How We Use Cookies

This page explains how small data files—better known as cookies—help TopCoupons deliver faster pages, smarter savings tools and relevant ads, while respecting Canadian privacy laws.

Illustration of a website cookie notification pop-up on a laptop screen

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored in your browser when you visit a website. They allow pages to “remember” information such as login status, language preference or the fact that you have already seen a pop-up. Unlike cache or localStorage, cookies are sent back to the server with every request—making them useful for analytics and personalised features.

Keeping you signed in to loyalty tools
Saving calculator inputs between visits
Counting how many times a coupon page is viewed

Types of Cookies We Use

Category	Purpose / Example on TopCoupons	Duration
Essential	session_id – keeps you logged in when you comment on a coupon troubleshooting guide.	Session
Performance & Analytics	_ga – Google Analytics measures which coupon pages are most popular.	2 Years
Functionality	calculator_pref_* – remembers last PC Optimum points you entered in a calculator.	90 Days
Targeting & Advertising	ads/ga-audiences – served by Google AdSense to show grocery-savings ads relevant to you.	Persistent / Varies

Blocking essential cookies may break site functions such as personalised calculators or hidden-coupon reveal buttons.

Why Cookies Matter on TopCoupons

Faster pages – we skip loading pop-ups you already dismissed.
Smarter tools – loyalty-point calculators recall last inputs for quicker comparisons.
Free content – cookies let AdSense deliver relevant grocery ads that fund our research.
Accurate analytics – understanding which guides Canadians read most helps us improve topics.

How You Can Control Cookies

1. Chrome (Desktop & Android)

Open Settings › Privacy & Security › Cookies and other site data.
Select “Block third-party cookies” or “Clear cookies when you close windows”.
Click See all site data to remove topcoupons.ca cookies individually.

2. Microsoft Edge

Go to Settings › Privacy, search, and services.
Under Tracking prevention, choose Balanced or Strict.
Click Clear browsing data › Choose what to clear.

3. Firefox

Select the hamburger menu › Settings › Privacy & Security.
Pick Enhanced Tracking Protection › Strict to block most cross-site cookies.
Scroll to Cookies and Site Data to manage or clear.

4. Safari (macOS & iOS)

macOS: Safari › Settings › Privacy; iOS: Settings › Safari.
Enable “Prevent cross-site tracking” or “Block all cookies”.
Tap Advanced › Website Data to remove individual sites.

For ad personalisation across many networks, visit AdChoices Canada or Google My Ad Center.

First-Party vs Third-Party Cookies at a Glance

	First-Party Cookie	Third-Party Cookie
Owner	topcoupons.ca	External partners (e.g., Google AdSense)
Purpose	Site functionality & analytics	Ad personalisation & measurement
Opt-Out Method	Browser settings or clear site data	Browser settings + AdChoices opt-out

We do not sell cookie data. See our Privacy Policy for more details.

Our Compliance With Canadian Privacy Law

PIPEDA and Québec’s Bill 64 require “meaningful consent” for the collection of personal information via cookies. TopCoupons meets this standard by:

Displaying a cookie banner on first visit with a clear Accept action.
Using essential cookies immediately, but delaying analytics & ads until consent.
Offering easy opt-out instructions (see above) and honouring “Do Not Track”.
Maintaining a plain-language Privacy Policy that lists all third-party services.

Under CASL, cookies are considered “computer programs” only if they perform unexpected functions. Our cookies are limited to normal web operations and therefore fall under implied consent.

Cookie Policy FAQ

No. Cookies keep track of IDs, preferences or anonymised analytics. They do not include your name, credit-card number or email. Any personal details you voluntarily enter (e.g., loyalty point balances) are stored securely on our server and linked to the cookie’s random ID, never inside the cookie itself.

Yes. PIPEDA and provincial privacy laws require organisations to obtain meaningful consent before placing non-essential cookies. We request this the first time you visit and honour your choice with a permanent opt-out cookie if you decline analytics or ads.

Clearing cookies logs you out of any saved sessions, resets calculator preferences and may show you pop-ups you already closed. Server-side data (e.g., a loyalty balance stored for convenience) remains intact but is no longer linked to your browser until you log in again.

Most browsers let you block third-party cookies while keeping first-party ones. You can also opt out of personalised ads through the AdChoices program or use Google’s My Ad Center to disable interest-based advertising across Google services.