Cookie Policy

What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files placed on your device (computer, tablet, or phone) when you visit a website. They allow the website to recognise your device on subsequent visits and remember certain information about your preferences or actions.

Similar technologies include local storage, session storage, and pixel tags (web beacons). This policy covers all such technologies collectively referred to as "cookies."

How We Use Cookies

LOUD VOICE READER & The Scholar uses cookies to:

• Keep you logged in across browser sessions (authentication cookies).
• Remember your preferences such as language, TTS voice selection, and reading speed.
• Protect against cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks.
• Measure site traffic and understand how users navigate the Service.
• Detect and prevent fraud, particularly during account sign-ups.
• Deliver relevant in-app messages and feature announcements.

Types of Cookies We Use

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are required for the core operation of the Service. Without them, you cannot log in, maintain your session, or use essential features. They cannot be disabled.

• Session tokens — authenticate your identity and keep you logged in.
• CSRF tokens — protect form submissions from cross-site attacks.
• Subscription state — remember your active plan for access control.

Functional / Preference Cookies

These cookies remember choices you make to improve your experience. Disabling them may affect personalisation features.

• Language preference — stores your selected interface language.
• Voice selection — remembers your last chosen TTS voice.
• Playback settings — saves your speed and volume preferences.
• Theme settings — if a dark mode is introduced.

Analytics Cookies

These help us understand how users interact with the Service so we can improve it. Data collected is aggregated and anonymised where possible.

• Page view tracking — which pages are most visited and how long users stay.
• Feature usage — which tools (TTS, Scholar, Libraries) are used most.
• Error tracking — detecting crashes or failures in the application.
• Conversion tracking — understanding the path from sign-up to subscription.

Security & Fraud Prevention Cookies

Used specifically to detect and prevent fraudulent activity, particularly during account registration. These may include device fingerprinting signals.

• IPQualityScore — device and IP risk assessment during registration.
• Rate-limiting tokens — preventing abuse of free features.

Third-Party Cookies

Some third-party services we use may also set cookies on your device. These are governed by the respective third party's privacy policies:

• Stripe (payment processing) — sets cookies to help detect fraud during checkout.
• Google (OAuth sign-in, Gemini AI API) — if you sign in via Google.
• Vercel Analytics — anonymous usage statistics for application performance monitoring.

We do not permit third-party advertising networks to place cookies on our Service.

Managing Your Cookie Preferences

Browser Settings

You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings. Here is how to manage cookies in common browsers:

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

Impact of Disabling Cookies

Disabling strictly necessary cookies will prevent you from using the Service entirely. Disabling functional cookies will mean your preferences are not saved between sessions. Disabling analytics cookies will not affect your ability to use the Service but will prevent us from improving it based on usage data.

Do Not Track

Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal. Our Service currently does not alter its data collection practices in response to DNT signals, as there is no universal standard for how they should be interpreted.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the policy was last revised. We encourage you to review this page periodically.