We collect almost nothing — and we mean it.

The short version

Broken Link Checker ("we," "us," "our") operates the website brokenlinkchecker.org (the "Service"). This Privacy Policy describes how we handle information when you use our Service. By using the Service, you agree to the practices described here.

If you have questions, contact us at any time — a real human will read and respond to your message.

What we collect

We collect only the minimum information needed to operate the Service and understand how it is being used at an aggregate level. The table below summarises everything:

"Aggregate only" means the data is combined with all other users' data and cannot be linked back to you individually. We never store raw IP addresses or individual user records.

What we never collect

To be explicit, we never collect any of the following:

• Your name, email address, or any account information (no sign-up required)
• Payment details or billing information (the tool is free)
• The URLs, pages, or link results from your scans
• Your website's structure, sitemap, or content
• Cross-site tracking identifiers or advertising profiles
• Precise geolocation data
• Health, financial, or any other sensitive personal information
• Data about minors — our Service is not directed at anyone under 16

We do not sell, rent, trade, or otherwise transfer any data to third parties for advertising or marketing purposes. Full stop.

Cookies & browser storage

We use no advertising cookies and no third-party tracking cookies. Our use of browser storage is limited to making the tool function correctly:

• Session storage: We temporarily store your scan URL and settings (max pages, options) in sessionStorage to pass them between the homepage and the Dashboard. This data is automatically deleted when you close the browser tab.
• Analytics cookies: Google Analytics sets first-party cookies (_ga, _gid) to distinguish users for aggregate statistics. These do not contain personal information.
• No marketing cookies: We do not use Facebook Pixel, LinkedIn Insight, or any other advertising platform's cookies.

You can block or delete cookies at any time through your browser settings. Doing so will not prevent you from using any feature of the Service.

Analytics & measurement

We use Google Analytics 4 to collect anonymous, aggregate usage data. This helps us understand which features are most useful and how to prioritise improvements. Google Analytics collects standard internet log information and visitor behaviour in an anonymous fashion — no individual user is identifiable from this data.

Google Analytics data is processed by Google LLC and subject to Google's Privacy Policy. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking entirely by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.

We do not use Google Analytics' advertising features, remarketing, or demographic reporting. IP anonymisation is enabled on all analytics we run.

Third-party services

The Service relies on a small number of third-party providers to function. These are listed below with links to their privacy policies:

• Google Analytics — anonymous usage statistics. Privacy Policy ↗
• Google Fonts — web font delivery (Inter, Playfair Display, JetBrains Mono). Font requests are made to Google's servers; Google may log the request. Privacy Policy ↗
• Hosting infrastructure — our servers are hosted with a reputable cloud provider. Server access logs (IP address, timestamp, URL requested) are retained for a maximum of 30 days for security and debugging purposes, then deleted automatically.

We do not use social media sharing buttons, embedded social feeds, or any other third-party widgets that track your behaviour across the web.

If we ever add a new third-party service that materially affects your privacy, we will update this policy and revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.

Data retention

Because we collect almost no personal data, there is almost nothing to retain:

• Scan URLs and results: Never stored on our servers. They exist only in your browser's session memory and are gone when you close the tab.
• Server access logs: Retained for a maximum of 30 days for security purposes, then automatically deleted. These logs contain standard HTTP request information (IP address, URL, status code, timestamp) and are never used for marketing or profiling.
• Google Analytics data: Retained for 14 months in Google's systems per our account configuration, after which it is automatically deleted.
• Contact form emails: Retained in our inbox for as long as needed to respond to your enquiry and for a reasonable period afterward. We never share these with third parties.

Your rights & choices

Depending on your location, you may have rights under privacy laws such as the GDPR (European Union), UK GDPR, or CCPA (California). Because we collect so little data, these rights are rarely triggered — but we respect them fully:

• Right to access: You can ask what data we hold about you. Since we hold almost none, the answer is almost always "nothing."
• Right to deletion: You can ask us to delete any personal data we hold (e.g., an email you sent us via the contact form).
• Right to opt out of analytics: Install the Google Analytics opt-out add-on or use your browser's built-in tracking protection.
• Right to lodge a complaint: If you're in the EU/UK, you have the right to complain to your national data protection authority.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us. We will respond within 30 days.

Children's privacy

The Service is not directed at children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 16. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. For significant changes, we will make the update more prominent (e.g., a notice on the homepage).

We encourage you to review this page periodically. Your continued use of the Service after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy. If you disagree with a change, you may stop using the Service and contact us with any questions.

Contact us about privacy

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, want to exercise a data right, or have a privacy concern, please get in touch. A real human reads every message.

You can also reach us via our Contact page, which has a full message form and expected response times.