SmartHour ("we," "us," "our," or "Company") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website (www.smarthour.app) and mobile application to enhance your experience, analyze usage patterns, and deliver personalized content. This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how we use them, and your choices regarding their use.
Our cookie practices are designed to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the ePrivacy Directive (2002/58/EC), Finnish privacy laws, and other applicable data protection regulations.
Please read this Cookie Policy carefully. By accessing and using SmartHour, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this policy and accept our use of cookies as described herein. If you do not agree with our cookie practices, you may adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies or contact us for assistance.
2. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, smartphone, or tablet) when you visit our website or use our application. Cookies contain information about your browsing activities and preferences, allowing websites and applications to recognize you on repeat visits.
2.1 How Cookies Work
When you visit our website or use our app, your browser or app stores cookies on your device. When you return, the stored cookies are sent back to the server, allowing us to recognize you and remember your preferences.
2.2 Session vs. Persistent Cookies
Session Cookies: These cookies expire when you close your browser or app. They are temporary and do not remain on your device after your session ends.
Persistent Cookies: These cookies remain on your device after your session ends and continue to function until they expire or you delete them manually.
2.3 First-Party vs. Third-Party Cookies
First-Party Cookies: These are set by the website or app you are directly visiting (smarthour.app).
Third-Party Cookies: These are set by external services (e.g., Google Analytics, Firebase) that we use to enhance our services.
3. Types of Cookies We Use
SmartHour uses cookies in the following categories:
Cookie Type
Purpose
Consent Required
Essential
Required for core website functionality (authentication, security, session management)
No (necessary for service)
Analytics
Help us understand how users interact with our website and app
Yes (consent required)
Functional
Remember user preferences and provide enhanced features
Yes (consent required)
Marketing
Track conversions and deliver personalized advertising
Yes (consent required)
4. Essential Cookies
Essential cookies are necessary for the website and app to function properly. These cookies enable core features and do not require your explicit consent under GDPR and ePrivacy regulations.
Session Authentication Cookies
Purpose: Keep you logged in to your SmartHour account.
Duration: Until you log out or session expires (typically 24-30 days).
Provider: SmartHour / Firebase Authentication.
Security Cookies
Purpose: Protect against fraud, prevent unauthorized access, and detect security threats.
Duration: Session or persistent depending on threat level.
Provider: SmartHour / Vercel.
Session State Cookies
Purpose: Maintain your settings and navigation state within the app.
Duration: During your session or until manually cleared.
Note: Essential cookies cannot be disabled as they are necessary for the website and app to function. However, you can configure your browser to block or delete cookies, though this may negatively impact your experience.
5. Analytics Cookies
Analytics cookies help us understand how you use our website and app, including which features are popular, how long you stay, and any errors you encounter. This information helps us improve our services. These cookies require your consent.
Google Analytics
Purpose: Track user interactions, page views, session duration, and user demographics on our website.
Cookies: _ga, _ga_*, _gid, _gat.
Duration: Up to 2 years.
Provider: Google LLC.
Data Shared: Anonymous usage data (anonymized IP addresses, browser type, device type).
Consent Required: Analytics cookies require your explicit consent. You can withdraw consent at any time through your account settings or by contacting us at support@smarthour.app.
6. Functional Cookies
Functional cookies enable enhanced features and personalization of your experience. They remember your choices and preferences to provide a more customized service. These cookies require your consent.
Language Preference Cookies
Purpose: Remember your preferred language (English or Finnish) across sessions.
Duration: Up to 1 year or until manually cleared.
Provider: SmartHour.
Theme Preference Cookies
Purpose: Remember whether you prefer light or dark mode.
Duration: Until manually cleared.
Provider: SmartHour.
User Preferences Cookies
Purpose: Store your notification settings, price alert preferences, and UI customizations.
Duration: Persistent until account deletion.
Provider: SmartHour / Supabase.
Feature Flag Cookies
Purpose: Enable/disable experimental features and beta testing options for your account.
Duration: Until feature rollout or account changes.
Provider: SmartHour.
Consent Required: Functional cookies require your consent. Disabling these may limit your ability to customize your experience, but core functionality will remain available.
7. Marketing Cookies
Marketing cookies track your interactions with our website and app to deliver targeted advertisements, measure campaign effectiveness, and understand conversion paths. These cookies require your explicit consent under GDPR and ePrivacy regulations.
Google Ads Conversion Tracking
Purpose: Track conversions from Google Ads campaigns and measure ROI.
Cookies: Google Ads conversion tracking pixels.
Duration: 90 days.
Provider: Google LLC.
Data Shared: Conversion events, device IDs, URL parameters.
Duration: As per platform policies (typically 24 months).
Providers: Apple (IDFA), Google (Android Advertising ID).
Opt-Out Options:
iOS: Settings → Privacy → Tracking → Disable "Allow Apps to Request to Track"
Android: Settings → Google → Manage your Google Account → Data & Privacy → Ad settings → Opt out of ads personalization
Remarketing Cookies
Purpose: Display targeted ads to users who have previously visited our website or app on other platforms.
Duration: 30-90 days depending on provider.
Providers: Google, Facebook, other ad networks.
Do Not Track (DNT): If you have enabled DNT in your browser, we respect your choice and will limit marketing cookie collection. However, some third-party providers may not honor DNT signals.
Consent Required: Marketing cookies require your explicit opt-in consent. You can withdraw consent at any time. Opting out of marketing cookies will not affect your use of SmartHour.
8. Third-Party Cookies and Integrations
SmartHour integrates with third-party services that may set their own cookies. We have no control over these third-party cookies, but we list them here for transparency.
The following table outlines the typical retention periods for cookies used by SmartHour:
Cookie Type
Retention Period
Notes
Session Authentication
24-30 days or until logout
Automatically expires after inactivity
Google Analytics (_ga)
2 years
Measures repeat visits and user engagement
Firebase Analytics
60 days
Firebase automatic data retention policy
Language & Theme Preferences
1 year or until cleared
User preference storage
Google Ads Conversion
90 days
Tracks advertising conversions
Facebook Pixel
Persistent (device-based)
Enables cross-site retargeting
Security & CSRF Tokens
Session or 24 hours
Prevents unauthorized access
Note: Persistent cookies remain on your device until you manually delete them or they expire. Session cookies are deleted when you close your browser or app.
10. How to Control Cookies
You have several options to control how cookies are used on your devices:
10.1 Browser Cookie Settings
Most modern browsers allow you to control cookie behavior:
Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
Firefox: Preferences → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Cookies and Website Data
Edge: Settings → Privacy → Cookies and other site data
From these settings, you can:
Block all cookies (not recommended, as it may break website functionality)
Block third-party cookies (may affect analytics and marketing features)
Clear cookies on browser exit (session cookies will not persist)
Allow specific sites to use cookies while blocking others
10.2 Mobile App Cookie Controls
For iOS and Android apps:
iOS: Settings → Privacy → Apple Advertising → Opt out of personalized ads
Android: Settings → Google → Manage your Google Account → Data & Privacy → Ads personalization
10.3 SmartHour Account Settings
You can manage some cookie preferences directly within your SmartHour account:
Language and theme preferences
Notification settings
Analytics opt-out options
Marketing communication preferences
10.4 Cookie Consent Manager
When you first visit our website, you will see a cookie consent banner. You can:
Accept All: Allow all optional cookies (analytics, marketing, functional)
Reject All: Decline all optional cookies (only essential cookies will be used)
Customize: Choose which types of cookies to allow
Change Preferences: Revisit the consent banner at any time to update your choices
Important: Disabling cookies may affect the functionality and performance of our website and app. Essential cookies cannot be disabled as they are necessary for the service to work properly.
11. Cookie Consent and Legal Basis
SmartHour follows the requirements of GDPR, the ePrivacy Directive, and Finnish privacy laws regarding cookie consent.
11.1 Consent Requirements
Essential Cookies: No consent required (they are necessary for the service)
We use a cookie consent banner that appears on first visit to obtain your explicit consent for optional cookies. The banner allows you to:
Accept all optional cookies
Reject all optional cookies
Customize which categories to accept
Your consent preference is stored in a first-party cookie and remembered for future visits.
11.3 Consent Withdrawal
You can withdraw your cookie consent at any time by:
Clicking the "Cookie Settings" or "Manage Preferences" button on our website
Accessing your account settings in the SmartHour app
Contacting us at support@smarthour.app with your request
Upon withdrawal, we will stop using cookies of the types you opted out of. Your withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before the withdrawal.
11.4 Legal Basis for Cookies
Cookie Type
Legal Basis
GDPR Article
Essential
Performance of Contract
Article 6(1)(b)
Analytics
Consent
Article 6(1)(a) & 7
Functional
Consent
Article 6(1)(a) & 7
Marketing
Consent
Article 6(1)(a) & 7
12. GDPR and Privacy Rights
SmartHour complies with GDPR and ePrivacy regulations. Your rights include:
12.1 Your Rights
Right of Access: Request information about what cookies and tracking data we collect about you
Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate tracking data
Right to Erasure: Request deletion of cookies and related data
Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
Right to Object: Object to certain uses of cookies for analytics and marketing
Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for optional cookies at any time
12.2 Data Protection in Finland
As a Finnish service, SmartHour complies with:
EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
Finnish Act on the Protection of Privacy in Electronic Communications (298/2002)
Finnish Personal Data Act (Personal Data Act 523/2018)
ePrivacy Directive (2002/58/EC, as amended by 2009/136/EC)
Response Time: We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days.
Data Protection Officer (EU)
For GDPR-related cookie inquiries or data protection issues, you may also contact our designated representative at support@smarthour.app. Please include "Cookie Policy" in your subject line.
Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our cookie practices, new technologies, or legal requirements. We will:
Post the updated policy on our website with a new "Last Updated" date
Request renewed consent if we introduce new types of cookies
Notify you of material changes that significantly affect your privacy
Your continued use of SmartHour after any updates to this policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated Cookie Policy.