Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

ArchitectureTools (architecturetools.com) is an independent software directory for architects and designers. We publish research, comparisons and guides about third-party software. We are not a software vendor or reseller, we do not sell any product or service on this website, and we never take payments from visitors.

This policy explains what personal data we process when you visit the site, why we process it, and the rights you have under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and equivalent laws. If you have any question about it, write to architecturetools@outlook.com.

2. The short version

• We use Google Analytics to understand which pages are read. That is the main data collection on this site.
• We have no visitor accounts, no shopping cart and no payment processing, so we never see card or billing data.
• We do not sell, rent or trade personal data, and we do not run advertising networks.
• If you email us, we use your message only to reply to you.

3. Data we collect

• Analytics data. We use Google Analytics 4 to measure traffic. It processes your IP address, approximate location derived from it, device and browser type, referring website, pages viewed, and time spent on them. This data is used in aggregate; we do not use it to identify individual visitors.
• Data you send us. If you contact us by email, subscribe to the newsletter, or submit a tool through a form on this site, we process what you choose to provide, typically your name, email address and your message. We use it only to answer you or to send the newsletter you asked for.
• Technical logs. Our hosting provider records standard server logs (IP address, user agent, timestamp, requested URL) for security, abuse prevention and reliability.
• Local storage. Your browser stores small preferences locally, such as your comparison list and the fact that you dismissed the cookie banner. This stays on your device.

4. Data we do not collect

We do not collect payment or card data, we do not require visitor accounts, we do not build advertising or marketing profiles, and we do not knowingly collect data from children.

5. Why we process it, and on what legal basis

• To operate and secure the website — legitimate interest (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).
• To measure audience and improve our content — consent where required for analytics cookies, otherwise legitimate interest (Art. 6(1)(a) and (f) GDPR).
• To answer your message — legitimate interest, or steps taken at your request (Art. 6(1)(b) and (f) GDPR).
• To send the newsletter — your consent, which you can withdraw at any time (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR).

6. Cookies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies, mainly for Google Analytics. Full details, including how to refuse or delete them, are in our Cookie Policy.

7. Service providers

We rely on a small number of processors, and we share with them only what they need to run the service:

• Google Analytics — audience measurement.
• Vercel — website hosting and content delivery.
• Supabase — storage for article content and images.
• Brevo — delivery of the newsletter and of the messages you send through the contact and tool-submission forms.

These providers may process data outside the European Economic Area. Where that happens, transfers rely on Standard Contractual Clauses or an adequacy decision such as the EU-US Data Privacy Framework.

8. How long we keep it

Analytics data is retained according to the retention period configured in Google Analytics (14 months by default). Emails and form submissions are kept for as long as needed to deal with your request and to keep a record of it, then deleted. Server logs are kept for a short period by our host.

9. Your rights

Under the GDPR you have the right to:

• access the personal data we hold about you;
• have inaccurate data corrected;
• have your data erased (the "right to be forgotten");
• restrict or object to processing, including profiling;
• receive your data in a portable format;
• withdraw consent at any time, without affecting processing carried out before you withdrew it.

To exercise any of these rights, email architecturetools@outlook.com. We answer within one month. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection supervisory authority.

10. Opting out of analytics

You can block analytics cookies through your browser settings, through a tracking blocker, or by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

11. Links to other websites

Our articles link to software vendors and other third-party websites, and some of those links are affiliate links (see our Affiliate Disclosure). Once you follow a link you leave this site, and the privacy policy of that website applies. We are not responsible for the content or the data practices of websites we link to.

12. Children

This website is aimed at professionals and students in architecture and design. It is not directed at children under 16, and we do not knowingly collect their personal data. If you believe a child has sent us personal data, contact us and we will delete it.

13. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the site or the applicable law changes. The date at the top of this page always shows when it was last revised.

14. Contact

Questions, requests or complaints about privacy: architecturetools@outlook.com.