Toolbase ("we", "us", "the site") publishes honest reviews, tutorials, and free utilities for solopreneurs at gettoolbase.org. This policy explains what data the site collects, why, and what control you have over it. We have tried to write it in plain language rather than legal boilerplate.
The short version: Toolbase has no user accounts and no login. We do not sell your data. The only information we collect is standard, aggregated analytics about how pages are used, and anything you choose to send us by email.
Who we are
Toolbase is an independent publication run by a small team. For any privacy question, correction, or data request, contact us at hello@gettoolbase.org.
What we collect
Analytics data
We use Google Analytics 4 to understand which articles and tools people find useful. It records non-identifying, aggregated information such as pages visited, approximate location (city or region, derived from a truncated IP address), device type, browser, referring site, and time spent on a page. Google Analytics sets cookies to do this. We do not use this data to identify you personally, and IP addresses are anonymized. You can read how Google handles this data in the Google Privacy Policy.
Data stored in your browser (never sent to us)
Some features save data locally in your own browser and never transmit it to our servers. For example, when you highlight text in an article and tap "Save quote", that highlight is stored in your browser's local storage on your device only. It stays on your machine, we never see it, and clearing your browser data removes it.
Information you send us
If you email us, we receive your email address and whatever you write. We use it only to reply and to keep a record of the conversation. We do not add you to any marketing list without your explicit consent.
Toolbase does not knowingly collect names, phone numbers, payment details, or any other personal information, because the site has no forms, checkout, or account system that would ask for them.
Cookies and how to control them
Cookies are small files a website stores in your browser. Toolbase uses them in two ways:
- Analytics cookies set by Google Analytics, as described above.
- Advertising cookies, if and when we display ads. See the advertising section below.
You can block or delete cookies at any time through your browser settings. Doing so will not break the site, though some usage will no longer be counted in our analytics. You can also opt out of Google Analytics specifically using Google's opt-out browser add-on.
Advertising
Toolbase may display advertising served by third-party networks, including Google AdSense. When ads are shown, these networks, including Google as a third-party vendor, may use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this and other websites.
- Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on your visits to Toolbase and other sites on the internet.
- You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings.
- You can opt out of many other third-party vendors' use of cookies for personalized advertising at aboutads.info/choices.
Outbound and affiliate links
Articles and tool pages sometimes link to other companies' products. Some of these may be affiliate links, meaning we could earn a small commission if you sign up through them, at no extra cost to you. This never changes which tools we recommend or what we say about them. When you click an outbound link, that third party's own privacy policy governs any data they collect.
Third-party services we rely on
To run the site we use a small number of reputable providers, each with their own privacy practices:
- Google Analytics for usage measurement.
- Our hosting and content-delivery provider, which keeps standard server access logs (such as IP address and browser type) for security and reliability.
- Google AdSense, if and when advertising is enabled.
How long we keep data
Aggregated analytics data is retained according to Google Analytics' standard retention settings. Emails you send are kept only as long as needed to handle your query and any reasonable follow-up. Data stored in your own browser stays until you clear it.
Your rights
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, or delete personal data we hold about you, or to object to certain processing. Because we hold almost no personal data, most requests concern email correspondence. To make a request, email hello@gettoolbase.org and we will respond within a reasonable time. This includes rights under the EU/UK GDPR, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
Children
Toolbase is intended for adults running or building businesses. It is not directed at children, and we do not knowingly collect data from anyone under 16.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy as the site evolves, for example if we add a newsletter or enable advertising. When we do, we will change the "last updated" date at the top of this page. Significant changes will be noted clearly.
Contact
Questions about privacy or this policy? Email hello@gettoolbase.org or visit our contact page.