# ClickNote

> ClickNote is a Chrome extension that explains any text you highlight (select) on a webpage or in a PDF, using the surrounding page as context. The explanation appears beside the text in seconds, and you can ask follow-up questions or select part of an answer to go deeper.

Website: https://clicknote.space/
Install: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/clicknote/ccemcppadmibdmhoibglgignfjnojlbm
Privacy policy: https://clicknote.space/privacy
Support: support@clicknote.space
Last updated: 2026-10-23

## Key facts

- Type: Chrome extension, installed from the Chrome Web Store.
- What it does: explains selected words, sentences and passages on webpages and in PDFs.
- Context used: the section heading, the paragraphs before and after the selection, and nearby code, tables or lists. In PDFs: the surrounding lines, paragraph and page.
- Going deeper: select any phrase inside an answer for a nested explanation, or type a follow-up question. Each step links back to the previous one.
- PDFs: opens PDFs in ClickNote's own viewer with search, zoom, fit to width, rotate, page jump and download. Needs Chrome 151 or newer.
- Pause: press the left and right mouse buttons together to pause or resume; also from the toolbar icon.
- Ignores selections in text fields, password boxes and payment forms.
- Sign-in: Google, GitHub or email.

## How to use

1. Add ClickNote to Chrome from the Chrome Web Store.
2. Highlight a word, sentence or passage on any webpage or in a PDF.
3. Read the explanation that appears beside it.
4. Highlight part of the answer to go deeper, or type a follow-up question.

For PDFs: open the PDF in Chrome and ClickNote shows it in its own viewer. If Chrome's standard viewer appears instead, choose "Open this PDF in ClickNote", then highlight a passage.

## Pricing

- Free: free to use up to a usage limit.
- ClickNote Pro: $11 per month for 5,000 explanations per 30-day period.

## Privacy

- Selecting text requests an explanation automatically when enabled. Page text is not sent just because a page is visited.
- Selected text, limited nearby context, page title and URL, and relevant follow-up content are sent to ClickNote's backend and the AI service.
- PDFs are rendered locally and never uploaded.
- Explanation content is not saved in ClickNote's application database. AI providers have their own processing and retention policies. User data is not sold.
- Preferences and limited reading progress stay in browser storage. Account, preview, usage, feedback, and subscription metadata support the service.
- Full policy and deletion contact: https://clicknote.space/privacy (support@clicknote.space).

## Good fit for

- Understanding research papers (web and PDF, e.g. arXiv)
- Reading technical documentation, error messages and code snippets
- Studying textbooks, lecture notes and course pages
- Reading dense articles, reports and policy documents

## Compared with other approaches

- Copying text into ChatGPT or another chatbot: you copy, switch tabs and describe the source. ClickNote works on the page, adds the surrounding context automatically, and shows the answer beside the text.
- AI sidebar extensions: usually work with the whole page, which suits summaries. ClickNote focuses on explaining one highlighted passage.
- Dictionary extensions: give the general meaning of a word. ClickNote explains what the text means in that document.

ClickNote fits readers who understand most of what they read and get stuck on particular terms, sentences or steps.