Last updated: 14 April 2026
PocketWise (“we”, “us”, or “our”) operates the website pocketwise.co.uk. This privacy policy explains what personal data we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, how long we keep it, and what rights you have under UK data protection law.
We are committed to handling your data responsibly and in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Who We Are
Data Controller: PocketWise
Website: pocketwise.co.uk
Contact: hello@pocketwise.co.uk
PocketWise is an independent UK personal finance information resource. We do not hold any FCA permissions and do not offer regulated financial advice.
What Data We Collect and Why
We collect the minimum data necessary to operate the website and improve your experience. We do not require you to create an account, and we do not ask for your name, address, or financial details.
1. Data Collected Automatically (Technical and Analytics Data)
When you visit pocketwise.co.uk, our servers and third-party tools automatically collect:
| Data type | What it includes | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| IP address | Your approximate location (country/city level), not precise address | Security, fraud prevention, geographic analytics |
| Browser and device data | Browser type and version, operating system, screen resolution, device type | Site optimisation |
| Usage data | Pages visited, time on page, scroll depth, clicks, referring URL, exit page | Content improvement, understanding user journeys |
| Session data | How you navigate the site during a visit | UX improvement, analytics |
This data is collected using cookies and similar tracking technologies operated by Google Analytics, Microsoft Clarity, and Google AdSense (see Cookie Policy below).
Legal basis: Legitimate interests (UK GDPR Article 6(1)(f)) — to analyse site performance and display relevant advertising to fund free content.
2. Data You Provide Voluntarily (Contact Enquiries)
If you contact us via email (hello@pocketwise.co.uk), we will collect:
- Your email address
- Your name (if you provide it)
- The content of your message
We use this information solely to respond to your enquiry. We do not add you to any mailing list without explicit consent.
Legal basis: Contract performance / legitimate interests (UK GDPR Article 6(1)(b) and 6(1)(f)).
Retention: We retain email correspondence for up to 2 years, then delete it.
3. Data Collected by Third-Party Advertising
We display advertising through Google AdSense and work with Mediavine (Grow) to manage advertising relationships. These services may use cookies to collect information about your browsing behaviour across websites to serve you interest-based (personalised) advertisements.
Legal basis: Consent (UK GDPR Article 6(1)(a)) — you can withdraw consent by adjusting your cookie preferences or opting out of personalised advertising (see Your Rights below).
Cookie Policy
Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. We use the following categories of cookies:
Essential Cookies
These are necessary for the website to function. They cannot be disabled.
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session cookies | PocketWise | Maintain site state | Session |
Analytics Cookies
These help us understand how visitors use the site. We use this data to improve content and performance.
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
_ga, _gid, _ga_* |
Google Analytics (GA4) | Track page views, sessions, and user journeys. Data is anonymised. | 2 years / 24 hours |
| Clarity cookies | Microsoft Clarity | Session recordings and heatmaps to understand on-page behaviour | 1 year |
Google Analytics data is processed in accordance with Google’s Privacy Policy. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Advertising Cookies
These are used to serve relevant advertisements and measure their effectiveness.
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
IDE, DSID, FLC |
Google AdSense / DoubleClick | Interest-based ad targeting, frequency capping, conversion measurement | 1–2 years |
| Grow cookies | Mediavine Grow | Ad management, reader engagement, analytics | Up to 1 year |
For more information on how Google uses advertising data, see How Google uses information from sites that use our services.
To opt out of personalised advertising by Google, visit Google’s Ad Settings.
Managing Cookie Preferences
You can control cookies through your browser settings:
- Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Safari: Preferences → Privacy
- Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions
Note that disabling advertising or analytics cookies may affect your experience and our ability to fund the production of free content.
Third-Party Data Processors
We work with the following third-party processors who may access or process personal data on our behalf:
| Processor | Service | Location | Privacy Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google LLC | Analytics (GA4), AdSense advertising | USA (with UK adequacy arrangements) | policies.google.com/privacy |
| Microsoft Corporation | Clarity (session recordings) | USA (with UK adequacy arrangements) | privacy.microsoft.com |
| Mediavine | Grow ad management platform | USA (with UK adequacy arrangements) | mediavine.com/privacy-policy |
| Cloudflare (via Netlify) | CDN and DDoS protection | USA/EU (with UK adequacy arrangements) | cloudflare.com/privacypolicy |
All third-party processors have been assessed to ensure they provide appropriate safeguards for transfers of personal data outside the UK, including Standard Contractual Clauses where required.
We do not sell your personal data to any third party.
How Long We Keep Your Data
| Data type | Retention period |
|---|---|
| Analytics data (via Google Analytics) | 14 months (as configured in GA4) |
| Session recordings (via Microsoft Clarity) | 30 days |
| Advertising data | Managed by Google/Mediavine per their retention policies |
| Email enquiries | Up to 2 years |
Your Rights Under UK GDPR
Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018, you have the following rights:
Right of access — You can request a copy of any personal data we hold about you.
Right to rectification — You can ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
Right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”) — You can ask us to delete your personal data. Note that some data (such as that held by Google Analytics) can be deleted through Google’s own tools.
Right to restriction of processing — You can ask us to limit how we use your personal data in certain circumstances.
Right to data portability — You can request your personal data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format.
Right to object — You can object to processing based on legitimate interests, including for direct marketing purposes.
Rights relating to automated decision-making — We do not make any automated decisions based on your personal data that have legal or similarly significant effects on you.
Right to withdraw consent — Where processing is based on consent (such as personalised advertising cookies), you can withdraw consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at hello@pocketwise.co.uk. We will respond within one month of receiving your request, as required by UK GDPR.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):
- Website: ico.org.uk
- Phone: 0303 123 1113
- Address: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF
Advertising and This Website
PocketWise is a free resource funded in part by advertising revenue. We display advertisements served by Google AdSense and managed through the Mediavine Grow platform.
What this means for you:
- Adverts may be personalised based on your browsing history and interests if you have consented to advertising cookies
- If you have not consented, you will see non-personalised (contextual) ads instead
- PocketWise does not control the content of individual advertisements, though Google’s publisher policies prohibit misleading or inappropriate ads
- Editorial content is kept strictly separate from advertising — advertisers have no influence over what we write
We do not accept sponsored content, paid placements, or payment in exchange for favourable editorial coverage of any financial product.
Data Security
We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or disclosure. These include:
- HTTPS encryption across the entire website (enforced via HSTS)
- Strict Content Security Policy and security headers
- No storage of payment or sensitive financial data (we do not have any user accounts or transactions)
- Regular review of third-party processor security arrangements
No method of internet transmission is 100% secure. If you become aware of any security issue affecting pocketwise.co.uk, please contact us immediately at hello@pocketwise.co.uk.
Children’s Privacy
PocketWise is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a child, please contact us and we will take immediate steps to delete it.
Links to Other Websites
Our articles contain links to external websites, including GOV.UK, HMRC, Citizens Advice, and other third-party resources. This privacy policy applies only to pocketwise.co.uk. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of linked sites and encourage you to review their privacy policies.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make significant changes, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page.
We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of the website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this privacy policy or how we handle your data, please contact us:
Email: hello@pocketwise.co.uk
Response time: We aim to respond to all data-related enquiries within 5 business days, and within one month for formal UK GDPR requests.