Effective October 26, 2026
Website data
This version of the website has no accounts, contact-form backend, advertising scripts, analytics scripts, or tracking cookies. The editorial pages do not use analytics cookies or browser local storage. Reader voting uses the functional cookie and records described below. Fonts and visual assets are served with the site.
Software finder
The software finder runs in your browser. Your answers are not sent to our server, stored in cookies or local storage, or added to the page URL. Refreshing the page clears the answers. Following a comparison link loads a separate page under its normal privacy practices.
Reader thumbs-up voting
Voting is optional. When you save or remove a vote, you confirm that you have personally used the tool. The server stores your category, tool, vote timestamp, and a cryptographically hashed browser identifier. A functional cookie named atlas_reader_vote holds a random identifier for up to 180 days so the server can recognize and undo your votes. The voting code does not store your name, email, or IP address. This identifier is not proof of a unique person; clearing cookies or changing browsers can permit repeat participation.
Only aggregate counts are displayed publicly. You can remove a vote using the selected thumbs-up button while the cookie is available. Vote records older than 180 days are deleted during subsequent API requests. Short-lived per-browser rate-limit records expire from the database during API requests. The local preview stores development votes on this computer; they are separate from any future public dataset.
Public voting remains disabled until its database and Cloudflare Turnstile bot protection are configured. When enabled, the Turnstile widget loads only when you open a voting confirmation. Cloudflare processes browser and network information to perform that check under its privacy policy. Hosting providers may separately log requests. Retention settings and any backups must be confirmed before public launch.
Hosting and request information
When the site is hosted, the hosting provider may process information such as IP address, requested URL, browser details, and request time to deliver and secure the website. Retention and processing depend on the provider and configuration. Before public launch, the operator must confirm the hosting provider, applicable retention settings, and any additional data processing and update this policy accordingly.
Information you send
If an editorial email address is made available and you choose to email it, your email provider and the receiving provider process your message and address. Do not send sensitive personal information. A monitored contact channel and its retention practices must be confirmed before public launch.
External websites
Vendor source links lead to external websites with their own privacy practices. Those websites control the information they collect when you visit them.
Policy updates and requests
Any future analytics, additional forms, advertising, or affiliate tracking must be reflected here before activation. For privacy inquiries, see the current availability of our contact channel.