Privacy Policy

Who we are

App Compare HQ (appcomparehq.com) is an independent software research website owned and operated by KCS Global Group, based at 2nd Floor, Shop No. 22, 19/22, Maitri Nagar, Risali – 490006, District Durg, Chhattisgarh, India. In this policy, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to App Compare HQ and KCS Global Group.

We are responsible for deciding how personal information collected through this website is used. Under India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, we act as the “Data Fiduciary”, and under the EU and UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we act as the “data controller”.

This policy applies to information collected through appcomparehq.com and through emails sent to our addresses. It should be read together with our Terms of Use and Affiliate Disclosure.

Information we collect

We collect only the information needed to run the website, understand how it is used, and respond to you.

We do not ask for, and ask you not to send us, sensitive information such as financial account details, government identification numbers or health information.

How we use information

We use information for the purposes below. Where the GDPR applies, we also list the legal basis for each purpose.

Under India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, we process personal data on the basis of your consent or for legitimate uses permitted by that law, such as when you voluntarily provide information to us for a specific purpose.

Cookies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. They help websites work, remember preferences and measure performance. We and our partners use the following types:

Managing cookies

Where required by law, we ask for your consent before setting non-essential cookies, and you can change your choice at any time. You can also block or delete cookies through your browser settings. Blocking some cookies may affect how the website works.

Advertising

We use Google AdSense to display advertising on App Compare HQ. Advertising helps keep our guides free to read.

You can opt out of personalised advertising, or learn more about how your information is used, using the options below:

If you opt out, you will still see ads, but they will be less relevant to your interests. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content, as explained in our How We Review & Editorial Policy.

Analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand how readers find and use App Compare HQ, such as which guides are most visited and how long readers stay. This information is used in aggregated form to improve our content. We do not use analytics to identify individual readers.

You can prevent Google Analytics from using your data by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. To learn more, see how Google uses information from sites that use its services.

Affiliate links

Some articles contain affiliate links to software companies. When you click one, the company or its affiliate network may set a cookie to record that you arrived from App Compare HQ, so it can credit us if you make a purchase.

We do not receive your payment details or your account information from these companies. Any information you give a software company is governed by that company’s own privacy policy. Learn more in our Affiliate Disclosure.

Sharing information

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only in these situations:

• Service providers: companies that help us run the website, such as web hosting, email, security, analytics and advertising providers, who process information on our behalf or under their own privacy policies.
• Legal reasons: when required by law, court order or a government authority, or to protect our rights, our readers or the public.
• Business changes: if App Compare HQ is sold, merged or transferred, information may be transferred to the new owner under the same protections.

For readers in California, the use of advertising cookies for personalised ads may be considered “sharing” for cross-context behavioural advertising under California law. You can opt out using the advertising controls in section 5 or by contacting us.

International transfers

App Compare HQ is operated from India, and our service providers, including Google, may process information in other countries, including the United States. When information is transferred across borders, we rely on the safeguards offered by our providers and on transfer mechanisms permitted by applicable law.

Data retention

We keep personal information only for as long as it is needed for the purpose it was collected:

• Emails: kept for as long as needed to respond to you and maintain a record of the conversation, then deleted.
• Comments: kept for as long as the comment remains published on the site.
• Technical and analytics data: kept according to the retention settings of our hosting and analytics providers.

We may keep information longer where the law requires it.

Security

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information, including encrypted HTTPS connections, access controls and regular software updates. No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. If a data breach affects your personal information, we will notify you and the relevant authorities where the law requires.

Your privacy rights

Depending on where you live, you may have some or all of the following rights over your personal information:

Readers in India have rights under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, including the right to nominate another person to exercise your rights in the event of death or incapacity. Readers in the EU and UK have rights under the GDPR, including data portability. Readers in California and other US states may have rights under their state privacy laws.

How to make a request

Email contact@appcomparehq.com with the subject “Privacy request”. Tell us which right you want to use and include the email address you used to contact us, if any. We may ask for information to confirm your identity. We will respond within the time required by applicable law, and we will not treat you differently for exercising your rights.

Children’s privacy

App Compare HQ is intended for adults and is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18 years of age. If you believe a child has sent us personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

Third-party websites

Our guides link to software companies and other external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites. Please review the privacy policy of any website you visit.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when our practices, services or legal requirements change. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page shows when it was last revised. For significant changes, we will make the update clear on this page.

Contact and grievances

For any question, request or complaint about this policy or your personal information, please contact our Grievance Officer. We aim to acknowledge privacy requests promptly and resolve them within the time required by applicable law.