Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that websites store in your browser. They help sites remember things — like whether you're signed in — so they work properly when you come back.

WhereToSettle uses cookies sparingly, and only where they are genuinely needed to make the site work. We do not use cookies for advertising, cross-site tracking, or profiling you in any way.

This page explains exactly which cookies and similar technologies are active on this site, why they're there, and how you can control them. We are a UK-based service and this policy complies with the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) and UK GDPR.

2. Essential Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary for the site to function. They are only set if you create an account or sign in to WhereToSettle. If you use the site without an account, none of these cookies are placed.

• sb-access-token — keeps you signed in to your WhereToSettle account. Set by Supabase, lasts up to 1 hour.
• sb-refresh-token — renews your session automatically in the background so you stay signed in without interruption. Set by Supabase, lasts up to 60 days.
• wts_pending_redirect — set temporarily when you initiate sign-in from a specific page to redirect you back after email verification. Expires after 30 minutes or is deleted immediately after use. Contains no personal data.

These session cookies are covered by the legitimate interests exemption under PECR — they are technically essential to delivering the service you have requested by signing in.

3. Vercel Analytics

We use Vercel Analytics to understand how visitors use WhereToSettle — for example, which pages are most popular and whether the site loads quickly. Vercel Analytics does not use cookies and does not collect any personal data. It works by aggregating usage signals on Vercel's servers without setting anything in your browser. There is no cross-site tracking, no advertising profile, and no data sold to third parties.

4. Mapbox

The interactive map on WhereToSettle is powered by Mapbox GL JS. When the map loads, Mapbox may set a cookie (mapbox.eventData.*) to track map tile usage and authenticate requests to their tile servers. This is a functional requirement of rendering the map and is not used for advertising or cross-site tracking. See the Mapbox Privacy Policy for full details.

If you disable cookies in your browser, the map may not display correctly.

5. Supabase

We use Supabase as our backend database — for authentication and for caching API responses (crime data, school data) to keep the site fast. Supabase only sets cookies if you are signed in to a WhereToSettle account. If you use the site without an account, Supabase does not set any cookies in your browser.

Supabase servers are located in the EU/EEA. See the Supabase Privacy Policy for more information.

6. No Advertising or Tracking Cookies

We do not run adverts on WhereToSettle and do not use any ad network (Google Ads, Meta Pixel, etc.). We do not embed any third-party tracking pixels or beacons on the site. None of the technologies we use build a profile of you across other websites. We do not sell, rent, or trade your data to any third party for commercial purposes.

The only third-party code that runs on this site is Mapbox GL JS (for the map) and Vercel Analytics (cookie-free usage stats).

7. Managing Your Cookies

You are in control. Here's how to manage or delete cookies in the most common browsers:

• Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
• Safari: Settings → Safari → Privacy & Security → Manage Website Data
• Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
• Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and site data

You can also use your browser's private or incognito mode — cookies set in a private session are deleted automatically when you close the window.

Please note: if you block or delete the session cookies set by Supabase, you will be signed out of your account. If you block Mapbox cookies, the interactive map may not display correctly.

8. Contact Us

If you have any questions about how we use cookies, or want to raise a concern about our use of data, please email us at contactus@wheretosettle.co.uk.