Cookie Policy

1. What this policy covers

This policy explains cookies and comparable browser technologies on vergleich-ki.de and aicompare.ninja: why we use them and how you control them. It supplements our Privacy Policy, which additionally covers the controller, recipients, retention, and your rights.

The website is operated by Martin Müller, sole proprietorship, Buttmannstraße 7A, 13357 Berlin, Germany; info@aicompare.ninja.

2. Cookies and comparable technologies

A cookie is a small text file stored on a device. Browser localStorage and sessionStorage also store and read information in a similar way without being classic cookie files. We therefore say “storage” or “technology” when a disclosure does not literally concern a cookie.

A first-party technology comes from vergleich-ki.de or aicompare.ninja itself; a third-party service connects to another provider. A session storage item ordinarily ends when the browser session closes; a persistent one remains until it expires or is deleted.

3. Legal basis

§ 25(1) TDDDG requires consent for storing or accessing information on a device, unless this serves solely to carry out the transmission or is strictly necessary to provide an expressly requested information-society service. Where the related processing concerns personal data, optional services rely on Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR. Strictly necessary processing relies, depending on purpose, on Art. 6(1)(b) or (f) GDPR, as explained in detail in the Privacy Policy. We do not use legitimate interests to bypass a required consent.

Cloudflare Web Analytics is a special case: Cloudflare states that its beacon neither sets cookies nor reads browser storage. We nevertheless require express consent because an external provider processes browser and performance data.

4. Strictly necessary storage

This storage cannot be deselected because it is required for operation, an expressly selected feature, or a login.

• vergleich-ki-consent-v1 (localStorage): stores your cookie choice. Consent is valid for no more than 180 days; a rejection remains until changed.
• vki_ad_session (cookie, HttpOnly, Secure, SameSite=Lax): only after signing in to an advertising account, for no more than 14 days or until logout.

Random withdrawal identifiers under vergleich-ki-analytics-grant:<identifier> (localStorage) support deletion of our own statistics data and remain until confirmation.

5. Optional statistics services

Global Privacy Control concerns data sales and sharing for cross-context advertising. Analytics consent does not enable either. Optional website analytics starts only with your explicit consent, including when GPC is active, and can be withdrawn at any time.

With your consent, we use our own statistics, Google Analytics 4 and Cloudflare Web Analytics to improve search, the catalog and ad placements. Search statistics receive catalog categories, not free search text. Session and search context are stored under aicompare-banner-session-v1 and aicompare-journey-context-v1 in sessionStorage for up to 30 minutes. GA4 uses _ga and _ga_<identifier> for up to 180 days without renewal on each visit; user and event data are retained for 14 months. Cloudflare Web Analytics sets no analytics cookies; reports cover six months. Google and Cloudflare may process data in the US. Section 6 of the privacy policy explains other data, recipients and retention, including 366 days for search data, 400 days for other events and multi-year reporting. Legal bases are Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and section 25(1) TDDDG.

For historical placement comparisons, we also retain fixed aggregate delivery, visibility and click values without individual events or search journeys for as long as these comparisons are needed.

6. Advertising and affiliate links

Partner recommendations labelled as advertising are native links in the catalog, not a display ad network. Only a click connects the browser to the provider or a partner network; those parties then set their own cookies under their own rules. A self-service product for paid placements remains publicly paused; its measurement code stays in the system but does not start.

7. Withdrawal and effect

Withdrawal through Cookie settings stops further measurement and removes local analytics identifiers. Own statistics data linked to your consent are deleted. Necessary withdrawal identifiers remain separately from your choice in localStorage until deletion is confirmed; failed requests are retried and analytics remains blocked. A server-side blocking identifier remains until the 180-day consent expires to prevent delayed measurement. Existing aggregate monthly values without individual attribution are retained. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of earlier processing.

8. Browser controls

You can also refuse or delete cookies in your browser settings. Blocking all cookies can affect this and other websites. Deleting the stored decision removes the remembered choice, so the banner will normally appear again.

9. Changes to this policy

We update this policy when a service, purpose, recipient, or the law materially changes, and request renewed consent then where required. The date above shows the current version.