ClearTerm

ClearTerm is a web tool for reviewing English-language client agreements from a software freelancer’s perspective. It suits independent contractors who want to spot negotiation issues before signing. Its focused checks and two review modes are useful, but strict file requirements limit the contracts it can handle.

Overview

ClearTerm looks for contractor-facing terms including work-for-hire and broad IP assignment, long payment terms, and uncapped indemnity. It uses Google Gemini to analyze contract documents, so its findings should be treated as a starting point for review, not legal judgment. ClearTerm is not a law firm and is not a replacement for a lawyer on high-stakes matters.

Uploaded PDFs and extracted text are processed in memory and are not retained in ClearTerm’s own storage. Contract content is sent to Gemini, where handling follows Google’s current API terms and project settings. ClearTerm says connections to its service and Google’s API are encrypted in transit, and it does not reuse contracts to train its own models.

Key features

Review a contract or compare revisions

Shield Mode analyzes one contract and returns a 0–100 safety score, risk severity classifications, and plain-English findings. That combination offers a quick overall signal alongside explanations of flagged terms. Diff Mode compares two versions, assesses whether edits raise or lower risk, and counts as one scan. That makes it especially useful when a client sends a revised agreement.

Negotiation wording

Every identified risk includes a ready-to-copy negotiation snippet on every plan. The 20-scan pack adds a composed email with tone control, which can help turn individual comments into a fuller response. ClearTerm offers clause extraction, risk identification, and term comparison, but its stated focus is client MSAs and services agreements rather than general-purpose legal review.

File requirements

PDFs must be 4 MB or smaller, no longer than 40 pages, contain selectable text, and fit within about 100,000 characters of extracted text. Users can paste text instead. Scanned or photographed contracts will not work because ClearTerm has no OCR; that rules it out for agreements available only as image-based documents.

Pricing

The Free account costs nothing and includes five contract scans per month, Shield Mode and Diff Mode, a safety score with category breakdown, plain-English explanations, and negotiation snippets. The first scan each month does not require an account. Free scans do not roll over, so occasional users can try a review without signing up, while regular users face a firm monthly allowance.

The 20-scan pack costs $9, paid once, billed as a one-time payment via Stripe. It includes 20 scans, an archive, and composed negotiation emails with tone control. Credits are used before the monthly free allowance and remain valid for about a year from purchase. This is a modest commitment for someone who expects to review more than five contracts in a month, but it is not a recurring subscription and the credits have a validity window.

Platforms

ClearTerm runs on the web and is deployed in the cloud. Its supported file format is PDF, with text pasted directly as another input option; it does not support OCR.

Who it's for

ClearTerm is aimed at software freelancers reviewing English-language client agreements, particularly MSAs and services agreements where contractor-facing payment, IP, or indemnity terms matter. It is less suitable for people who need scanned documents processed, review agreements in other languages, or need legal advice for a high-stakes negotiation.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Shield and Diff modes cover both a single agreement and client revisions, with the comparison counting as one scan.
• Pros: Risk-specific negotiation snippets are included on every plan, while the scan pack adds composed emails with tone control.
• Pros: The free account provides five scans monthly, and the first monthly scan requires no account.
• Cons: PDFs must meet size, page, selectable-text, and extracted-text limits, excluding scanned or photographed contracts.
• Cons: The tool is focused on English-language software freelancer agreements, not broad legal review.
• Cons: Contract content goes to Google Gemini and is handled under Google’s current API terms and project settings.

Alternatives

For a broader set of contract-review choices, see Contract Analysis Software. PactSage may suit readers who want a broader workspace with daily analysis and questions alongside contract scans; its free plan includes two scans and two analyses per day, one space, and one seat. ClauseShield is worth considering for readers who want exports and redline suggestions: its free plan covers three contracts monthly and includes Word, PDF, and TXT export. ClauseShift is an option for readers who want Android or Windows access as well as web, with three reviews per month and three questions per day on its free plan.

Draft Ally may fit readers who want Word document uploads and a free monthly allowance of five contracts. Tiro is another paid option for readers considering a browser extension or web tool. DocJuris may suit teams seeking an annual platform fee sized to contract volume, unlimited users, and standard apps and integrations. eBrevia is an alternative for readers considering API or self-hosted deployment. LawGeex is another paid web option.

Verdict

Choose ClearTerm if you are a software freelancer who wants a focused first pass on an English-language client agreement, especially when comparing a revised version or preparing negotiation wording. Its useful contractor-specific checks and low one-time scan pack are balanced by narrow scope and demanding PDF requirements. Look elsewhere if you need OCR, broader contract coverage, or lawyer-led guidance for consequential terms.