Privacy policy

HostArbiter is a static informational website. We don't run user accounts, we don't sell products directly, and we collect as little data as possible. This policy explains what that means in practice. It was last updated October 9, 2026.

What we collect

By default, very little that identifies you. We measure which pages are read with Google Analytics 4, described in full in the next section. If you email the desk or sign up for the renewal-watch list, we keep the address you provide solely to reply or to send that list, and never sell or rent it. There are no logins and no user profiles on this site.

Google Analytics 4 and its cookies

HostArbiter uses Google Analytics 4, a service provided by Google LLC and Google Ireland Ltd., to see which pages get read. It records the pages you view, the site that referred you, your approximate location at city or country level, your device and browser type, and how long a session lasts. Google Analytics 4 does not log or store IP addresses. We have switched off advertising features, Google signals and ad personalisation, so none of this data is used for advertising, and we never sell it.

Once analytics is allowed, GA4 sets two first-party cookies, _ga and _ga_<ID>, which can last up to two years. Neither is set before then. If you're in the EEA, the UK or Switzerland, a banner asks you first, and nothing is sent to Google unless you click Accept. Everywhere else, analytics is on by default and you can switch it off at any time. If your browser sends the Global Privacy Control signal, we treat that as an opt-out. Your choice is kept in your browser's local storage under the key analytics-consent — not in a cookie.

You can change your analytics choice whenever you like; the link reopens the banner. Google explains its own handling of this data in Google's privacy policy, and Google offers a browser add-on that opts you out of Google Analytics on every site.

Affiliate links and cookies

When you click an outbound link to a host, that host (or its affiliate network) may set a cookie to attribute a later purchase to us. That cookie is placed by the host, on the host's domain, under the host's own privacy policy — not by HostArbiter. We don't receive your name, email or payment details from these clicks; at most we see anonymous, aggregate conversion counts. You can clear or block these cookies in your browser at any time. The mechanics are described in our affiliate disclosure.

Your choices

You can browse this entire site without an account and without telling us who you are. To turn our analytics on or off, use the cookie settings link above. If you've joined the renewal-watch list and want off it, use the unsubscribe link in any email or write to [email protected] and we'll remove you. To control cookies from hosts you click through to, use your browser's cookie settings or private-browsing mode. If any part of this policy is unclear, email the desk and we'll explain.