This Cookie Policy explains how CalFresh Calculator (calfreshcalculator.com) uses cookies and similar tracking technologies when you visit and interact with our website. This policy is designed to help you understand what cookies are, how we use them, the types of cookies we employ, and how you can manage or control your cookie preferences.
By continuing to use our website, you consent to the use of cookies as described in this Cookie Policy. If you do not agree with our use of cookies, you may manage your preferences or discontinue use of the website. For more information about how we handle your personal data, please review our Privacy Policy.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, smartphone, or other device (collectively, "device") when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, provide a better browsing experience, and supply information to website owners.
Cookies serve various purposes. Some cookies are essential for the basic functionality of a website and cannot be disabled. Other cookies help us understand how visitors use our website (analytics), deliver relevant advertisements (advertising), or remember your preferences and settings (functionality).
Here are the main characteristics of cookies:
- First-party cookies are set by the website you are visiting (in this case, calfreshcalculator.com). Only our website can read these cookies
- Third-party cookies are set by domains other than the website you are visiting. These are commonly used by analytics providers (like Google Analytics) and advertising networks (like Google AdSense)
- Session cookies are temporary cookies that are deleted when you close your browser
- Persistent cookies remain on your device for a set period of time or until you manually delete them
In addition to cookies, we and our third-party partners may use similar technologies such as web beacons (also called pixel tags or clear GIFs), local storage, and ETags. These technologies function similarly to cookies and are used for analytics and advertising purposes.
2. Types of Cookies We Use
CalFresh Calculator uses the following categories of cookies and tracking technologies on our website:
- Essential Cookies – Required for the website to function properly
- Analytics Cookies – Help us understand how visitors interact with our website
- Advertising Cookies – Used to deliver relevant advertisements and measure ad effectiveness
- Functionality Cookies – Remember your preferences and enhance your experience
We do not use cookies for purposes beyond what is described in this policy. We are committed to transparency about our cookie practices and provide detailed information about each category below.
3. Essential Cookies
Essential cookies are strictly necessary for the operation of our website. These cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. You cannot opt out of these cookies as the website cannot function properly without them.
- Cookie Consent Banner: Stores your cookie preference selections so we remember your choices across visits. This is a first-party, persistent cookie
- Security Cookies: Used to protect against cross-site request forgery (CSRF) and other security threats. These are first-party, session cookies
- Load Balancing: Used by our hosting infrastructure to distribute traffic evenly across servers for reliable performance. These are first-party, session cookies
Essential cookies do not collect personal information for marketing purposes. They are activated each time you visit our website and are automatically deleted when you close your browser (session cookies) or after a defined period (persistent cookies).
4. Analytics Cookies (Google Analytics)
We use Google Analytics to collect information about how visitors use our website. Google Analytics helps us understand which pages are most popular, how visitors navigate through the site, where visitors come from, and other metrics that help us improve our content and user experience.
Google Analytics uses cookies to collect and analyze data in an aggregated, anonymous form. The analytics cookies set by Google Analytics include:
- _ga: A persistent cookie used to distinguish unique visitors. It expires after 2 years. This is a third-party cookie set by google-analytics.com
- _ga_[ID]: A persistent cookie used by Google Analytics 4 to maintain session state. It expires after 2 years. This is a third-party cookie
- _gid: A persistent cookie used to distinguish unique visitors for a 24-hour period. It expires after 24 hours. This is a third-party cookie
- _gat: A session cookie used to throttle request rates to Google Analytics. It expires after 1 minute. This is a third-party cookie
Information collected through Google Analytics cookies includes:
- Pages visited and time spent on each page
- Navigation path through the website (which pages you visit and in what order)
- Referral source (how you found our website – search engine, direct link, social media, etc.)
- General geographic location (country, state/region, city – based on IP address)
- Device type, browser type, and operating system
- Screen resolution and language settings
We have configured Google Analytics with the following privacy-conscious settings:
- IP Anonymization: We have enabled IP anonymization, which means Google anonymizes the last octet of your IP address before storing or processing it
- Data Retention: We have set user and event data retention to 14 months, after which data is automatically deleted
- Google Signals: We do not use Google Signals for cross-device tracking or advertising features in Google Analytics
- No Remarketing: We do not use Google Analytics data for remarketing or creating advertising audiences
For more information about Google Analytics cookies and data practices, visit Google's Privacy & Terms page and the Google Analytics privacy documentation.
5. Advertising Cookies (Google AdSense)
CalFresh Calculator displays advertisements through Google AdSense to support the free operation of our website. Google AdSense uses cookies and similar technologies to serve advertisements that are relevant to you based on your browsing activity and interests.
Advertising cookies used by Google AdSense and its partners include:
- __gads: A persistent cookie set by Google AdSense that stores your ad preferences. It expires after 13 months. This is a third-party cookie set by google.com
- __gpi: A persistent cookie used by Google Publisher Tag for ad serving optimization. It expires after 13 months. This is a third-party cookie
- IDE, DSID: DoubleClick cookies used for ad targeting and measurement. These are third-party cookies set by doubleclick.net
- NID: A Google cookie that stores user preferences and enables personalized ad serving. It expires after 6 months. This is a third-party cookie set by google.com
- 1P_JAR: A Google cookie that transfers data to Google for ad targeting and measurement. It expires after 1 month. This is a third-party cookie
These advertising cookies enable the following functionalities:
- Ad Personalization: Serving advertisements that are more relevant to your interests based on your browsing history
- Frequency Capping: Ensuring you do not see the same advertisement too many times
- Ad Sequencing: Controlling the order in which advertisements are shown to you
- Conversion Tracking: Measuring whether users who click on ads take desired actions on the advertiser's website
- Ad Reporting: Providing advertisers with aggregate data about the performance of their campaigns
You can manage your ad personalization preferences and opt out of personalized advertising through:
- Google Ads Settings: Visit Google's Ads Settings page to opt out of personalized advertising or manage your ad preferences
- Network Advertising Initiative (NAI): Visit the NAI opt-out page to opt out of participating ad networks
- Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA): Visit the DAA opt-out page for additional choices
Even if you opt out of personalized advertising, you may still see advertisements on our website. However, these advertisements will not be tailored to your interests and will be less relevant to you.
6. Functionality Cookies
Functionality cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalization of the website. These cookies remember your choices and preferences to provide a more tailored experience on subsequent visits.
Functionality cookies we may use include:
- Calculator State: If you use our SNAP eligibility calculator, a functionality cookie may temporarily store your input data so you do not need to re-enter it if you navigate away and return within the same session. This is a first-party, session cookie
- Display Preferences: Remembers any display or layout preferences you set, such as font size or contrast settings if available. This is a first-party, persistent cookie
- Language Preference: Stores your preferred language if multiple language options are available. This is a first-party, persistent cookie
Functionality cookies are optional. While they enhance your experience, the core features of the website (including the calculator) remain fully functional without them.
7. Third-Party Cookies
In addition to the cookies we set directly, third-party services integrated into our website may also set cookies on your device. These third-party cookies are governed by the respective privacy policies and cookie practices of those organizations.
The third-party services that may set cookies on our website include:
- Google Analytics (google-analytics.com, google.com) – Analytics cookies as described in Section 4
- Google AdSense (google.com, doubleclick.net, googlesyndication.com) – Advertising cookies as described in Section 5
- Google Tag Manager (googletagmanager.com) – Used to manage and deploy analytics and advertising tags. May set minimal cookies for tag delivery
- Google Fonts (fonts.googleapis.com, fonts.gstatic.com) – Delivers the Inter font family used on our website. Google Fonts may set cookies for caching and performance optimization
We do not control the cookie practices of these third-party services and encourage you to review their respective privacy policies for more detailed information about their cookie usage.
8. How to Manage Cookies
You have the right to decide whether to accept or reject cookies. You can exercise your cookie preferences in several ways:
Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically set your browser to:
- Accept all cookies – This is the default setting in most browsers
- Block all cookies – Reject all cookies from all websites
- Block third-party cookies only – Accept first-party cookies but reject third-party cookies
- Notify when a cookie is set – Prompt you each time a website attempts to set a cookie
- Delete existing cookies – Remove cookies that are already stored on your device
Please note that if you block all cookies, some features of our website may not function as intended. Essential cookies are required for the website to operate properly.
Instructions for Common Browsers
Google Chrome:
- Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner
- Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data
- Select your preferred cookie setting (e.g., "Block third-party cookies" or "Block all cookies")
- To manage cookies for specific sites, click "See all site data and permissions"
Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Firefox and click the three-line menu in the top-right corner
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security
- Under "Cookies and Site Data," select your preferred option (e.g., "Block third-party trackers" or "Block all cookies")
- To manage individual cookies, click "Manage Data"
Apple Safari (macOS):
- Open Safari and go to Safari > Settings (or Preferences)
- Click the Privacy tab
- Under "Cookies and website data," select your preferred option (e.g., "Block all cookies" or "Prevent cross-site tracking")
- To manage stored data, click "Manage Website Data"
Microsoft Edge:
- Open Edge and click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner
- Go to Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Manage and delete cookies and site data
- Select your preferred setting (e.g., "Block third-party cookies" or "Block all cookies")
- To manage cookies for specific sites, click "See all site data and permissions"
Google Opt-Out Tools
For Google-specific cookies (Analytics and AdSense), you can use Google's opt-out tools:
- Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on: Install the Google Analytics opt-out add-on for your browser to prevent Google Analytics from tracking your visits to any website that uses Google Analytics
- Google Ads Settings: Visit Google's Ads Settings to opt out of personalized advertising or adjust your advertising preferences
Mobile Device Settings
If you access our website from a mobile device, you can manage cookies through your device settings:
- iOS (iPhone/iPad): Go to Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security and toggle "Block All Cookies" or "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking"
- Android: Open Chrome > Settings > Site Settings > Cookies and select your preference
9. Cookie Duration and Renewal
Cookies have defined lifespans that determine how long they remain on your device:
- Session cookies are automatically deleted when you close your browser window. They do not have an expiration date and exist only for the duration of your browsing session
- Persistent cookies have a specific expiration date and remain on your device until that date is reached or you manually delete them. Persistent cookies are "renewed" each time you visit the website, meaning their expiration clock may be reset
The maximum duration of persistent cookies used on our website:
- Google Analytics cookies (_ga, _ga_[ID]): Up to 2 years
- Google AdSense cookies (__gads, __gpi): Up to 13 months
- Cookie consent preferences: Up to 1 year
- Functionality preferences: Up to 1 year
After the expiration period, persistent cookies are automatically deleted from your device. If you revisit our website after a cookie has expired, a new cookie may be set (unless you have configured your browser to block cookies).
10. Cookies and Personal Data
Most cookies used on our website do not collect personal information that can directly identify you as an individual. Cookies typically collect technical information (such as browser type and device type) and behavioral data (such as pages visited and time spent on the site).
However, some cookies, particularly those used for advertising purposes by Google AdSense, may be linked to personal data if you are signed into your Google account while browsing. In such cases, Google may associate your browsing activity with your Google account for ad personalization purposes. This data processing is governed by Google's privacy policy, not ours.
We do not combine cookie data with other personal information we may have about you. For complete information about how we handle personal data, please refer to our Privacy Policy.
In compliance with applicable data protection laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where applicable:
- You have the right to know what personal information is collected about you through cookies
- You have the right to opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information for advertising purposes
- You have the right to request deletion of your personal information collected through cookies
- You have the right to access and receive a copy of your personal information collected through cookies
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at calfreshcalculator@gmail.com.
11. Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our cookie practices, changes in the cookies we use, or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. When we make changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.
We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies and related technologies. Your continued use of the website after any changes to this Cookie Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
If we make material changes to the types of cookies we use or the purposes for which we use them, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you through a notice on our website or through other appropriate means.
12. Contact for Cookie Questions
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please contact us:
- Email: calfreshcalculator@gmail.com
- Website: calfreshcalculator.com/contact
- Founder: Wasim Akram, Independent Web Publisher since 2018
We will make reasonable efforts to respond to your inquiry within a timely manner. For cookie-related requests, please include "Cookie Policy Inquiry" in the subject line of your email.
CalFresh Calculator is committed to transparency about our use of cookies and tracking technologies. We use cookies primarily to improve your experience, understand how our website is used, and support our free service through advertising. You have the right to manage your cookie preferences at any time. This Cookie Policy was last updated on August 8, 2026, by Wasim Akram, founder of CalFresh Calculator.