SettlyGo - Your Local Friend in Germany

1. Purpose

This Cookie Policy explains how SettlyGo ("we," "us," or "our") uses cookies and similar technologies when you visit settlygo.app, access our dashboards, or interact with our booking and onboarding flows. It forms part of our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

2. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. They help us keep you signed in, remember your preferences, secure your session, and measure how the platform is used. We classify cookies as:

Essential: Required for bookings, helper applications, authentication, and security.
Functional: Enhance experience by remembering preferences such as language and saved progress.
Analytics: Help us understand product performance. These load only after consent.
Marketing: Used for remarketing and attribution. Currently disabled until analytics consent is granted.

3. Cookies We Use

Cookie	Type	Purpose	Retention
next-auth.session-token / helper_session	Essential	Keeps you signed in to customer or helper dashboards.	Until logout or 30 days of inactivity.
cookieConsent	Functional	Stores whether you accepted, declined, or customized cookies.	12 months.
helperSignupProgress / bookingDraft	Functional	Saves onboarding progress so you can continue later.	7 days (local storage).
_vercel_clerk / Vercel Web Analytics	Analytics	Anonymous analytics used to understand performance.	13 months (only if consented).
Stripe Checkout cookies	Essential	Keeps your checkout session secure when paying via Stripe.	Per Stripe's retention (< 24 months).

4. Managing Your Preferences

You can accept or decline non-essential cookies through the banner that appears on your first visit. You may also:

Use your browser settings to delete or block cookies at any time.
Type "cookie settings" into the site search bar to reopen the consent modal.
Contact hello@settlygo.app if you need help changing your preferences.

5. Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies are placed by trusted partners when their features are used:

Stripe: Required for secure payments and fraud detection.
Vercel Analytics: Optional analytics to monitor performance.
Resend: Email tracking pixels for deliverability (only in transactional emails).

Each partner maintains its own Cookie Policy or DPA. We ensure appropriate Data Processing Agreements are in place before enabling third-party cookies.

6. Data Retention

We minimize cookie retention wherever possible and follow the durations listed in our Data Retention Schedule. Local storage items tied to onboarding are cleared automatically within 7 days or when you submit your form.

7. Updates

We review this Cookie Policy at least annually and whenever we launch new features or integrations. Changes will be posted here and reflected in the consent banner.

8. Contact

Questions about cookies or privacy? Email hello@settlygo.app or reach out through our contact form.