4. Cookie Categories We Use
4.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies (Always On)
These cookies are essential for the Website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are typically used for:
- security and fraud prevention
- load balancing and basic site operations
- managing cookie consent choices
- essential session management
Legal basis: Necessary for providing the service / legitimate interests (where applicable).
Consent required: No (under PECR, strictly necessary cookies do not require consent).
4.2 Performance & Analytics Cookies
These cookies help us understand visitor behaviour on the Website, such as:
- pages visited and time spent
- click interactions and scroll behaviour
- navigation paths
- error events and performance issues
- aggregated device/browser information
We use this information to improve the Website and comparison experience.
Consent required: Yes (for non-essential analytics cookies).
4.3 Functionality Cookies
These cookies remember your choices to improve your experience, such as:
- preference settings
- region/category navigation preferences (where applicable)
- UI preferences that are not strictly required for the Website to function
Consent required: Usually yes, unless strictly necessary for a feature you requested.
4.4 Affiliate Tracking Cookies (Important for UK Price Comparison)
UK Price Comparison uses affiliate links. When you click a retailer link, affiliate cookies (or similar tracking parameters) may be used to:
- record that you arrived at a retailer via UK Price Comparison
- attribute potential commission if a qualifying action occurs
- help prevent fraud or duplicate attribution
- measure the effectiveness of referrals
Affiliate partners may include (non-exhaustively): Amazon, eBay, Awin, FlexOffers, Webgains, CJ Affiliate, Tradedoubler, Rakuten and other major affiliate networks and retailers.
Important: Once you leave our Website, cookies set by the retailer or affiliate network are governed by their own cookie and privacy policies.
Consent required: In many cases, yes depending on how the affiliate technology operates and the applicable rules. Where a consent tool is used, affiliate tracking should be included within consent categories as appropriate.
4.5 Marketing / Advertising Cookies (If Used)
We may use limited marketing cookies where necessary to measure campaign performance or manage frequency. We do not position UK Price Comparison as an advertising network. If marketing cookies are used, they will be controlled via consent choices.
Consent required: Yes