Contract Decoder

Paste any contract — know exactly what you're signing

Paste any contract and get a plain-English breakdown of every clause that matters — flagged by risk level, with specific negotiation asks and a before-you-sign checklist.

Overview

Most people sign contracts without understanding what they're agreeing to. ContractDecoder reads any contract — employment agreement, NDA, freelance deal, SaaS terms, lease, service agreement — and flags every clause worth knowing about, ordered by risk. For each clause you get plain-English explanation, the exact contract language, why it matters, what to do about it, and a specific negotiation ask. It also surfaces missing protections that are standard for your contract type but absent from yours.

How to use it

  1. Select the contract type to give the AI the right context for what's standard vs. unusual
  2. Optionally select focus areas — IP, exit terms, liability, auto-renewal, etc. — to prioritize
  3. Paste the full contract text — the more complete, the better
  4. Add your situation if relevant: 'First job offer, no leverage' or 'Freelancer, 3-month project'
  5. Click 'Decode This Contract' — get an overall risk verdict plus clause-by-clause breakdown
  6. Review high-risk clauses first — each one includes a specific negotiation ask
  7. Check 'Missing protections' for what the contract doesn't say but should
  8. Use 'Before you sign' checklist before putting pen to paper

Example

Scenario: A freelance designer pastes a 9-clause service agreement before signing. She includes context: 'First project with this client, startup, no lawyer.' She selects IP and Payment as focus areas.

Result: Overall risk: HIGH. Red flags: 3 high-risk clauses. IP Assignment (HIGH) — all work including unpaid concepts assigned to client permanently, even if contract is terminated. Non-Compete (HIGH) — 24-month ban on design work in all of tech. Payment (HIGH) — 60-day payment terms with 6-month waiver if not claimed. Before you sign: request IP revert to you if terminated without payment; strike non-compete or limit to direct competitors only; reduce payment terms to 30 days.

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