign logic, funding their accounts, and selecting creators. Creators must provide accurate information, connect relevant accounts securely, and comply with applicable laws and platform regulations. As the merchant of record, Grade is the contractual counterparty to both clients and creators. Grade purchases creator services, resells them to clients, and assumes responsibility for accurate performance tracking, secure data handling, collecting W-9 and W-8BEN forms from creators, submitting 1099s on their behalf, compliant payout execution, and transparent reporting.4. Platform AccessAll users must maintain secure login practices and ensure the confidentiality of credentials. Access may not be shared or transferred without appropriate authorization. Users are responsible for the accuracy of all information they provide, and Grade reserves the right to suspend accounts in cases of suspected misuse, misrepresentation, or unauthorized access.5. Performance Tracking & Data IntegrityGrade retrieves performance metrics through verified channels, including platform APIs and authenticated creator connections. The platform employs multiple verification layers to ensure data integrity, including anomaly detection, velocity checks, and fraud pattern analysis. In the event of suspicious or non-compliant performance activity, Grade may pause payouts, request verification, or adjust performance metrics to reflect organic activity only.6. Financial Handling, Wallets & Payout ExecutionClients must pre-fund their accounts. As the merchant of record, Grade receives funds from clients, holds them securely in segregated accounts, and disburses payments to creators once payout conditions are met. Grade is the seller in each transaction: clients pay Grade for creator services, and Grade separately compensates creators for their work. Payouts may be instant, daily, weekly, or at the conclusion of a campaign, depending on client configuration. Grade's financial workflows comply with international KYC/AML regulations, and identity verification may be required before funds are released. Fees related to transaction processing, currency conversion, or optional premium services may apply.7. Taxation, Documentation & ComplianceAs the merchant of record, Grade collects the required tax documentation from creators, including W-9 forms (for US-based creators) and W-8BEN forms (for international creators). Grade submits 1099 forms on behalf of creators at year-end. The platform's compliance engine ensures that payouts and data flows meet relevant regulatory standards, including cross-border payment regulations and documentation obligations.8. Data Privacy & SecurityGrade adheres to GDPR, CCPA, and industry-standard data protection frameworks. Information is encrypted in transit and at rest, with strict access controls and continuous monitoring. Data is processed solely for service delivery, compliance, and operational integrity. Grade never sells user data and limits data retention to what is legally required or operationally necessary.9. Intellectual PropertyGrade does not claim ownership over content produced by creators or materials provided by clients. All intellectual property rights remain solely with the original owners. Although Grade acts as the merchant of record for the financial and contractual aspects of creator transactions, this does not extend to intellectual property rights. Any licensing, usage rights, or extended creative permissions must be defined separately between clients and creators.10. Fraud Prevention & EnforcementThe platform continuously monitors for activity indicative of fraud, including artificial inflation of views or engagement, bot-driven activity, repeated IP traffic patterns, and any behavior inconsistent with organic performance. Grade may freeze wallets, hold payouts, or terminate accounts involved in fraudulent behavior. Adjustments may be made to performance metrics that are deemed invalid or manipulated.11. Limitations of LiabilityWhile Grade acts as the merchant of record for creator service transactions, Grade provides its platform and services "as is" and assumes no liability for losses caused by third-party platforms, creator misconduct, force majeure events, or inaccuracies in client-provided instructions. Grade's merchant of record role covers the financial, tax, and compliance aspects of creator payments, but does not extend to guarantees regarding the quality, delivery, or outcome of creator services. Grade's liability is limited to the total fees paid by the client over the preceding twelve months. Grade is not responsible for business decisions made based on analytics or reporting outputs.12. Termination & SuspensionGrade may suspend or terminate accounts for non-payment, fraud, data manipulation, or any violation of these Terms. Clients may terminate their relationship with Grade by providing written notice, subject to the settlement of all outstanding obligations. Upon termination, Grade will provide final reporting and release any remaining eligible payouts.13. Reporting & Audit AssuranceGrade provides detailed logs including payout summaries, transaction receipts, creator-level performance analytics, and audit-friendly exports. These materials are designed for finance departments, compliance teams, and external auditors requiring transparent verification of performance-based payments.14. ConfidentialityAll parties agree to protect confidential information exchanged during the course of platform usage, including performance data, campaign information, financial records, and proprietary methodologies. Confidential information may not be disclosed to external parties except as required by law.15. Amendments to TermsGrade reserves the right to update these Terms as necessary to reflect operational improvements, regulatory changes, or expansions of service scope. Continued use of the platform represents acceptance of updated Terms.16. Governing LawThese Terms are governed in accordance with the jurisdiction applicable to Grade's operating entity. Any disputes will be resolved in the courts of the same jurisdiction, unless otherwise agreed in writing.17. Service Levels & SupportGrade provides structured service levels including priority support, dedicated customer success channels, and defined escalation paths. Enterprise clients may receive SLA-backed uptime commitments, enhanced reporting suites, and dedicated account representatives. Grade strives to maintain high platform availability and transparent communication in the event of service interruptions.18. Acceptable Use PolicyUsers may not engage in activities that harm platform integrity, including attempting to manipulate performance, reverse engineer systems, interfere with security features, submit falsified documentation, or use Grade for unlawful campaigns or activities. Violations may result in immediate suspension.19. Entire AgreementThese Terms constitute the full agreement between Grade and platform users, superseding any prior understandings or discussions. No waiver or modification is valid unless issued in writing by an authorized representative of Grade.← Back to Home --- Privacy PolicyLast updated: March 20261. IntroductionGrade – Privacy PolicyThis Privacy Policy describes how Grade ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, stores, and safeguards personal data across our platform. Grade operates as the merchant of record for performance-based creator service transactions, meaning we act as the contractual reseller that purchases creator services and resells them to clients. As the merchant of record, we collect the required tax documentation (W-9 or W-8BEN) from creators and submit 1099 forms on their behalf at year-end. Our mission is to provide a secure, compliant, and transparent platform while ensuring that the personal information of creators, clients, and partners is processed responsibly and lawfully.By accessing or using Grade, you consent to the practices outlined in this policy. If you are under 18, please review this policy with a parent or guardian before using our services.2. Scope of This PolicyThis Privacy Policy applies to all users of Grade including creators, clients, administrators, financial teams, and any individuals interacting with our systems. It covers data collected through our platform, APIs, integrations, communications, payment workflows, and verification processes. It does not apply to third-party websites or services accessed through Grade.3. Data We CollectGrade collects data necessary for performance tracking, payment execution, compliance, and account security. This includes:Identity information: names, email addresses, and addressesAccount credentials: login information for your Grade accountTax documents: W-9, W-8BEN, or equivalent international formsPayment identifiers: information needed to process payoutsPerformance metrics: data from integrated platformsDevice and usage data: browser type, IP address, and interaction logsCommunications metadata: records of support interactionsGrade collects only the minimum data required to fulfil regulatory and operational obligations (data minimisation principle).4. How Data Is CollectedWe collect data through user submissions, secure platform integrations, API connections, automated monitoring tools, identity verification services, and compliance workflows. Performance-related data is retrieved via authenticated platform connections. Financial and tax information is collected during payout onboarding. Diagnostic and device data are collected automatically for security and analytics purposes.5. How We Use Personal DataAs the merchant of record for creator service transactions, Grade uses personal information to:Process transactions as merchant of record, including purchasing creator services and reselling them to clientsFacilitate global payouts to creatorsValidate identity and comply with KYC/AML regulationsTrack performance and calculate earningsCollect W-9 and W-8BEN forms from creators and submit 1099s on their behalfPrevent fraud and abuseGenerate financial, compliance, and audit reportsMaintain platform security and reliabilityCommunicate important updates or service-related noticesPersonal data is never sold or used for advertising purposes.6. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR Article 6)Grade processes personal data under the following legal bases as defined by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):Contractual necessity (Art. 6(1)(b)): Processing required to fulfil our role as merchant of record, including executing transactions, processing payouts, collecting W-9/W-8BEN forms, submitting 1099s, and fulfilling our service agreements with clients and creatorsLegitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f)): Ensuring platform security, preventing fraud, and improving our servicesLegal obligation (Art. 6(1)(c)): Complying with tax, financial, and regulatory requirementsConsent (Art. 6(1)(a)): Where you have given explicit consent, such as for analytics cookies or marketing communications. You may withdraw consent at any time.Grade follows GDPR principles including lawfulness, fairness, transparency, data minimisation, accuracy, storage limitation, and purpose limitation.7. Data Sharing & DisclosureAs the merchant of record, Grade is the direct contractual counterparty to both clients and creators. Grade may share personal information with trusted third parties strictly for service delivery and compliance. These include:Payment processors and banking partnersTax authorities (including for 1099 and equivalent filings)Identity verification providersSecurity and infrastructure vendorsAnalytics providers (subject to your cookie consent preferences)Data may also be disclosed when required by law, government request, or to prevent fraud, harm, or security threats. Grade does not share personal data with advertisers or unrelated third parties. For a full list of our third-party sub-processors, see Section 16 below.8. International Data TransfersAs a global payout platform, Grade processes data across multiple jurisdictions. When transferring data outside the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or other regulated regions, we apply GDPR-compliant safeguards including:Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European CommissionEncryption of data in transit and at restRestricted access controlsContinuous security monitoringYou may request a copy of our Standard Contractual Clauses by contacting us at the address in Section 18.9. Data Storage & RetentionPersonal data is retained only as long as necessary to comply with financial regulations, tax requirements, and operational needs. Specific retention periods include:Account data: Retained for the duration of your account plus 30 days after deletion requestFinancial and tax records: Retained for 7 years as required by lawPerformance data: Retained for 3 years or as required for audit purposesAnalytics data: Retained for up to 26 monthsOnce retention periods expire, data is securely deleted or anonymised following industry-standard procedures.10. Security MeasuresGrade employs enterprise-grade security measures including encryption of data in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest (AES-256), network segmentation, role-based access controls, multi-factor authentication, intrusion detection and monitoring, and regular security audits. Our infrastructure follows industry best practices and undergoes continuous security assessments to protect personal data from unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.11. Your Rights Under GDPR and Applicable LawDepending on your jurisdiction, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:Right of access (Art. 15): Request a copy of the personal data we hold about youRight to rectification (Art. 16): Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete dataRight to erasure (Art. 17): Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten")Right to restrict processing (Art. 18): Request that we limit how we use your dataRight to data portability (Art. 20): Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable formatRight to object (Art. 21): Object to processing based on legitimate interestsRight to withdraw consent: Where processing is based on consent, withdraw at any time without affecting prior processingRight to lodge a complaint: File a complaint with your local Data Protection Authority (DPA)To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at lotts@creatorcheck.io. We will respond within 30 days in accordance with GDPR requirements. We may verify your identity before fulfilling any request. Some rights may be limited where we are legally obligated to retain data (e.g., tax compliance).12. Cookies & Tracking TechnologiesGrade uses cookies and similar technologies to ensure platform functionality, improve performance, analyse usage, and enhance security. We categorise cookies as follows:Strictly necessary cookies: Required for core platform operation. These cannot be disabled.Analytics cookies: Help us understand how users interact with our platform. These are only set with your consent.Functional cookies: Remember your preferences and settings.You can manage your cookie preferences at any time through our cookie consent banner or by visiting our Cookie Policy. We do not use cookies for behavioural advertising. For full details on the cookies we use, their purposes, and retention periods, please see our Cookie Policy.13. Children's PrivacyGrade is committed to protecting children's privacy. Our platform is designed for use by businesses and adult creators. We do not knowingly collect or process personal data from individuals under the age of 16 (or the applicable age of digital consent in your jurisdiction).If you are under 16: Please do not submit any personal information through our platform without the involvement of a parent or guardian. If you believe you have provided us with personal data, please ask your parent or guardian to contact us.For parents and guardians: If you believe your child has submitted personal data to Grade without your consent, please contact us immediately at lotts@creatorcheck.io. We will take prompt steps to delete such data from our systems and, where applicable, notify relevant data protection authorities in accordance with GDPR Article 8 and applicable local laws.Accounts identified as belonging to individuals under the minimum age of digital consent will be promptly restricted or removed. We do not serve targeted advertising to any users, including minors.14. Third-Party Links & IntegrationsGrade may integrate with third-party platforms solely for performance tracking or payout execution. These services operate independently and maintain their own privacy policies. We recommend that you review the privacy practices of any third-party platform you connect to Grade. We are not responsible for the data practices of third-party services.15. California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA):Right to know: What personal information we collect, use, and discloseRight to delete: Request deletion of your personal informationRight to opt-out: Opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information. Grade does not sell personal data.Right to non-discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rightsTo exercise your CCPA/CPRA rights, contact us at lotts@creatorcheck.io.16. Sub-ProcessorsGrade uses the following categories of third-party sub-processors to deliver our services. Each sub-processor is contractually bound to process data only as instructed and to maintain appropriate security measures:CategoryPurposeLocationCloud InfrastructureHosting & data storageUS / EUPayment ProcessingPayout execution & transfersUS / GlobalIdentity VerificationKYC/AML compliance checksUS / EUAnalyticsWebsite usage analytics (with consent)USEmail & CommunicationsTransactional notificationsUSSecurity & MonitoringThreat detection & loggingUS / EUWe will update this list when we engage new sub-processors. You may subscribe to sub-processor change notifications by emailing lotts@creatorcheck.io.17. Updates to This Privacy PolicyGrade may update this policy periodically to reflect regulatory changes, system improvements, or operational updates. Any material changes will be communicated through platform notices or email at least 30 days before they take effect. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the policy was most recently revised. Continued use of the platform after the effective date of changes signifies acceptance of the revised policy.18. Contact Information & Data Protection OfficerFor privacy inquiries, data subject access requests, or regulatory questions, please contact Grade's data protection team:Email: lotts@creatorcheck.ioData Deletion Requests: usegrade.com/data-deletionCookie Preferences: usegrade.com/cookieIf you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local Data Protection Authority. For EU residents, a list of DPAs can be found at edpb.europa.eu.← Back to Home