Cookie Policy
Last updated: March 31, 2026
Our Privacy Policy explains our principles when it comes to the collection, processing, and storage of your information. This Cookie Policy specifically explains how Plot Along® and our partners deploy cookies, as well as the options you have to control them.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small pieces of data, stored in text files, that are stored on your computer or other device when websites are loaded in a browser. They are widely used to “remember” you and your preferences, either for a single visit (through a “session cookie”) or for multiple repeat visits (using a “persistent cookie”). They ensure a consistent and efficient experience for visitors, and perform essential functions such as allowing users to register and remain logged in.
Cookies may be set by the site that you are visiting (known as “first-party cookies”), or by third parties, such as those who serve content or provide analytics services on the website (“third-party cookies”).
Both websites and HTML emails may also contain other tracking technologies such as “web beacons” or “pixels.” These are typically small transparent images that provide us with statistics, for similar purposes as cookies. They are often used in conjunction with cookies, though they are not stored on your computer in the same way. As a result, if you disable cookies, web beacons may still load, but their functionality will be restricted.
Cookies We Use
Plot Along uses a minimal set of cookies. We believe in collecting only what is necessary to provide our Service.
Required Cookies
These cookies are essential for Plot Along to perform basic functions and are necessary for us to operate.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
pa_session | Authenticates your session after login. Allows you to remain logged in as you navigate the application. | 7 days | First-party, HTTP-only, Secure, SameSite=Lax |
Local Storage
In addition to cookies, we use your browser’s local storage to remember your preferences. Local storage is similar to cookies but stays on your device and is not sent to our servers with each request.
| Key | Purpose |
|---|---|
plotalong:mapStyle | Remembers your preferred map style (e.g., streets, satellite, outdoors) |
plotalong:labelsVisible | Remembers whether you have map labels turned on or off |
Analytics
We use OpenPanel, a privacy-focused analytics service, to understand how our Service is used. OpenPanel:
- Respects Do Not Track (DNT): If your browser sends a Do Not Track signal, no analytics data is collected.
- Respects Global Privacy Control (GPC): If you have GPC enabled, no analytics data is collected.
- Does not use cookies: OpenPanel does not set any cookies on your device.
- Does not cross-site track: Your activity on Plot Along is not correlated with your activity on other websites.
When analytics is active (i.e., you have not opted out via DNT or GPC), the following data is collected:
- Page views and navigation events
- Feature usage events (e.g., map creation, route calculation, sharing)
- Your user ID (when you are logged in), to understand usage patterns across sessions
- Your IP address (used for approximate geolocation and then discarded)
- Browser type and operating system
Third-Party Cookies
We aim to minimize third-party cookies. The following third-party services may set cookies when you use specific features:
| Service | When Active | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe | During checkout / payment | Processes payments and aids in fraud detection. Stripe may set cookies like __stripe_mid and __stripe_sid. See Stripe’s Cookie Policy. |
| Mapbox | Viewing maps | Loads map tiles and processes geocoding requests. Mapbox may set cookies for performance and analytics. See Mapbox’s Privacy Policy. |
Controlling Cookies
Most browsers provide ways to control cookie behavior, such as the length of time they are stored — either through built-in functionality or by utilizing third-party plugins. If you disable cookies, please be aware that the authentication features of our Service will not function correctly (you will not be able to log in).
To find out more about how to manage and delete cookies, visit aboutcookies.org. For more details on your choices regarding use of your web browsing activity for interest-based advertising, visit youronlinechoices.eu (EU based) or optout.aboutads.info (US based).
Opting Out of Analytics
You can opt out of analytics collection by:
- Enabling Do Not Track (DNT) in your browser settings.
- Enabling Global Privacy Control (GPC) through a browser extension or supported browser.
When either signal is detected, Plot Along will not send any analytics data.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about our use of cookies, you can find the most relevant contact details in our Privacy Policy, or email us at privacy@plotalong.app.
Attribution
This Cookie Policy is adapted from the Automattic Cookie Policy (CC BY-SA 4.0). This document is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International.