Cookie Policy
How we use cookies and similar technologies on our platform
Last updated: 14 October 2026
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, provide a better user experience, and give website owners information about how visitors use their site.
Similar technologies include pixels, web beacons, and local storage. For simplicity, we refer to all these technologies as "cookies" in this policy.
2. How We Use Cookies
QuoteTrades uses very few cookies, and none of them are for advertising. There is no analytics, advertising or retargeting cookie on this site — this table lists everything.
| Category | Purpose | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Required for the Platform to function: keeping you signed in, protecting forms against cross-site request forgery, and processing payments. | Sign-in state, anti-forgery token, Stripe payment cookies |
| Functional | Remembers a choice you made, so the Platform behaves the way you left it. | "Remember me" on sign-in |
We do not use analytics, advertising, marketing or retargeting cookies, and we do not sell or share your browsing data with advertisers.
3. Specific Cookies We Use
3.1 First-Party Cookies (Set by QuoteTrades)
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
qt_auth |
Tells the server you are signed in, and carries your account type, first name and profile photo address so the first paint of a page shows your own header rather than a signed-out one. It contains no password and no access token. | 30 days with "remember me", otherwise until you close the browser |
.AspNetCore.Antiforgery.* |
Protects forms against cross-site request forgery. Strictly necessary. | Until you close the browser |
ARRAffinity, ARRAffinitySameSite |
Set by our hosting provider (Microsoft Azure) so your visit stays on the same server, which keeps the live connection each page uses working. They hold a server id, nothing about you. Strictly necessary. | Until you close the browser |
3.2 Browser Storage (Not Cookies)
Most of what keeps you signed in is held in your browser's own storage rather than in a
cookie, which means it is never attached to a network request and never sent to a third
party. Choosing "remember me" stores it in localStorage, which survives
closing the browser; without it, the same values go to sessionStorage and
are gone when the tab closes.
| Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
authToken |
Your access token — how the app proves who you are to our API | Until you sign out |
refreshToken |
Renews the access token so you are not signed out mid-job | Until you sign out |
currentUser |
Your name, account type and plan, so the app can render before it has called the API | Until you sign out |
qt_remember |
Records whether you ticked "remember me" | Until you sign out |
3.3 Third-Party Cookies
Two services load in your browser when you use the features that need them. Neither is used for advertising, and neither loads on pages that do not use it.
| Provider | Purpose | More Information |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Payment processing and fraud prevention | Stripe Privacy Policy |
| Google Maps | Maps, addresses and travel distances on the pages that show them | Google Privacy Policy |
4. Managing Cookies
4.1 Why There Is No Cookie Banner
We do not show a cookie consent banner because there is nothing optional to consent to: every cookie listed above is strictly necessary to sign you in, protect a form, or take a payment. If we ever add an analytics or advertising cookie, we will ask first.
4.2 Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can:
- View and delete existing cookies
- Block all cookies or third-party cookies
- Set preferences for specific websites
Because our cookies are the essential kind, blocking them will sign you out and stop payments working. Clearing your browser storage for this site has the same effect.
4.3 Browser-Specific Instructions
5. Mobile Applications
Our mobile app stores your sign-in details on the device in the same way the website stores them in browser storage. It carries no advertising identifiers and no tracking SDKs. Signing out, or removing the app, removes what it has kept.
6. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legislation, or our data practices. We will post any changes on this page and update the "Last updated" date. For significant changes, we may provide additional notice.
7. Contact Us
If you have questions about our use of cookies or this policy, please contact us:
8. Related Policies
- Privacy Policy - How we collect, use, and protect your personal information
- Terms of Service - The rules for using our Platform