Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 2026

We believe privacy is a right, not a feature. This policy explains exactly what data we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, and what rights you have over it — in plain language, without legal jargon.

The short version

We only collect data we actually need to run the platform.

We never sell your data to third parties. Ever.

You can request deletion of your account and all your data at any time.

We use industry-standard security to protect what you share with us.

GDPR users have full rights: access, correction, deletion, portability.

Affiliate links track purchases, not people. No cross-site tracking.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information in two ways: information you give us directly, and information collected automatically when you use the site.

Information you give us

Account registration

When you create an account, we collect your email address and (if using OAuth) your name and profile picture from Google or GitHub. We never see or store your Google or GitHub password.

Profile information

You may optionally add a display name to your AnimePulse profile. This is visible to you on your profile page and used to personalise your experience.

Watchlist data

Anime titles you add to your watchlist are stored in your account so you can access them across devices.

Contact messages

When you send us a message via the Contact Us page, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your message.

Payment information

If you subscribe to AnimePulse Pro or Elite, payments are processed by Lemon Squeezy. We never see or store your credit card details — only your subscription status.

Information collected automatically

Usage data

Pages visited, time spent on site, referring URLs, and browser type. This helps us understand which content is popular and where to improve the experience.

IP address

Used for rate limiting (preventing abuse) and approximate geolocation (to serve region-relevant content). We do not store IP addresses in user profiles.

Cookies and session data

We use session cookies to keep you logged in. We also use analytics cookies (see Section 5). You can control cookies via your browser settings.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your data for the following purposes, and only these purposes:

To operate your account

Your email and profile data are used to authenticate you and give you access to account features like your watchlist and subscription.

To deliver the service

Watchlist data, preferences, and subscription status are used to personalise your AnimePulse experience.

To send transactional emails

We send emails for account confirmation, password reset, and subscription receipts. These are not optional — they are required for the service to work.

To send news notifications

If you opt in to anime watchlist notifications, we'll email you when a new article matches a title in your watchlist. You can unsubscribe at any time.

To analyse and improve the site

Aggregated, anonymised usage data helps us understand what content resonates and where the site can be improved. We never use individual user data for this.

To prevent abuse

IP-based rate limiting is used to protect the platform from automated abuse, spam, and unauthorised access attempts.

3. Data Storage & Security

Your data is stored in Google Firebase (Firestore database), which operates on Google Cloud infrastructure with enterprise-grade security. Firebase complies with GDPR, CCPA, SOC 2, ISO 27001, and other major security standards.

Account passwords are never stored in plain text. OAuth users (Google, GitHub) authenticate directly through their provider — we only receive a secure token. Email/password users have their passwords hashed using industry-standard algorithms before storage.

Session tokens are encrypted and stored in secure HTTP-only cookies, inaccessible to JavaScript. We use HTTPS exclusively — all data in transit is encrypted via TLS.

No method of internet transmission or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we implement all reasonable measures to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security. If a data breach occurs that affects your personal information, we will notify you within 72 hours as required by GDPR.

4. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services. Each processes data as described:

Google Firebase

Database and authentication. Your account data lives here. Firebase is GDPR-compliant and operates under a Data Processing Agreement.

Google Analytics

Anonymised traffic analytics. We use this to understand site usage patterns. Analytics data does not include personally identifiable information.

Lemon Squeezy

Payment processing for Pro and Elite subscriptions. They receive your payment details and billing address. We only receive your subscription status.

Resend

Transactional email delivery (account confirmation, notifications). Your email address is shared with Resend for the purpose of delivering emails.

Algolia

Site search functionality. Search queries may be processed by Algolia to return results. No personal account data is shared.

Google / GitHub OAuth

Optional login via Google or GitHub. If you use OAuth, their respective privacy policies apply to the authentication step. We only receive a name, email, and profile picture.

Amazon Associates

Affiliate programme. If you click an affiliate link, Amazon may place a tracking cookie on your device to attribute the purchase. See amazon.com/privacy for details.

Crunchyroll Affiliate

Affiliate programme. Clicking a Crunchyroll affiliate link may set a tracking cookie. See crunchyroll.com/privacy for details.

5. Cookies

AnimePulse uses the following types of cookies:

Essential cookies

Required

Session cookies that keep you logged in. Without these, the site cannot function properly. These cannot be disabled.

Analytics cookies

Optional

Google Analytics cookies that help us understand how visitors use the site. These use anonymised data and do not track you personally. You can opt out via Google Analytics Opt-out.

Affiliate cookies

Optional

Set by Amazon and Crunchyroll when you click affiliate links. These track purchases for commission attribution. They are governed by those platforms' policies, not ours.

6. Your Rights

Regardless of where you are in the world, you have the following rights over your data. GDPR users (EU/UK/EEA) have these rights enforceable by law. We honour them for all users.

Right to Access

Request a copy of all personal data we hold about you.

Right to Correction

Request correction of inaccurate data on your account.

Right to Deletion

Request full deletion of your account and all associated data.

Right to Portability

Request your data in a machine-readable format (JSON).

Right to Object

Object to processing of your data for analytics purposes.

Right to Withdraw

Unsubscribe from any non-essential email at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at privacy@animepulse.online. We will respond within 30 days. For account deletion, you can also use the delete option in your profile settings.

7. Children's Privacy

AnimePulse is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at privacy@animepulse.online and we will delete the data immediately. If you are between 13 and 18, please review these terms with a parent or guardian before creating an account.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, we will:

Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
Post a notice on the AnimePulse homepage for significant changes
Send an email notification to registered users for material changes

Continued use of AnimePulse after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy. If you disagree with changes, you may request account deletion at any time.

9. Contact

For privacy-related questions, data requests, or concerns, contact us at:

AnimePulse Privacy Team

privacy@animepulse.online

We respond to all privacy requests within 30 days.