Privacy Policy
We believe privacy is a right, not a checkbox. This policy explains exactly what data SmartSleepCalc.com collects, why, and what rights you have — including how we use Google AdSense advertising, Google Analytics 4, and Amazon Associates affiliate links. Written in plain English under US law.
Not Medically Reviewed: SmartSleepCalc.com is operated by an independent researcher and developer — not a licensed medical professional. This site has not been reviewed by a clinician. Content is fact-checked against primary peer-reviewed sources by the site author. See the full Medical Disclaimer →
Calculators
All calculator inputs run in your browser only. We never receive or store your sleep data.
Analytics
Anonymous usage data only via Google Analytics 4. No personally identifiable information.
Cookies
First-party analytics cookies and AdSense cookies. IAB TCF v2.3 CMP for EU users.
No Selling
We do not sell personal data to third parties — ever.
Ads & Affiliates
Google AdSense ads and Amazon affiliate links. Clearly labelled. Commissions at no cost to you.
01 — Introduction & Operator
Introduction
Welcome to SmartSleepCalc.com. This Privacy Policy explains what information is collected when you visit this website, how that information is used, and what rights you have. It applies to all pages, tools, calculators, and content available on SmartSleepCalc.com.
SmartSleepCalc.com is a free sleep science and calculator platform operated by an independent researcher and developer — not a licensed medical professional or healthcare organisation. The site uses Google AdSense for advertising and participates in the Amazon Associates affiliate programme. Both are disclosed fully in this policy in compliance with Google AdSense Terms of Service, FTC guidelines, and applicable US and international privacy law.
By using SmartSleepCalc.com, you agree to the data practices described here. This page is linked in the footer on every page of the website so it is always accessible.
👤 Data Controller / Site Operator
📅 Effective Date
This Privacy Policy is effective as of June 23, 2026. When this policy is updated, a new effective date will appear at the top of this page.
02 — What We Do NOT Collect
Information We Do NOT Collect
SmartSleepCalc.com is built privacy-first. All calculator inputs are processed entirely within your own browser and are never transmitted to our servers. When you type bedtimes, wake times, nap durations, sleep cycle counts, or any other value into our tools, that data stays on your device only.
✅ We Do NOT Collect or Store
- Sleep inputs entered into calculators (bedtime, wake time, nap duration, cycle counts, etc.)
- Personal sleep data, health records, or medical history
- Your name, home address, or phone number (unless voluntarily submitted via contact form)
- Payment information (no paid services or checkout exist on this site)
- Social Security numbers or government-issued ID numbers
- User account data (no account creation is required to use this site)
Visitors who choose to submit a message via the /contact page may voluntarily provide a name and email address. That information is used only to respond to the enquiry and is not used for marketing.
03 — What We Do Collect
Information We Do Collect
SmartSleepCalc.com collects limited, anonymous usage data through Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to understand how the site is used and to improve tools and content. No personally identifiable information (PII) is intentionally collected through analytics.
Examples of anonymous data collected via GA4:
- Page views and which pages were visited
- Approximate session duration and engagement time
- Device type (mobile, tablet, desktop), browser type, and OS category
- General traffic source (e.g., organic search, direct, referral)
- Country or region (not precise location)
- Basic engagement signals such as scroll depth and button interactions
Google Analytics 4 & IP Anonymization
SmartSleepCalc.com uses Google Analytics 4 with IP anonymization enabled. IP addresses are truncated before storage and no full IP address is retained by Google on our behalf. GA4 data is used in aggregate form only for site improvement. For details, visit policies.google.com/privacy.
04 — Cookies & Consent Management
Cookies ✓ AdSense Compliant
Cookies are small text files stored on your device by your browser. SmartSleepCalc.com uses first-party analytics cookies (Google Analytics 4) and third-party advertising cookies (Google AdSense). Third parties, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to this website or other websites.
First-Party Analytics Cookies (Google Analytics 4)
These cookies are set by SmartSleepCalc.com to support anonymous measurement of site usage. They do not identify you personally. They help us count page views, understand session patterns, and improve the site.
Third-Party Advertising Cookies (Google AdSense)
Google AdSense places third-party cookies on your device to serve advertisements, measure ad performance, control ad frequency, and — where consent is given — serve interest-based (personalized) ads based on your browsing behavior across sites that use Google services.
Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to users based on their visits to this site and/or other sites on the Internet.
| Cookie Name | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | First-party (GA4) | Distinguishes unique users for analytics | 2 years |
| _ga_[ID] | First-party (GA4) | Maintains session state for Google Analytics | 2 years |
| __gads / __gpi | Third-party (AdSense) | Ad frequency, performance measurement, fraud prevention | 13 months |
| IDE / DSID | Third-party (AdSense / DoubleClick) | Interest-based ad targeting and measurement across sites | 13 months |
| amazon-adsystem / session-id | Third-party (Amazon) | Referral click attribution for Amazon Associates commissions | Session / 24 hrs |
🇬🇺 EU / EEA / UK — Consent Management Platform (CMP) & IAB TCF v2.3
As required by Google AdSense policy (effective January 16, 2024), SmartSleepCalc.com uses a Google-certified Consent Management Platform (CMP) integrated with the IAB Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF v2.3) to manage cookie consent for visitors from the European Union, European Economic Area, United Kingdom, and Switzerland.
When you first visit from these regions, a consent notice will appear. Non-essential cookies — including analytics and advertising cookies — will not be placed until you give explicit consent. You can withdraw or update your consent at any time using the cookie preferences link in the site footer.
🚫 If You Opt Out of Personalized Ads
If you opt out of personalized advertising, you will still see ads on SmartSleepCalc.com. Those ads will be non-personalized (contextual only) — chosen based on the content of the page you are viewing, not your browsing history. Opting out changes the type of ads shown, not whether ads appear.
How to Control or Opt Out of Cookies
- Google Ads Settings — visit adssettings.google.com to manage or opt out of personalized ads from Google
- YourAdChoices / aboutads.info — visit www.aboutads.info to opt out of interest-based advertising from participating companies
- Network Advertising Initiative — visit optout.networkadvertising.org for additional opt-out options
- Google Analytics Opt-Out — install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on to prevent GA4 data collection
- Browser settings — block, limit, or delete cookies directly through your browser's privacy or security settings
- Cookie preferences footer link — update your consent choices at any time using the cookie settings link in the footer of this website
05 — Google AdSense
Google AdSense ✓ AdSense ToS
SmartSleepCalc.com uses Google AdSense to display advertisements. Ad revenue supports the cost of maintaining this site as a free resource. Google AdSense is operated by Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.
Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to SmartSleepCalc.com or other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visits to this site and/or other sites on the Internet.
Personalized vs. Non-Personalized Ads
Where you have given consent (or where personalized advertising is applicable under applicable law), Google may show you personalized ads based on your interests and browsing history. Where you have not consented or have opted out, Google will show non-personalized (contextual) ads instead — these are still shown, but are based only on the content of the page, not your personal history.
How Google Uses Partner-Site Data
For a full explanation of how Google uses data when you visit sites that use its services, see: policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites
Ad Privacy & Opt-Out
You may opt out of personalized advertising from Google at any time:
- Visit Google Ads Settings to manage your personalized ad preferences
- Visit policies.google.com/technologies/ads for Google's full advertising privacy policy
- Visit www.aboutads.info to opt out from participating ad networks
SmartSleepCalc.com does not pass personally identifiable information to Google through its advertising services. We do not have access to or control over the cookies set by Google AdSense on your device.
✅ IAB TCF v2.3 Integration
Our consent management solution is integrated with the IAB Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF v2.3), in accordance with Google AdSense programme requirements effective January 2024. This ensures that personalized ads are only served to EU/EEA/UK users after obtaining valid, documented consent through a Google-certified CMP.
06 — Amazon Affiliate Links
Amazon Affiliate Links ✓ FTC Compliant
This commission helps cover the cost of running SmartSleepCalc.com as a free tool. It does not influence our editorial recommendations or sleep health guidance. We only recommend products we believe are genuinely useful.
How Affiliate Links Are Labelled
In compliance with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) disclosure guidelines (16 CFR Part 255), all Amazon affiliate links on this site are clearly identified at the point of recommendation using one or more of the following labels: “(paid link)”, “#ad”, “#CommissionsEarned”, or a prominent disclosure notice at the top of any page or article containing affiliate links.
Clicking a Link Does NOT Share Your Data With Us
When you click an Amazon affiliate link, you leave SmartSleepCalc.com and go to Amazon.com. Clicking an affiliate link does not share your sleep calculator inputs, personal information, or site behavior with us or Amazon. Amazon's cookies placed after clicking are controlled entirely by Amazon under Amazon's Privacy Notice.
Your Price Is Never Affected
Using our affiliate links does not increase the price you pay. The commission is paid by Amazon, not by you. You are always free to navigate directly to Amazon to make a purchase if you prefer not to use our affiliate links.
07 — Third-Party Links
Third-Party Links
SmartSleepCalc.com may contain links to external websites, research sources, product pages, or tools not operated by us. These links are provided for convenience and information only.
SmartSleepCalc.com has no control over and is not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or data collection of any third-party website. When you click an external link, you leave SmartSleepCalc.com and are subject to that site's own privacy policy and terms.
⚠ Recommendation
Please review the privacy policy of any external site before submitting personal information, creating an account, or making a purchase.
08 — Children's Privacy
Children's Privacy ✓ COPPA
SmartSleepCalc.com is intended for a general adult audience and is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through our calculator tools or other site features.
SmartSleepCalc.com complies with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). If we become aware that we have inadvertently received personal information from a child under 13, we will take prompt steps to delete that information from our records.
Parents or guardians who believe a child under 13 may have provided personal information through this website should contact us via the /contact page immediately.
09 — Your Rights
Your Rights ✓ GDPR & CCPA
Depending on where you live, you may have specific legal rights over your personal data. SmartSleepCalc.com respects those rights and will respond to valid requests within the timeframes required by applicable law.
🇪🇺 GDPR Rights — EU, EEA & UK Users
Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or UK GDPR, you may have the following rights:
- Right of Access — request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Right to Rectification — request correction of any inaccurate personal data
- Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”) — request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal exceptions
- Right to Data Portability — receive your personal data in a structured, machine-readable format
- Right to Restrict Processing — ask us to limit how we use your data in certain circumstances
- Right to Object — object to certain types of processing, including profiling for advertising purposes
- Right to Withdraw Consent — withdraw consent for advertising or analytics cookies at any time via the cookie preferences link in the site footer, or via Google Ads Settings
- Right to Lodge a Complaint — you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority (e.g. the ICO in the UK, or your national DPA in the EU)
🇺🇸 CCPA / CPRA Rights — California Residents
Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), California residents may have the following rights:
- Right to Know — request disclosure of what categories of personal information we collect and how we use it
- Right to Delete — request deletion of personal information we hold, subject to legal exceptions
- Right to Correct — request correction of inaccurate personal information
- Right to Opt Out of Sale / Sharing — SmartSleepCalc.com does not sell personal data. To the extent that serving interest-based ads qualifies as “sharing” under California law, you may opt out via Google Ads Settings or www.aboutads.info
- Right to Non-Discrimination — you will not be penalized or denied service for exercising any CCPA / CPRA rights
How to Exercise Your Rights
Visit our /contact page and include “Privacy Rights Request” in your message along with the specific right you wish to exercise. We will verify your identity and respond within 30 days (GDPR) or 45 days (CCPA for complex requests).
10 — Contact for Privacy Requests
Contact for Privacy Requests
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, want to exercise your data rights, or have a concern about how your information is handled, please contact us directly.
Use our contact page at SmartSleepCalc.com/contact. When submitting a privacy request, please include:
- The specific right you wish to exercise (e.g. access, deletion, correction)
- Enough information for us to identify and verify your request
- “Privacy Rights Request” in the subject or message field
Response Timeline
We acknowledge privacy requests within 5 business days and provide a full response within 30 days (GDPR) or 45 days for complex CCPA requests. If additional time is needed, we will notify you in advance.
11 — Changes to This Policy
Changes to This Policy
SmartSleepCalc.com may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our website, advertising practices, analytics tools, legal requirements, or business operations. When changes are made, the updated policy will be posted on this page and the effective date at the top will be updated.
We encourage you to review this page periodically. Continued use of SmartSleepCalc.com after an updated policy is posted constitutes acceptance of the revised terms to the extent permitted by applicable law.
For material changes that significantly affect how we handle personal information, we may provide additional notice — such as a notice on the homepage or a prominent banner — before the changes take effect.
Version History
v2.0 (June 23, 2026): Added operator name and identity card (Muzammal Shahzad Butt), added “Not Medically Reviewed” notice banner, updated JSON-LD schema publisher to Person, added version history note. All data collection, cookie, and compliance sections unchanged from v1.0. Full corrections log available at About page →
Bookmark This Page
This page always reflects the most current version of our Privacy Policy. Bookmark or link to: smartsleepcalc.com/privacy-policy
Want to Access or Delete Your Data?
You have the right to request access to, correction of, or deletion of any personal data we hold. Submit a request in under two minutes.
🔒 Submit a Privacy Request