✦ Legal
Privacy Policy
Your privacy matters to us. This page explains exactly what data we collect, how we use it, and how we keep it safe.
1. Data We Collect
We collect only the minimum data needed to operate the Site and deliver our features. This includes:
- Google Sign-In data: When you sign in with Google, we receive your name, email address, and profile photo from Google. We store your email address in our database (Firebase Firestore) to link your comments, saved comparisons, and account preferences.
- Phone Sign-In data: When you sign in with your phone number via OTP, we store your phone number to identify your account.
- Comments: The name, comment text, and product verdict you submit. Verified sign-in comments are auto-approved and linked to your email.
- Saved Comparisons: Product names, ASINs, price snapshot, and winner verdict when you save a comparison matrix to your profile.
- Newsletter data: Email address when you subscribe to price alerts or newsletters.
- Contact form data: Name, email, and message when you contact us.
- Usage data: Pages visited, time on site, browser/device type (via Google Analytics — anonymised and aggregated).
- Preference cookies: Dark/light mode setting stored in your browser's localStorage. This does not leave your device.
We do not collect payment information. All purchases are completed on third-party platforms (Amazon, Flipkart).
2. Google Sign-In & Account Data
Best Budget Picks uses Firebase Authentication (by Google) to manage user sign-in. When you create an account via Google Sign-In, Apple Sign-In, or Phone OTP, the following applies:
- Your authentication credentials are handled securely by Firebase — we never store your Google, Apple, or phone password.
- We store your email address (or phone number) in Firebase Firestore solely to power your profile: comment history, saved comparisons, and account preferences.
- Your Google profile photo URL is used only to display your avatar on your profile page and is not stored in our database.
- We do not access your Google contacts, Google Drive, Gmail, or any Google data beyond your basic profile (name, email, photo).
- Firebase Auth data is governed by Google's Privacy Policy. You can revoke our app's access at any time from your Google Account permissions.
In plain English: We collect your email address via Google Sign-In and forms solely to provide user accounts, saved comparison preferences, and price drop alerts. We never sell your data. We never share it with advertisers or data brokers.
3. How We Use Your Data
We use your data only for these specific purposes:
- Account management: To identify you across sessions, display your profile, and link your activity (comments, saved comparisons).
- Saved comparisons: To store and retrieve product comparison matrices you choose to save.
- Comment moderation: Verified users' comments are auto-approved. Your email is used only for moderation, not for contacting you without consent.
- Newsletters & price alerts: To send emails you have explicitly subscribed to. Every email includes a one-click unsubscribe link.
- Customer support: To respond to enquiries you send us.
- Site improvement: Anonymised analytics to understand how users navigate the Site.
- Advertising: Google AdSense may use cookies for personalised ads (see Section 7).
We do not sell, rent, trade, or share your personal information with any third party for marketing purposes — ever.
4. Data Retention
We retain your data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service:
- Account data (email/phone): Retained until you request account deletion.
- Comments: Retained indefinitely as part of our public review database unless you request removal.
- Saved comparisons: Retained until you delete them from your profile or request account deletion.
- Newsletter subscriptions: Retained until you unsubscribe.
- Analytics data: Aggregated, anonymised — retained per Google Analytics' default retention period (14 months).
To request deletion of all your data, email us at [email protected] with subject line "Data Deletion Request". We will process it within 30 days.
5. Cookies & Analytics
We use the following tools that may set cookies on your device:
- Google Analytics: Tracks page views, session duration, and traffic sources. Data is anonymised and aggregated. Opt out via Google's opt-out tool.
- Google AdSense: Displays personalised ads based on your browsing history. See Google's privacy policy.
- Firebase Auth: Sets a session token in your browser to keep you signed in. This is strictly necessary for account functionality.
- Preference storage (localStorage): Stores your dark/light theme preference locally on your device. Never transmitted to our servers.
You can manage or clear cookies via your browser settings. Disabling Firebase session cookies will sign you out of your account.
6. Third-Party Services
We integrate with the following third-party services, each with their own privacy policy:
- Google Firebase (Authentication & Firestore database) — Google Privacy Policy
- Google Analytics — analytics and traffic data
- Google AdSense — advertising
- Brevo (Sendinblue) — email delivery for newsletters and transactional emails — Brevo Privacy Policy
- Amazon.in — affiliate partner (we earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you)
- Vercel — website hosting and serverless functions
We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party services.
7. Advertising
We display ads through Google AdSense. Google may use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this Site and other websites. You can opt out of personalised advertising by visiting Google's Ad Settings or aboutads.info.
We also use Amazon affiliate links. Clicking a product link may set an Amazon cookie. We earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure for full details.
8. Your Rights (GDPR & Indian IT Act)
Whether you are in the EU/UK (GDPR), India (IT Act 2000 & DPDP Act 2023), or elsewhere, you have the following rights regarding your data:
- Right to Access: Request a copy of all personal data we hold about you.
- Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate data.
- Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"): Request deletion of your account and all associated data.
- Right to Data Portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
- Right to Withdraw Consent: Unsubscribe from any newsletter at any time using the link in every email, or revoke Google Sign-In access via your Google Account.
- Right to Object: Object to processing of your data for direct marketing.
To exercise any of these rights, email [email protected] with subject "Privacy Request". We will respond within 30 days.
9. Children's Privacy
This Site is not directed at children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately and we will delete it promptly.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected on this page with an updated date at the bottom. Continued use of the Site after changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy. We recommend checking this page periodically.
For any questions about this Privacy Policy, to request data access/deletion, or to report a privacy concern, contact us at:
We will acknowledge your request within 72 hours and resolve it within 30 days.
Last updated: June 2026 · Governing law: India (IT Act 2000, DPDP Act 2023) · Also compliant with GDPR (EU) principles