Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

SoftwareHQ AU is designed to respect your privacy. We collect minimal information and do not require you to create a user account to access any content on this site.

The information we may collect includes:

Analytics data — we use Google Analytics 4 to understand how the site is used. This collects pages visited, referral source, browser and device type, approximate location derived from your IP address, and a randomly generated identifier stored in a cookie that lets us recognise a returning browser. Completed actions (search, software finder, shortlist, custom comparison, interactive calculators, vendor Visit links) send named events with product, category or tool identifiers and coarse counts. We also record internal link clicks and selected button actions using published page paths, page areas and fixed action names. We do not record arbitrary button text or form-field clicks. We do not send search queries, finder answers, wages, calculator amounts, email addresses or page query strings. We do not upload names, email addresses or any other directly identifying information to Google Analytics.
Newsletter signup — this site does not collect email addresses. If newsletter signup is offered, it is a link to a hosted form on the owner’s email provider. You enter your address on that provider’s page, which is governed by that provider’s privacy policy. We do not receive, store or process the address on this website. If signup is not configured, no email field or Subscribe button is shown.

We do not collect names, phone numbers, physical addresses, payment details, or any other personal information through this site. We do not require or offer user account registration.

2. How We Use Your Information

The limited information we collect is used solely for the following purposes:

Improve the site — anonymous analytics data helps us understand which pages and comparisons are most useful so we can prioritise content updates and improvements
Newsletter handoff — we do not send email from this website. If you use a hosted signup form linked from this site, that provider sends any newsletter under their own terms

We do not sell, rent, trade or share your personal information with any third party for their marketing purposes.

3. Cookies and Analytics

We keep the tracking on this site to the minimum we need in order to understand which comparisons and guides are useful:

We use Google Analytics 4 — supplied by Google LLC. It sets first-party cookies (typically named_ga and _ga_*) containing a random identifier, which allow us to measure visits, traffic sources and which pages are read. These cookies typically expire after two years. There is no cookie-consent banner and no logged-in user id. The analytics snippet loads for every visitor; the site still works if you block it.
Journey events stay coarse — we record that a search ran (length and hit-count buckets only), that the finder finished (category id and match count), that a shortlist or custom comparison changed (canonical product ids), that an interactive calculator produced a valid result (tool id, and product id for software cost), or that a review Visit link was activated. Custom click events identify navigation destinations and fixed actions such as opening the menu or moving through the finder. No answers or button text are included. Query strings are stripped from automatic page URLs so a search such as /search?q= cannot leak the typed query.
Data is processed by Google overseas — analytics data is sent to and stored on Google’s servers, which are located outside Australia. Google may use this data in line with its own privacy policy.
No advertising or cross-site tracking — we do not run advertising cookies, remarketing tags or third-party ad networks on this site, and we do not sell or share analytics data with advertisers.
You can opt out — you can block analytics cookies in your browser settings, use a tracker blocker, or install Google’s official Analytics opt-out browser add-on. The site works fully with analytics blocked.

4. Third-Party Links

This site contains links to third-party software vendor websites. Some of these links are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you click through and sign up for or purchase a product. Clicking an affiliate link will take you to the vendor’s website, which will be governed by their own privacy policy — not ours.

If a newsletter signup link is shown, it is also a third-party handoff: you leave this site and complete the form on the provider’s hosted page. That provider, not SoftwareHQ, collects the address.

We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any third-party site you visit. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external websites.

5. Affiliate Disclosure

How We Earn RevenueSoftwareHQ AU earns revenue through affiliate commissions. When you click a link to a software product and sign up or make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the vendor at no additional cost to you. This is how we fund the operation of this site and keep it free for all users. Affiliate relationships NEVER influence our compliance scores, editorial ratings, review content, or product rankings. Products cannot pay for higher scores, more favourable reviews, or preferential placement. Products without affiliate arrangements receive identical editorial treatment.

6. Your Rights Under the Australian Privacy Act 1988

Under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Right of access — you may request access to any personal information we hold about you (APP 12)
Right of correction — you may request that we correct any personal information that is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading (APP 13)
Right to complain — if you believe we have breached the Australian Privacy Principles, you may lodge a complaint with us. If you are not satisfied with our response, you can lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@softwarehq.com.au. We will respond to your request within 30 days, as required by the APPs.

7. Data Storage

This website is hosted on Cloudflare, with content served from Australian edge servers where possible. Our analytics data is processed by Google Analytics on servers located overseas, as described in section 3.

We do not store sensitive financial data, passwords, payment information, or newsletter email addresses on this site or its hosting. If you complete a hosted signup form, that provider stores your address under their privacy policy.

8. Children’s Privacy

SoftwareHQ AU is a business software comparison site. It is not directed at, designed for, or intended to be used by children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect any personal information from children under 16. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 16, we will delete that information promptly.

9. 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. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

If we make material changes that affect how we handle your personal information, we will provide prominent notice on the site prior to the change taking effect.

10. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights under the Australian Privacy Act 1988, please contact us:

Email: privacy@softwarehq.com.au
General enquiries: hello@softwarehq.com.au
Website: softwarehq.com.au
Jurisdiction: New South Wales, Australia

For complaints about privacy breaches that we have not resolved to your satisfaction, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).