Privacy

Data collection

Our hosting and security providers may process request metadata such as the timestamp, requested URL, approximate network location, IP address, device or browser information, and user-agent string. We use this information to deliver pages, detect abuse, apply rate limits, investigate errors, and understand aggregate service reliability. We do not ask visitors to create an account or submit a profile to use comparisons.

Search terms may appear in a URL or short-lived application cache so that the requested comparison can be delivered. Do not enter email addresses, phone numbers, account numbers, or other personally identifiable information into the search field. We do not intentionally send such information to advertising systems.

Cookies and local storage

Comparepedia's core comparison service does not require an advertising cookie to function. Essential storage may be used by infrastructure providers for security, load balancing, fraud prevention, and consent choices. If advertising or audience measurement is enabled, Google and its advertising partners may use cookies, web beacons, IP addresses, or similar identifiers to deliver, limit, personalize, and measure ads.

Google may use the DoubleClick cookie or other identifiers to serve ads based on visits to this and other websites where permitted. Visitors can manage ad personalization through Google My Ad Center and can learn how Google uses information from partner sites on Google's partner-sites page.

Third-party services

Search results contain outbound links to Grokipedia and Wikipedia. When you follow those links you are subject to each provider's privacy practices. We honour their rate limits and caching directives to minimise unnecessary requests.

The site is hosted by Vercel and may use Google AdSense after account approval. These providers process data under their own terms and privacy policies. Advertising technology providers may receive device, interaction, consent, and approximate location information needed to serve and measure advertising. We do not sell mailing lists or provide advertisers with visitor names, email addresses, or phone numbers.

Data retention

Comparison cache entries normally expire within one hour. Hosting, security, and diagnostic records are retained only as long as reasonably needed for operations, abuse prevention, contractual obligations, and legal requirements, subject to the retention controls of our service providers. Aggregated statistics that no longer identify a visitor may be kept for longer.

Advertising & AdSense

When we run Google AdSense or partner placements, ads are limited to clearly labeled sections of the page. Advertising does not influence topic selection, comparison order, correction decisions, or editorial conclusions. We do not place ads in pop-ups, emails, empty results, or controls that could be mistaken for navigation.

Depending on consent, region, and account settings, Google may serve personalized or non-personalized ads. Personalized advertising can use previous visits or inferred interests; non-personalized advertising can use contextual information, approximate location, frequency controls, and fraud-prevention signals. Google and participating vendors may still use limited storage for security and measurement where legally allowed.

Consent for the EEA, United Kingdom, and Switzerland

Before personalized advertising is served in these regions, Comparepedia will use a Google-certified consent management platform that supports the IAB Transparency and Consent Framework. The consent message will identify relevant purposes and vendors and will let eligible visitors consent, refuse, or manage available choices. A privacy-options control will allow visitors to revisit those choices.

Until a compliant consent signal is available, advertising behavior may be restricted according to Google policy and applicable law. Consent preferences do not remove essential security processing needed to protect the site from invalid traffic and abuse.

Location data, sensitive information, and children

Comparepedia does not request GPS access or intentionally collect precise location data. Infrastructure and advertising providers may infer an approximate region from an IP address. We do not build audiences from health status, religion, sexual orientation, political belief, or other sensitive personal information.

The service is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children. If you believe a child has provided personal information through a support message, contact us so the request can be reviewed.

Your choices and requests

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to request access, correction, deletion, restriction, or information about processing of your personal data. Because ordinary site use does not require an account, we may need the URL, date, and context of a request to locate a relevant record. We will not ask for more identity information than reasonably necessary to verify and complete the request.

Browser controls can block or delete cookies, although doing so may reset consent choices or affect certain site functions. Advertising preferences can also be managed through Google My Ad Center and through the consent interface shown to visitors in applicable regions.

Policy changes

We update this policy when data practices, providers, advertising features, or legal obligations change. A material revision will receive a new effective date. Continued use after an update is subject to the revised policy, but a new consent choice will be requested where required.

Contact

Questions, consent concerns, or privacy requests? Email legal@comparepedia.org.