The Short Version
Budget Homelab uses Google Analytics for anonymized traffic data and Kit to manage our optional email newsletter. We do not sell or share your data. That's it.
Analytics
This site uses Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to track page views, traffic sources, and general usage patterns. GA4 collects data like your approximate location (country/region), device type, browser, and how you arrived at the site. IP addresses are anonymized. This data is aggregated -- we see trends, not individuals.
Analytics cookies are blocked by default and only set after you accept the cookie banner. We do not use this data for advertising or share it with third parties outside of Google's standard data processing. You can opt out of GA4 tracking using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, or by clicking Decline on the cookie banner.
Cookies
Once you accept the cookie banner, Google Analytics sets cookies to distinguish unique visitors and sessions. These are standard analytics cookies and do not contain personally identifiable information. We also store your cookie-banner choice in your browser's localStorage so we don't ask you again. No other first-party cookies are set by this site.
Email Newsletter
If you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your email address via Kit (kit.com, formerly ConvertKit), which acts as our email service provider. Your email is stored on Kit's servers and used to send you our weekly self-hosting tips, new guides, and homelab finds. We do not sell or share your email address with third parties.
Submitting the form transmits your email address to Kit, which is governed by Kit's own privacy policy in addition to ours. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email we send -- that removes you from our list immediately. If you'd like your record fully deleted from Kit rather than just unsubscribed, contact us and we'll handle it.
Affiliate Links
Some outbound links on this site are affiliate links. When you click an affiliate link, the retailer (Amazon, hardware vendors, hosting providers, etc.) may set their own cookies to track the referral. Those retailers have their own privacy policies that govern how they handle that data -- we don't control or have access to it.
No Other Personal Data
Budget Homelab has no user accounts and no comment system. Outside of optional newsletter signups, we do not collect names, email addresses, or any other personally identifiable information. The only data we receive passively is what Google Analytics captures automatically from site visits, and only after you accept the cookie banner.
Third-Party Links
This site links to external retailers, documentation, and other websites. Once you leave budgethomelab.com, this privacy policy no longer applies. We recommend reviewing the privacy policy of any site you visit.
Contact
If you have questions about this privacy policy or how your data is handled, reach out via the contact information on the About page.