Privacy Policy

Last updated: February 27, 2026

Introduction

Welcome to CookLab. We believe in building software that respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our recipe experimentation platform.

We are committed to protecting your personal information and being transparent about what we do with it. Please read this policy carefully to understand our practices regarding your data.

Data We Collect

Account Information

When you create an account, we collect information you provide directly:

  • Username and email address
  • Profile information (display name, bio, avatar, location, website, social links)
  • Recipe content you create (titles, descriptions, ingredients, steps, photos)
  • Comments, likes, and interactions with other users

Payment Information

For paid subscriptions, we process payments through Stripe. We do not store your credit card or bank account details on our servers. Stripe may collect:

  • Card information (processed securely by Stripe)
  • Billing address (for invoice records)
  • Stripe customer ID (for subscription management)

Automatically Collected Data

When you use CookLab, we automatically collect:

  • Usage data (pages visited, features used, time spent)
  • Device information (browser type, operating system, IP address)
  • Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Cookies section below)

Analytics

We use PostHog for product analytics to understand how users interact with CookLab. This helps us improve the service. You can opt out of analytics tracking at any time.

How We Use Your Data

We use your information for the following purposes:

Providing Our Service

To create and manage your account, process your recipes, and provide all core functionality of the platform.

Processing Payments

To process subscription payments through Stripe and manage billing-related communications.

Improving Our Service

To analyze usage patterns, identify bugs, and make improvements to CookLab based on user feedback.

Communication

To send important account notifications, respond to your inquiries, and notify you of interactions with your recipes.

Personalization

To personalize your experience, show relevant content, and recommend recipes based on your interests.

Security

To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security threats, and enforce our terms of service.

Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your data only in the following circumstances:

Recipient Purpose Data Shared
Stripe

Payment processing

Process subscription payments Email, subscription status, billing info
AWS S3

Image storage

Store your recipe and profile images Images you upload
PostHog

Analytics (optional)

Product analytics Anonymous usage data
Public

Your choice

Recipes you mark as public Recipe content, username, profile info

Your Public Recipes

When you make a recipe public, anyone can view it. This includes your username and any profile information you have chosen to display. You can change the visibility of your recipes at any time.

Cookies

Cookie Consent

CookLab uses a cookie consent system that allows you to choose which cookies you want to accept. We provide three categories:

Essential

Always Active

Required for the site to function. Includes authentication tokens, session IDs, and security cookies. These cannot be disabled.

Analytics

Optional

Help us understand how users interact with CookLab so we can improve the service. You can enable or disable this at any time.

Preferences

Optional

Remember your settings and preferences for a more personalized experience.

You can change your cookie preferences at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in our footer, or by clearing your browser cookies.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information:

  • Encryption: All data transmitted between your browser and our servers is encrypted using TLS (HTTPS).
  • Secure Storage: User passwords are hashed using industry-standard algorithms. Payment information is processed by Stripe and never stored on our servers.
  • Access Controls: Access to personal data is restricted to authorized personnel only.
  • Regular Reviews: We regularly review our security practices and update them as needed.

Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Access

You can request a copy of all personal data we hold about you, including your recipes, profile information, and activity history.

Rectification

You can update or correct your account information, profile details, and recipe content at any time.

Deletion

You can request deletion of your account and all associated personal data. This includes your recipes, comments, likes, and profile information.

Portability

You can export your recipes in standard formats (PDF, EPUB) for your personal use.

Opt-Out

You can opt out of analytics tracking and marketing communications at any time through your account settings.

Objection

You can object to the processing of your personal data for specific purposes, and we will respect your wishes where legally permissible.

How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us or use the features available in your account settings. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

Children's Privacy

CookLab is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us immediately. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes to how we collect, use, or share your personal information, we will post the updated policy on this page and update the "Last updated" date at the top. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about our practices. Your continued use of CookLab after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

We will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible, typically within 30 days.

Thank you for trusting CookLab with your culinary experiments.