Privacy Policy

How we collect, use and protect your personal information — and your rights under the Australian Privacy Act 1988.

Last updated: March 2026

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 privacy-friendly analytics tools (such as Plausible or Umami) that collect anonymous, aggregated usage data. This includes pages visited, referral source, browser type and country of origin. No personally identifiable information is collected through our analytics.
  • Newsletter email address — if you voluntarily subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your email address. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link provided in every email.

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
  • Deliver our newsletter — if you have subscribed, we use your email address to send you Australian software comparison updates, compliance news and guides

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

3. Cookies and Analytics

We believe you should be able to browse the web without being tracked. That’s why we have made deliberate choices about our analytics tooling:

  • We use Plausible or Umami — privacy-friendly, open-source analytics tools that do not use cookies, do not track you across sites, and are fully compliant with GDPR and the Australian Privacy Act 1988
  • We do not use Google Analytics — we have intentionally chosen not to use Google Analytics or any other tracking-based analytics platform
  • No tracking cookies — this site does not set any tracking cookies, advertising cookies, or third-party cookies. If cookies are used at all, they are strictly functional (e.g. remembering a theme preference)

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.

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 and stored within infrastructure that does not transfer personal data overseas.

We do not store sensitive financial data, passwords, or payment information. The only personal data we may store is your email address if you have subscribed to our newsletter, which is held securely by our email service provider.

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:

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