Free vs paid
Clean Claude traces vs rewrite
The homepage has two different actions, and they solve two different problems. Clean traces is free and local. Remove watermark (rewrite) costs Polar credits because it regenerates phrasing with a non-Claude model. Mixing them up is the most common support question we get.
Side-by-side
| Clean traces | Rewrite (Remove watermark) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Credits (1 = 500 words) |
| Where it runs | In your browser | Neutralize API, then discarded |
| Account | Not required | Sign in with the email from checkout |
| What it changes | HTML class names containing “claude”, zero-width chars, exotic/nbsp spaces | Wording and structure (meaning-preserving paraphrase) |
| Statistical watermark | Does not touch it | Designed to disrupt it |
| Em dashes / curly quotes | Stylistic notes only — not stripped as “proof” | May change as part of paraphrase |
When clean traces is enough
Use clean when the paste still carries inspectable leftovers: artifact HTML, invisible characters, odd spaces. That is especially common after copying from Claude artifacts. Cleaning those does not rewrite your argument, and it does not claim the statistical mark is gone.
When you need rewrite
Anthropic’s text watermark is woven into which words were chosen. Light edits and “clear formatting” leave most of that trail intact — the same reason generic paraphrasers are a weak substitute. Rewrite regenerates phrasing with a non-Claude model so the original token sequence cannot travel cleanly.
Credits never expire. Failed jobs are not charged. Details: rewrite credits explained and pricing.
Recommended order
- Check the paste in-browser.
- Clean deterministic traces if any show up.
- If you need the statistical mark disrupted, run Remove watermark with credits.
- Do a human pass for facts, names, and voice.
FAQ
Is Clean traces the same as Remove watermark?
No. Clean traces is free and in-browser: it strips HTML class names containing “claude”, zero-width characters, and exotic/nbsp spaces. Remove watermark is a paid rewrite that paraphrases with a non-Claude model to disrupt the statistical mark in token choice.
Do I need credits to check or clean?
No. Checking and cleaning never require an account. Credits are only for rewrite. 1 credit = 500 words. Credits never expire, and failed jobs are not charged.
Is rewrite stored permanently?
Checking never leaves your browser. Rewrite sends the passage to the neutralize API, then discards it. There is no permanent content archive.
Related guides
- All Claude watermark guides
- Claude watermark August 2026 news
- Remove Claude watermark
- Check Claude text for watermarks
- How Claude watermarks work
- Claude AI text watermark
- Claude artifacts HTML classes
- GPTZero, Turnitin, and ChatGPT
- Claude watermarks on essays
- Rewrite credits explained
- Anthropic watermark (EU AI Act)
- Claude C2PA provenance
- Remover vs paraphrase tools
Not affiliated with Anthropic. Updated August 30, 2026.