PayrollSoftwareGuide ("we," "us," or "our") operates payrollsoftwareguide.com. This Privacy Policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, your rights over that data and how we protect it. We wrote this policy to be readable — not just legally defensible. If you have questions, contact us at contact@payrollsoftwareguide.com.
1. Who We Are
PayrollSoftwareGuide is an independent review and comparison website focused on payroll software for US businesses. We publish reviews, guides and comparisons to help businesses make informed purchasing decisions. We do not sell payroll software, process payments or store financial data.
Data controller: Loreto Barrionuevo
Contact email: contact@payrollsoftwareguide.com
2. Data We Collect
2.1 Data you provide directly
We do not currently operate user accounts, checkout flows or subscription forms. However, if you contact us via email or a contact form, we collect:
- Your name (if provided)
- Your email address
- The content of your message
This data is used solely to respond to your inquiry and is not used for marketing without your explicit consent.
2.2 Data collected automatically
When you visit our site, certain technical data is collected automatically by our systems and third-party services:
| Data type | What it includes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Log data | IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URL, pages visited, time and date of visit | Web server / hosting provider |
| Usage data | Pages viewed, time on page, scroll depth, clicks, navigation path | Google Analytics |
| Device data | Device type, screen resolution, language settings | Google Analytics |
| Cookie data | Session cookies, analytics cookies, advertising cookies | Google Analytics, Google AdSense |
2.3 Data we do not collect
- Payment card information
- Government ID numbers or Social Security numbers
- Health or biometric data
- Children's personal data (our site is not directed at users under 13)
3. How We Use Your Data
| Purpose | Data used | Legal basis (GDPR) |
|---|---|---|
| Operate and improve the website | Log data, usage data | Legitimate interests |
| Analyze traffic and user behavior | Analytics cookies, usage data | Consent (where required) |
| Display personalized advertising | Advertising cookies (via Google AdSense) | Consent (where required) |
| Respond to contact inquiries | Name, email, message content | Contract / legitimate interests |
| Detect and prevent abuse or fraud | IP address, log data | Legitimate interests |
| Comply with legal obligations | Any data necessary | Legal obligation |
We do not sell your personal data to third parties. We do not use your data for automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects.
4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies. Our full Cookie Policy is available at /cookie-policy/. In summary:
- Essential cookies: Required for the site to function. No consent needed.
- Analytics cookies: Set by Google Analytics to measure site traffic and behavior. Require consent in applicable jurisdictions.
- Advertising cookies: Set by Google AdSense to display relevant ads. Require consent in applicable jurisdictions.
You can manage or disable cookies at any time through your browser settings or our cookie consent tool. Disabling cookies may affect site functionality and the relevance of ads shown to you.
5. Third-Party Services
5.1 Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics (provided by Google LLC) to understand how visitors interact with our site. Google Analytics collects usage data and places cookies on your device. Data is processed by Google in accordance with their Privacy Policy. We have enabled IP anonymization in Google Analytics. Google may transfer data to the United States and other countries. For more information, see: Google Privacy Policy. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
5.2 Google AdSense
We use Google AdSense to display advertisements. Google AdSense places advertising cookies on your device to show you relevant ads based on your browsing history and interests. Google acts as an independent data controller for data collected through AdSense. For more information, see: Google Advertising Policies. You can opt out of personalized advertising at Google Ad Settings or via the Digital Advertising Alliance opt-out tool.
5.3 Affiliate links
Some links on this site are affiliate links. When you click an affiliate link and purchase a product or service, we may receive a commission. Affiliate partners may place their own cookies on your device to track referrals. These cookies are governed by the affiliate partner's privacy policy, not ours. Our affiliate relationships are disclosed in our Affiliate Disclosure.
6. Your Privacy Rights
6.1 Rights under GDPR (EU/EEA residents)
- Right of access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Right to rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
- Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten"): Request deletion of your personal data
- Right to restrict processing: Request that we limit how we use your data
- Right to data portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
- Right to object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing
- Right to withdraw consent: Withdraw any consent you have previously given, at any time
6.2 Rights under CCPA/CPRA (California residents)
- Right to know: Request disclosure of what personal information we collect, use and share
- Right to delete: Request deletion of personal information we hold about you
- Right to correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information
- Right to opt out of sale or sharing: We do not sell or share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising. No opt-out is currently required, but we honor requests.
- Right to non-discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at contact@payrollsoftwareguide.com. We will respond within 30 days (GDPR) or 45 days (CCPA/CPRA).
7. Data Retention
- Contact inquiry data: Retained for up to 24 months, then deleted unless ongoing correspondence requires longer retention
- Analytics data: Retained in Google Analytics for 14 months (our default setting)
- Log data: Retained by our hosting provider for up to 30 days for security and operational purposes
- Cookie data: Duration varies by cookie type — see our Cookie Policy for details
8. International Data Transfers
Our website is operated from the United States. If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom or other regions with data protection laws that differ from US law, be aware that your data may be transferred to and processed in the United States.
For transfers from the EEA, we rely on the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) where applicable, including for data processed by Google Analytics and Google AdSense.
9. Security
We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure or destruction. These include HTTPS encryption, access controls and regular security reviews. However, no internet transmission is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.
10. Children's Privacy
PayrollSoftwareGuide is not directed at children under the age of 13 (or 16 in certain EU jurisdictions). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided personal data to us, contact us and we will delete it promptly.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Material changes will be communicated via a notice on the homepage. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
12. Contact Us
For privacy-related questions, requests or complaints:
If you are in the EU and are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority.