Cookie & Local Storage Policy

What Are Cookies and Local Storage?

Cookies are small text files that websites store on your device to remember preferences and track activity. Local Storage is a browser feature that allows websites to store larger amounts of data locally on your device.

SimpleInvoice primarily uses Local Storage (not cookies) to store your invoice data. This is a deliberate design choice to keep your data private and under your control.

✓ GDPR Compliant: We use only essential storage that is strictly necessary for the application to function. Under GDPR Article 5(3) and ePrivacy Directive, consent is not required for storage that is essential to provide a service explicitly requested by the user.

What We Store

Here is a complete list of all data stored by SimpleInvoice in your browser:

Storage Key	Purpose	Type	Expires
`simpleinvoice_invoices`	Your saved invoices and invoice data	Essential	Never (until you delete)
`simpleinvoice_templates`	Your saved invoice templates	Essential	Never (until you delete)
`simpleinvoice_settings`	Your preferences (company defaults, tax settings)	Essential	Never (until you delete)
`simpleinvoice_current`	ID of the currently open invoice	Functional	Never (until you delete)
`cookie-consent`	Records that you've acknowledged this policy	Functional	Never (until you delete)

Key Point: All storage is categorized as "Essential" or "Functional" for providing the service you requested. We do not use any analytics, advertising, or tracking storage.

What We DON'T Use

SimpleInvoice does NOT use any of the following:

Third-party cookies: No Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or any other third-party trackers
Advertising cookies: No ad networks or retargeting services
Social media trackers: No Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or other social tracking
Cross-site tracking: We don't track you across other websites
Session cookies: We don't require login sessions
Fingerprinting techniques: We don't use canvas fingerprinting or similar tracking

Legal Basis (GDPR & ePrivacy)

Under the EU ePrivacy Directive (2002/58/EC, as amended) and GDPR, we rely on the following legal basis:

Essential Storage (No Consent Required): Storage that is strictly necessary to provide a service explicitly requested by the user. Your invoice data and settings fall into this category—without storing them, the application cannot function.
Legitimate Interest: The cookie consent flag is stored to prevent repeatedly showing the consent banner, which improves user experience while respecting your choice.

✓ No Consent Banner Required for Core Functionality: Since we only use essential storage for the service you requested, we are not legally required to ask for cookie consent. We display a notice for transparency, not legal obligation.

Your Control Over Stored Data

You have complete control over all data stored by SimpleInvoice:

Export All Data: Use the Export feature in the Settings sidebar to download all your data as a JSON file
Delete All Data: Use the "Delete All Data" button to permanently erase everything
Browser Controls: Clear your browser's Local Storage for this site through browser settings
Delete Individual Items: Delete specific invoices or templates directly in the app

⚠️ Warning: Clearing browser data or using "Delete All Data" will permanently remove all invoices with no backup. Always export your data first if you want to keep it.

EU Regulatory Compliance Status

Below is our compliance status with key EU regulations affecting website ranking and operation in Europe:

✓ GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)

Fully compliant. No personal data collection, local-first architecture, clear privacy policy, data export/delete tools provided.

✓ ePrivacy Directive (Cookie Law)

Compliant. Only essential storage used. Consent not legally required but notice provided for transparency.

✓ Digital Services Act (DSA)

Not applicable. DSA applies to intermediary services; SimpleInvoice is a tool, not a platform hosting user content for distribution.

✓ Consumer Rights Directive

Compliant. Free service, no contracts, clear terms, users can stop using at any time.

⚠ Accessibility (EN 301 549)

Partial compliance. Keyboard navigation supported. Full screen reader optimization may require additional work.

✓ Imprint/Legal Notice

Contact information provided in About, Privacy, and Terms pages. Business registration details should be added if operating as a formal business entity.

Google Ranking Note: Google does not penalize websites for regulatory compliance. However, missing cookie consent (when required) or poor user experience from aggressive cookie walls can affect rankings. Since SimpleInvoice uses only essential storage, we avoid these issues entirely.

Potential Issues & Recommendations

For full EU regulatory compliance and optimal Google ranking in Europe, consider the following:

Impressum (Germany, Austria): If operating in or targeting German-speaking countries, add a formal Impressum with business registration details, VAT number (if applicable), and responsible person's contact information.
HTTPS: Ensure the site is served over HTTPS. Mixed content or HTTP-only sites are flagged by browsers and may affect ranking.
Accessibility: Conduct an accessibility audit (WCAG 2.1 Level AA) to ensure the site is usable by people with disabilities. This is increasingly important for EU public sector and large organization contracts.
Language Support: Consider adding key EU language translations if targeting specific markets.
Data Protection Officer (DPO): Not required for this application as we don't process personal data at scale, but may be needed if the service expands.

Contact Us

If you have questions about our use of cookies or local storage, please contact us at:

Email: privacy@simpleinvoice.app
Subject: Cookie Policy Inquiry