Cookie Policy
Understanding Cookies at AI Tool Ranker
Cookies are small text files that make your browsing experience faster, smarter, and more secure. This Cookie Policy explains what cookies we use, why we use them, how long they last, and how you can control them on aitoolranker.com.
We are a U.S.-based company in San Francisco, California, and this policy complies with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), ePrivacy Directive, GDPR, and IAB Transparency & Consent Framework (TCF v2.2).
Effective Date: November 12, 2025 Last Updated: November 12, 2025
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are tiny files stored by your browser when you visit a website. They remember:
- Your preferences (e.g., dark mode)
- Login status
- Items in a cart
- What pages you’ve viewed
We also use local storage, session storage, and pixel tags—all covered under this policy.
Types of Cookies We Use
We categorize cookies into four groups:
| Category | Purpose | Examples | Can Disable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | Required for site to function | Session ID, security tokens | No |
| Performance | Measure speed & bugs | Google Analytics, error logs | Yes |
| Functional | Remember your choices | Language, region, saved filters | Yes |
| Advertising | Show relevant ads | Affiliate click tracking, retargeting | Yes |
Full Cookie List
Below is a complete, up-to-date inventory of every cookie and tracker used on AI Tool Ranker.
1. Essential Cookies
| Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| session_id | aitoolranker.com | Maintains login/session | Session | HTTP |
| csrf_token | aitoolranker.com | Prevents cross-site attacks | Session | HTTP |
| cookie_consent | aitoolranker.com | Stores your cookie preferences | 1 year | HTTP |
| __cf_bm | Cloudflare | Bot protection | 30 minutes | HTTP |
2. Performance & Analytics Cookies
| Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics | Unique user ID | 2 years | HTTP |
| _gid | Google Analytics | Daily visitor count | 24 hours | HTTP |
| _ga_<container> | Google Analytics | Session state | 2 years | HTTP |
| hotjar_id | Hotjar (optional) | Heatmaps & recordings | 1 year | HTTP |
| plausible_events | Plausible.io | Privacy-first analytics | Session | Local Storage |
Note: IP addresses are anonymized before storage.
3. Functional Cookies
| Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| preferred_theme | aitoolranker.com | Dark/light mode | 1 year | Local Storage |
| saved_filters | aitoolranker.com | Remembers category filters | 6 months | Local Storage |
| region | aitoolranker.com | Auto-detects location for pricing | 30 days | HTTP |
| dismissed_banner | aitoolranker.com | Hides one-time banners | 90 days | HTTP |
4. Advertising & Affiliate Cookies
| Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| aff_click_id | Impact.com | Tracks affiliate referrals | 30 days | HTTP |
| partner_ref | Multiple | Identifies traffic source | 7 days | HTTP |
| retarget_user | Google Ads | Re-shows ads to past visitors | 90 days | Pixel |
| fbp | Meta Pixel | Facebook ad performance | 90 days | HTTP |
We earn a small commission if you purchase via affiliate links—this never affects rankings.
How We Use Cookies
| Use Case | Cookies Involved | Legal Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Keep you logged in | session_id | Legitimate Interest |
| Load pages faster | CDN cookies | Legitimate Interest |
| Show accurate pricing | region | Consent |
| Recommend tools | saved_filters, _ga | Consent |
| Prevent spam submissions | csrf_token, Cloudflare | Legitimate Interest |
| Measure article performance | Google Analytics | Consent |
| Track affiliate conversions | aff_click_id | Consent |
Your Cookie Controls
You have full control. Here’s how to manage cookies:
1. Cookie Consent Banner (First Visit)
- Accept All → All cookies enabled
- Reject Non-Essential → Only essential cookies
- Customize → Toggle categories on/off
Your choice is saved in cookie_consent and respected across devices.
2. Change Preferences Anytime
- Click Cookie Settings in the site footer
- Or visit: Manage Cookie Preferences
3. Browser-Level Controls
| Browser | Instructions |
|---|---|
| Chrome | Settings → Privacy → Cookies → Block third-party |
| Firefox | Preferences → Privacy → Cookies → Manage Data |
| Safari | Preferences → Privacy → Prevent cross-site tracking |
| Edge | Settings → Cookies and site permissions |
4. Opt-Out Links
- Google Analytics: Opt-Out Add-on
- Advertising: YourAdChoices | Network Advertising Initiative
- Do Not Sell My Data (CCPA): Click Here
Third-Party Cookies
When you interact with embedded content (e.g., YouTube demo, Twitter feed), those platforms set their own cookies. We don’t control them.
| Service | Cookie Domain | Policy Link |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube | youtube.com | YouTube Privacy |
| Twitter/X | x.com | X Privacy |
| Discord | discord.com | Discord Privacy |
Server Logs & Non-Cookie Tracking
We also log:
- IP address (anonymized after 90 days)
- HTTP headers
- Request timestamps
Used only for:
- Security (DDoS, brute force)
- Debugging
- Legal compliance
Updates to This Policy
We update this policy when we:
- Add new tools
- Change analytics providers
- Respond to new laws
Notification:
- Major changes: Email + banner (30-day notice)
- Minor changes: Updated “Last Updated” date
Contact Us About Cookies
Have questions? Reach out:
Email: [email protected] Data Protection Officer: Alexander Thompson Mail: AI Tool Ranker Attn: Cookie Policy 548 Market Street #29463 San Francisco, CA 94104 United States