Last reviewed on 26 September 2026
What cookies are
Cookies are small text files that a website asks your browser to store on your device. They allow the site to remember information between page loads (so it does not behave like a stranger every time you click a link). This page explains the cookies and similar technologies used on SleepCycleFinder, alongside our privacy policy.
Categories of cookies on this site
1. Strictly necessary
SleepCycleFinder does not currently set any first-party cookies of its own. Features that need to remember something, such as the sleep log, use local storage instead (see below). If we add a strictly necessary cookie in future, it will not be used to track you across sites.
2. Analytics (Google Analytics 4)
We use Google Analytics 4 to understand which articles are read and how the site performs. The cookies set by Google Analytics typically begin with _ga and have lifetimes of up to two years. They are used to:
- Distinguish unique visitors and sessions in aggregate.
- Measure how readers move through the site.
- Spot which articles need improvement.
Google Analytics may also receive your IP address, which it uses for approximate geolocation before discarding or truncating it. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.
3. Advertising (Google AdSense and partners)
SleepCycleFinder is supported by advertising delivered through Google AdSense. Google and its partners may set cookies on this site to:
- Serve ads based on your prior visits to this site or other websites.
- Limit how often you see the same ad.
- Measure ad performance and detect invalid traffic.
Common AdSense-related cookies include __gads, __gpi, IDE, NID, and similar identifiers. Their lifetimes vary; some persist for up to two years.
How to control cookies
Through your browser
All major browsers let you view, block, or delete cookies. Look for “Privacy”, “Cookies and other site data”, or “Site permissions” in your browser's settings. Blocking all cookies may prevent some site features from working as expected.
For advertising cookies specifically
- Google Ad Settings — control personalised advertising across Google services: google.com/settings/ads.
- YourOnlineChoices (EU/UK industry opt-out) — youronlinechoices.com.
- aboutads.info (Digital Advertising Alliance, US) — aboutads.info/choices.
- Network Advertising Initiative — optout.networkadvertising.org.
For analytics specifically
Use the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on to prevent Google Analytics from running on any site you visit.
Do Not Track
Some browsers include a “Do Not Track” signal. Standards in this area are inconsistent and we do not currently respond to DNT signals separately from the controls described above.
Local storage, the sleep tools and offline caching
The sleep log on the home page, the sleep diary on the sleep pattern analysis page and the progress on the sleep hygiene checklist use your browser's localStorage — not cookies — to save what you enter. Those entries stay on your device and are not transmitted to us. The site also uses a service worker to cache pages you have visited so they load faster and work offline. To clear all of this, clear your browser's site data for sleepcyclefinder.com.
Changes to this policy
We may update this cookie policy from time to time. The “Last reviewed” date at the top reflects the most recent change.
More information
See our full privacy policy for the broader picture, or contact us with any questions.