Cookies are small text files stored in your browser. Here is exactly what this site sets and why.
Analytics cookies (first-party)
We run first-party analytics to understand which content is useful and where traffic comes from. This sets one analytics cookie per browser session. It contains a randomly-generated session ID with no personally identifiable information attached. The cookie expires after 12 months. It is not shared with advertisers or third-party data brokers.
Affiliate tracking cookies (third-party, on click)
When you click a tracked affiliate link to a vendor tool, the vendor’s server sets a tracking cookie in your browser. This tells the vendor that the referral came from TopickZ so they can credit us for the introduction if you sign up.
These cookies are set by the vendor, not by us. The duration and scope vary by vendor. Common durations are 30 days (most SaaS affiliate programs) to 90 days (some larger platforms). The vendor’s privacy policy governs what they do with this data.
We do not have an exhaustive list of every vendor affiliate domain, because we add new affiliate programs periodically. If you want to know whether a specific link is tracked, look for the affiliate disclosure note in the review.
Live chat cookies (third-party)
The chat window in the corner of the page is run by tawk.to. Their script loads with every page and sets cookies in your browser so a conversation carries across page loads and we can see that a returning visitor is the same person we spoke to earlier.
These cookies are set by tawk.to, not by us, and are governed by tawk.to’s privacy policy . They are set even if you never open the chat, because the script loads with the page.
Functional cookies
We do not set functional cookies of our own (login sessions, preferences, saved items). This site does not require an account. The live chat above is the one exception, and those cookies belong to tawk.to.
How to disable cookies
You can disable cookies entirely in your browser settings. If you do, the affiliate tracking cookies will not be set when you click vendor links (which means we would not receive the commission if you sign up). Analytics will also not fire, and the live chat will not remember a conversation from one page to the next. The content itself will still be fully accessible.
Browser-specific instructions:
- Chrome: Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data
- Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
- Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Cookies and website data
- Edge: Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Cookies and site data
You can also use browser extensions like uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger to block third-party cookies selectively.