ClauseCheck

What is ClauseCheck?

ClauseCheck is an AI-powered contract scanner built for freelancers to identify risky clauses in contracts such as SOWs, MSAs, and NDAs. It flags clause types that commonly cause problems for freelancers (for example IP assignments, auto-renewals, and kill fees) and provides plain-English explanations along with copy-ready redlines.

The service is designed for reviewing contract text in your browser. According to the site, PDFs and DOCX files are parsed locally, and the raw file is not uploaded; only extracted text is sent for scanning.

Key Features

• Browser-based contract scanning (Chrome extension; Edge coming soon): Scan contract text from common agreement types (SOWs, MSAs, NDAs) using a browser workflow.
• Upload or paste supported formats: Paste contract text directly, or upload a PDF/DOCX for parsing and scanning.
• Freelancer-focused clause categories (15 categories): The scanner evaluates 15 clause categories tuned for freelance risk and scores risk by severity.
• Plain-English explanations and suggested redlines: Each flagged clause includes an explanation and a suggested replacement the user can paste into their negotiation email.
• Flags missing protections, not just what’s present: The scan can identify absent or unfavorable protections such as missing liability caps, missing kill fees, or missing IP carveouts, and provides boilerplate to add them.
• Compare contract versions (Pro): Upload two versions (e.g., a client revision and the original) to see what changed, including increases in liability or added clauses.
• Privacy-first scanning approach: The site states files stay on-device for parsing, extracted text is used for scanning, and contract content is not stored after the request completes.
• One-click negotiation email drafting (Pro): Drafts an email referencing flagged clauses and proposed fixes.

How to Use ClauseCheck

1. Get the browser extension: Use the Chrome extension to access ClauseCheck (the site notes Edge is coming soon).
2. Provide contract text: Either paste the clause text into the scanner or upload a PDF/DOCX.
3. Run the scan: Start a scan; the site states results are produced in under 10 seconds.
4. Review the risk findings: Read plain-English explanations for each flagged clause and the suggested replacement/redline.
5. Copy and respond: Paste the redlines into your reply or, in the Pro flow, use one-click drafting to generate a negotiation email referencing the flagged items.

Use Cases

• Reviewing an SOW before signing: Scan a statement of work to catch freelancer-unfriendly language such as broad IP assignment terms that may override pre-existing tools or frameworks.
• Negotiating indemnification and liability limits: Identify unlimited liability/indemnification exposure and use the suggested cap language to reduce the chance that a single claim exceeds the contract value.
• Avoiding auto-renewal traps: Check for clauses that automatically renew for fixed terms unless notice is given by a specific deadline (including how missing the window could extend the commitment).
• Spotting missing protections: Use the “missing protections” output to find when a contract lacks items like a liability cap, a kill fee, or an IP carveout, then paste suggested boilerplate.
• Comparing client revisions: When a client sends a revised agreement, upload the original and revised versions to pinpoint added risks (such as kill fee changes or liability increases) before you sign.

FAQ

• Does ClauseCheck upload my contract file? The site states PDFs and DOCXs are parsed in your browser using local JavaScript. It also says the raw file is never uploaded and only extracted text is sent for scanning.

• What outputs does the scan provide? ClauseCheck produces flagged clauses with plain-English explanations and suggested redlines the user can paste into their reply. It also flags missing protections that are absent from the contract.

• Can I compare two versions of a contract? Yes—this is listed as a Pro feature, where you can upload both versions to see what changed.

• Is the contract content retained after scanning? The site states contract content is not stored after scanning. It indicates that it logs clause categories and token counts for billing purposes rather than retaining the contract content.

• Where can I use ClauseCheck? The site describes a Chrome extension workflow, with Edge coming soon, and also mentions trying a web scanner.

Alternatives

• Generic AI chat assistants for legal review: Instead of a targeted contract scanner, you can ask a general AI tool to summarize and critique contract language; however, this may not provide freelancer-specific clause categories or copy-ready redlines.
• Checklist-based contract review tools: Contract review templates and clause checklists can help you manually look for common risks (IP, liability caps, renewal terms), but they typically don’t automate clause detection or produce suggested replacement text.
• Traditional legal document review with an attorney: For high-stakes contracts, having a lawyer review terms can provide legal guidance; the workflow differs because it’s a human review rather than an in-browser AI scan with redlines.
• Contract comparison/versioning tools: Tools that highlight differences between document versions can help find changes, but they don’t necessarily interpret those changes in the context of freelancer-specific clause risks.