Privacy Policy

Overview

PennyCalc ("we," "us," or "our") operates the website pennycalc.com. This page describes what data we collect, how we use it, and your choices regarding that data. We collect limited usage analytics according to the regional privacy settings and choices described below. Reviewed reference, guide, and calculator pages display ads, and calculator computations happen in your browser. We use Google Analytics for site measurement and Journey by Mediavine to manage advertising. Advertising partners may collect and share personal information as described below. Our analytics events do not include calculator inputs or results.

Information We Collect

Data You Enter into Calculators

Calculator inputs (income, loan amounts, tax figures, and similar values) are processed in your browser using client-side JavaScript. Changing an input keeps the scenario in page memory; it does not silently add those values to the page's query string. Refreshing a normal calculator page restores its defaults.

If you choose Copy link, PennyCalc creates a shareable scenario in the part of the URL after the #. Browsers do not send that fragment to PennyCalc, Cloudflare, Google Analytics, or a destination website in the HTTP request or referrer header. The values are visible to anyone who receives the link and are restored when that link is opened, so treat a scenario link as information you have chosen to share.

Older PennyCalc share links used query parameters. Opening one of those older links can expose its query string to Cloudflare in the initial request. PennyCalc keeps those links functional, marks the query variant as not indexable, and converts the visible browser URL to the new fragment format. We do not intentionally store those calculator values in an application database.

Automatically Collected Data

We may collect standard web analytics data, including:

• Pages visited and time spent on each page
• Referring website or search engine
• Browser type and version
• Device type (desktop, mobile, tablet)
• Approximate geographic region derived by the analytics provider
• Value-free events such as calculator start, result viewed, share, download, and related-tool click

This data helps us understand which calculators are useful and where the site needs improvement. It is collected through Google Analytics 4. PennyCalc sends the site origin and page path without the query string or fragment. Custom calculator events contain event names and page identifiers, not input values or calculated results. Google signals and ad-personalization signals are disabled in our analytics configuration.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Local Browser Storage

PennyCalc does not require an account or session cookie to run its calculators. Some interface features, such as pinned states in a comparison tool, may use your browser's local storage. We also save your local Analytics preference in your browser for up to 180 days so it carries across pages and visits. These preferences stay on your device unless you clear them. A saved opt-out from our earlier Analytics settings remains in effect for the rest of that period. If your browser cannot save a change, that change applies only to the current page.

Analytics Cookies

We use Google Analytics 4 to understand site usage patterns. Google Analytics may set or read first-party analytics cookies and process device, browser, referral, and approximate-location information under Google's terms. Analytics stays off until Journey's privacy platform reports that Google Analytics and its applicable purposes are allowed. Where its regional settings require consent, you can make that choice in Journey's consent banner. In other regions, its settings may allow Analytics without a prompt. We do not turn it on while the platform's decision is unavailable.

You can turn Analytics off in any region using PennyCalc's Analytics settings. Turn off analytics saves a local opt-out. Use regional settings removes that opt-out and returns to Journey's decision; it does not override a denial in the consent banner. Close leaves your choice unchanged. This control opens only when you select it here or in the footer. We also keep Analytics off when your browser sends a Global Privacy Control signal.

Turning Analytics off stops further Google Analytics measurement on this browser; it does not erase information already sent. This local opt-out does not change your advertising choices. You can also opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

Advertising Cookies

PennyCalc uses Journey by Mediavine to manage ads on reviewed reference, guide, and calculator pages. Mediavine and its advertising partners may use cookies, local storage, IP address, device and browser information, page context, and ad interactions to deliver, secure, limit the frequency of, personalize where permitted, and measure ads. Non-personalized ads may still use data for contextual selection, frequency capping, aggregated reporting, fraud prevention, and security.

Journey supplies advertising consent and opt-out controls according to your region. EU/UK visitors can reopen its consent banner through Journey's Update Privacy Settings link. In applicable U.S. states, Journey provides a Do Not Sell or Share My Information link for advertising-related choices. These provider links appear where applicable. Journey's consent settings also include Google Analytics; PennyCalc's Analytics settings provide an additional local opt-out. Declining personalized advertising may still allow contextual ads. Calculator features work without analytics consent.

PennyCalc does not operate a newsletter or require an account. The Mediavine notice below also describes optional services, such as newsletters, that are not currently offered on PennyCalc.

We do not configure advertising audience fields using calculator inputs, calculated results, or shared scenarios. Third-party scripts run in your browser under their providers' policies. Ad placement and revenue do not influence our math, sources, rankings, corrections, or editorial conclusions. See Mediavine's privacy policy and advertising partners for more information.

Third-Party Services

Google Analytics and Journey by Mediavine

Google provides site measurement, and Journey by Mediavine manages display advertising. These providers and their partners process information under their own terms and privacy policies. PennyCalc may earn revenue from advertising. Journey's reporting does not give us individual visitors' identities.

Affiliate Links

PennyCalc's affiliate calls to action and monetized resource links are currently disabled. If affiliate links are enabled later, each affected page will identify them and the link will use a rel="sponsored" attribute. The destination site may collect data under its own privacy policy, and PennyCalc may earn a commission on a qualifying action.

Affiliate relationships will not influence calculator math or editorial conclusions, and PennyCalc will not receive the calculator inputs you entered from an affiliate partner.

Hosting

PennyCalc is hosted on Cloudflare Pages. Cloudflare may collect standard server logs (IP address, request time, page requested). See Cloudflare's Privacy Policy for details.

Data Sharing

We use Google, Mediavine and its advertising partners, and Cloudflare for analytics, advertising, hosting, security, fraud prevention, and site operation as described above. Some U.S. state laws may define advertising-related disclosures as a "sale," "sharing," or targeted advertising even when no money is paid for the information. Where applicable, use Journey's Do Not Sell or Share My Information link to opt out of those advertising uses. PennyCalc's Analytics settings provide an additional opt-out from our Google Analytics collection. We may also share aggregated analytics data that is not intended to identify an individual visitor.

Children's Privacy

PennyCalc is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we will delete it.

Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

• Request access to data we hold about you
• Request deletion of your data
• Opt out of analytics tracking, personalized advertising, targeted advertising, or advertising-related sale or sharing where applicable
• Withdraw consent for cookies

Because our calculators process calculations in your browser and we don't maintain user accounts, we typically hold minimal directly identifying data. For any privacy-related requests, contact us at the email below.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Your saved Analytics opt-out remains in effect until it expires or you change it.

Contact

For privacy questions or data requests, email us at privacy@pennycalc.com.