Cookie Policy
Learn how MergeJPG uses minimal cookies to improve your experience.
2025/01/19
Introduction
At MergeJPG, we use minimal cookies to ensure our service works properly and to understand how visitors use our website. This Cookie Policy explains what cookies we use, why we use them, and how you can control them.
Last Updated: January 19, 2025
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile) when you visit a website. They help websites remember your preferences and understand how you use the site.
Our Cookie Philosophy: Less is More
Unlike many websites, MergeJPG uses minimal cookies because:
- ✅ We respect your privacy
- ✅ We don't track you across websites
- ✅ We don't sell your data
- ✅ We don't serve personalized ads
Cookies We Use
1. Essential Cookies
Purpose: These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session preference | Remember your tool settings (layout, spacing, quality) | Session only | Browser local storage |
Important: These are stored in your browser's local storage, NOT sent to our servers.
2. Analytics Cookies (Google Analytics)
Purpose: To understand how visitors use our website and improve the service.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Distinguish unique users | 2 years | Google Analytics |
| ga* | Maintain session state | 2 years | Google Analytics |
| _gid | Distinguish unique users | 24 hours | Google Analytics |
What we collect:
- Pages you visit
- Time spent on site
- Browser type and version
- Device type (desktop/mobile)
- Approximate location (city/country)
What we DON'T collect:
- Your name or email (unless you contact us)
- Your images or files
- Your personally identifiable information
You can opt-out of Google Analytics by:
- Using browser extensions like uBlock Origin
- Installing Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
- Blocking third-party cookies in your browser settings
3. What We DON'T Use
We do NOT use:
- ❌ Advertising cookies: We don't serve ads
- ❌ Social media cookies: We don't embed social media trackers
- ❌ Cross-site tracking cookies: We don't track you across other websites
- ❌ Marketing cookies: We don't send promotional emails (unless you subscribe)
How We Use Cookies
Essential Functionality
When you use the merge tool, your preferences are saved in your browser's local storage:
- Selected layout (vertical/horizontal)
- Image spacing preference
- Quality settings
Important: These settings stay on YOUR device. They are never sent to our servers.
Analytics & Improvement
We use Google Analytics to answer questions like:
- How many people use MergeJPG?
- Which features are most popular?
- Are there any bugs or errors?
- How can we improve the user experience?
This helps us make MergeJPG better for everyone.
Managing Cookies
Option 1: Browser Settings
You can control cookies through your browser settings:
Chrome:
- Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
- Choose "Block third-party cookies" or "Block all cookies"
Firefox:
- Settings → Privacy & Security
- Choose "Strict" or "Custom" under Enhanced Tracking Protection
Safari:
- Preferences → Privacy
- Check "Prevent cross-site tracking" and "Block all cookies"
Edge:
- Settings → Cookies and site permissions
- Choose "Block third-party cookies"
Option 2: Browser Extensions
Install privacy-focused browser extensions:
- uBlock Origin - Blocks tracking cookies
- Privacy Badger - Learns and blocks trackers
- Ghostery - Blocks ads and trackers
Option 3: Incognito/Private Mode
Use your browser's private browsing mode:
- Chrome: Incognito mode
- Firefox: Private Window
- Safari: Private Browsing
- Edge: InPrivate mode
Note: In private mode, cookies are automatically deleted when you close the window.
Impact of Blocking Cookies
If you block all cookies:
- ✅ The merge tool will still work perfectly
- ✅ Image processing happens in your browser (no cookies needed)
- ❌ We won't be able to improve the service based on usage data
- ❌ Your tool preferences won't be saved between sessions
Bottom line: Blocking cookies won't affect the core functionality of MergeJPG!
Third-Party Cookies
We only use Google Analytics as a third-party service. We do not use:
- Advertising networks
- Social media pixels
- Third-party marketing tools
- Data brokers
Google Analytics Privacy: Google's privacy policy is available at https://policies.google.com/privacy
Cookies and Your Privacy
We Respect Your Privacy
- Your images are processed entirely in your browser
- We never upload your images to our servers
- We don't collect personally identifiable information
- We don't sell your data to anyone
Compliance
Our cookie usage complies with:
- GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) - EU users
- CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) - California users
- ePrivacy Directive - Cookie Law
Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date.
We recommend reviewing this policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.
Contact Us
If you have questions about our use of cookies, please contact us:
- Contact Form: Contact Us
- Website: merge-jpg.app
Summary
Here's a quick summary of our cookie usage:
| Category | What We Use | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Browser local storage | Save your tool preferences (stays on your device) |
| Analytics | Google Analytics (3 cookies) | Understand usage and improve service |
| Advertising | None | We don't use advertising cookies |
| Social Media | None | We don't use social media trackers |
| Marketing | None | We don't track for marketing purposes |
Total cookies: ~3 (all from Google Analytics, which you can block)
Remember: MergeJPG works perfectly even if you block all cookies. Your privacy matters to us!