Frequently asked questions

No. The analyzer page contains no code that can transmit your file — no fetch, XMLHttpRequest, WebSocket or form post — and it declares connect-src 'none', which your browser enforces. You can verify it yourself: drop a file with the Network tab open and confirm no request carries your data. See the privacy walkthrough for three independent checks.

No. ExportDecode does not use cookies, localStorage, or any form of persistent storage. All data lives only in memory in your browser tab. When you close the tab or click "Clear data & start over", everything is gone.

Yes, once the page has loaded. Because all processing is local and the Content-Security-Policy blocks outgoing connections, you can switch airplane mode on and drop your file. The analysis runs exactly the same way.

No. ExportDecode never receives your data in the first place — your files are processed on your device. There is no server, no account and nothing to sell or share.

Six formats are currently supported:

• Amazon — order history CSV (Retail.OrderHistory.1.csv or the "Your Orders" ZIP)
• Netflix — ViewingActivity.csv from the full data download, or the quick "Download all" CSV
• Spotify — Streaming_History_Audio_*.json (extended history) or StreamingHistory_music_*.json (basic account data)
• YouTube — watch-history.json from Google Takeout (JSON format, not HTML)
• Instagram — followers_1.json and following.json from the JSON export
• Bank / card CSV — any CSV with a date, description and amount (or debit/credit) column

See the full compatibility table for details.

Yes. For Amazon, Netflix, Spotify and YouTube you can drop the ZIP that the service gives you directly — ExportDecode opens it in your browser and extracts only the file it needs. For Instagram, drop the ZIP and ExportDecode will find followers_1.json and following.json inside. ZIPs are decompressed in memory and never saved to disk or uploaded.

Services sometimes rename or restructure their export files. If your file fails, the error message names which column is missing or unrecognized. Report the new format using the contact page — include the file name and the column headings (the first row of a CSV or the field names of a JSON object), with any personal values removed.

Google Takeout defaults to HTML for the history file. You need to change the format to JSON before exporting: in Takeout, click "Multiple formats" next to "History" and select JSON. The page re-exports from scratch, so it may take a few minutes.

ExportDecode processes files of 50 MB or more without issue in modern browsers. Very large Spotify or Netflix histories may take a few seconds to parse but complete without problems. If your browser runs out of memory with an unusually large file, try exporting a shorter date range.

Yes, the site is designed to work on phones and tablets. File selection on mobile uses the standard system file picker. Charts and tables scroll horizontally when they are wider than the screen. Some heatmaps require landscape orientation to be fully readable on small phones.

Yes. After analysis, one or more download buttons appear below the charts. Every tool produces at least one CSV export. You can also print the page or save it as a PDF from your browser's Print menu.

Yes, completely free. There is no paywall and no premium tier. If advertising is ever added, it will not involve your files and the privacy policy will be updated before anything changes.

No. ExportDecode has no accounts and no sign-up. You open the page, drop your file, and get results. Nothing is stored between sessions.

Your bank CSV is processed entirely in your browser tab, the same as any other file. It is never uploaded. You can verify this by opening your browser's Network tab and confirming no requests carry your file. The page's Content-Security-Policy blocks outgoing connections from the page. The privacy walkthrough shows three ways to independently verify this.

No. ExportDecode is an analytical tool that reads your file and calculates numbers. It does not give financial, investment, tax or professional accounting advice. Any spending or subscription figures shown are calculated from your file and may differ from official records or statements. Do not rely on them for financial decisions without checking against your bank's official statements.

The recurring charge detector works by rhythm: same merchant, steady spacing, similar amounts. It can miss subscriptions billed under different names each month, single-payment items, or charges that appear fewer than three times in your file. Export a longer date range and switch the filter to "All repeating charges" for the broadest view.

The most common causes are:

• Wrong file — for example, a Netflix profile page instead of ViewingActivity.csv, or a YouTube HTML history instead of JSON
• Missing required columns — the error message names them
• A format change by the service after your export was last tested
• A password-protected or corrupted ZIP

See the guide for your provider for the exact expected file name. If none of those explanations fit, report the issue using the contact page.

Each analyzer page includes step-by-step instructions. The "Get your data" directory also lists direct request links for Amazon, Netflix, Spotify, Google, Instagram and many more services.