Cookies policy

What is a cookie?

A cookie is a small text file stored by your browser when you visit a website. Similar technologies, such as your browser’s local and session storage, are covered by the same rules, so we describe them here too.

Your choice

On your first visit a cookie banner asks whether you accept analytics and advertising cookies. “Accept all” and “Reject all” are equally easy, and “Manage cookies” lets you turn each category on or off. Until you choose, only strictly-necessary cookies are used.

We remember your choice for 6 months, then ask again. If we add a new category of cookie, we ask again sooner. You can change or withdraw your choice at any time: use Cookie settings (also in the footer of every page). Withdrawing consent deletes the Google Analytics cookies and our source-of-visit cookie from your browser.

Strictly-necessary cookies

These make the site work and cannot be turned off.

• ss_consent: remembers your cookie choice. Expires after 6 months.
• accessToken and userName: keep you signed in to your Switch account. Only set when you sign in; expire within 24 hours.
• payload-token: signs our staff in to the content system. Not set for visitors.

Analytics cookies (only with your consent)

• _ga and _ga_8287LJ0JKV: Google Analytics 4, used to understand which pages and features get used. Expire after up to 2 years. Google Analytics 4 does not log or store IP addresses.
• ss_src: remembers which kind of site sent you to us (for example a search engine or an AI assistant) so we can see which sources lead to deals. It stores only that label, never who you are, and is deleted when you close your browser.

Google Analytics runs in Google Consent Mode. Before you accept, or if you reject, it sets no cookies and sends Google only cookieless signals (such as a page view or a deal click, without an identifier) so we can count overall visits. When you click through to a retailer we also send Google Analytics an “affiliate click” event naming the deal and retailer.

With analytics consent we also keep a random visit id in your browser’s session storage (ss_pv_sid, cleared when you close the tab) to link the pages you view in one visit in our own page-view log. That log records the path you opened, the referring site, campaign parameters and browser type. IP addresses are shortened and hashed, it does not include your name or email, and rows are deleted after 60 days. Without consent, page views are logged without the visit id.

Advertising cookies (only with your consent)

We do not currently run any advertising or remarketing tags, so no advertising cookies are set today. The Advertising switch controls the consent signals we pass to Google (ad storage, ad user data and ad personalisation), so nothing ad-related can be turned on without your permission.

When you click through to a retailer

Deal buttons take you to the retailer through our affiliate network (Awin). Awin and the retailer set their own cookies on their websites so the retailer can credit us for the referral. Those cookies are covered by their cookie policies, not this one.

Error reporting

We use Sentry to catch errors so we can fix them. Sentry sets no cookies. When an error happens it may record a short replay of the page with all text masked and images blocked, so no personal details are captured.

Other things stored in your browser

Some features keep small, non-tracking settings in your browser’s storage so they work as you expect: your postcode during a broadband search, the deals you pick to compare, your business energy quote details, and the Squid assistant’s chat and sound preferences. They stay on your device and are not used for analytics or advertising.

Managing cookies in your browser

You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings. Blocking strictly-necessary cookies will stop parts of the site, such as signing in, from working.