How we protect your privacy
Last updated: 25 Dec 2025
CompareSoftware.co.za (“we”, “us”, “our”) is a website that helps South African businesses compare software products and services. We may earn commission when you click on certain links or sign up with our partner brands.
We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information in line with applicable laws, including the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (POPIA).
By using this website, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
1. Who we are
Website: https://comparesoftware.co.za
Purpose: To provide information and comparison content about software tools and services for South African businesses, and to connect users to third-party providers and affiliate partners.
If you have questions about this policy or how we process your information, you can contact us at:
Email: partners@comparesoftware.co.za
Postal address: 54 Mozart Lane, Sagewood, Midrand, 1685
2. Information we collect
We collect two main types of information:
2.1 Information you provide directly
This includes:
Contact details – such as your name, email address and any other details you provide when you:
> Submit a review
> Fill in a contact form
> Request information or support
Review content – the feedback, ratings and comments you choose to submit about software products or services.
Business information – e.g. company name, website, industry and size when you contact us as a software vendor or brand.
You can choose not to provide certain information, but that may limit your ability to use some features (for example, we may not be able to respond to your enquiry).
2.2 Information collected automatically
When you use the site, we may automatically collect:
Usage data – pages visited, links clicked, time spent on pages, search queries and navigation patterns.
Technical data – your IP address, device type, browser type, operating system and approximate location (e.g. city or country).
Cookie and tracking data – information from cookies, pixels and similar technologies used for analytics, advertising and affiliate tracking (see Cookie Policy below).
We typically collect this information through tools like Google Analytics and affiliate tracking platforms.
3. How we use your information
We use your information for the following purposes:
To operate and improve the website
Monitoring traffic and usage patterns
Fixing errors and improving performance
Understanding which content is most useful to visitors
To respond to you
Answering questions or enquiries
Responding to review submissions or feedback
Communicating with vendors/brands that want to list or advertise
To manage reviews and user content
Publishing your reviews and ratings (with your chosen display name)
Moderating reviews to remove spam or inappropriate content
For analytics and reporting
Analysing aggregate behaviour (e.g. which categories get the most interest)
Understanding how users arrive at the site and which offers they click
For affiliate tracking and monetisation
Tracking when you click on an affiliate link or offer
Allowing our affiliate partners to know that you came from CompareSoftware.co.za
Measuring performance of marketing campaigns
For legal and compliance reasons
To comply with applicable laws and regulations
To detect, prevent or address fraud, abuse or security issues
To enforce our Terms & Conditions
We do not sell your personal information to third parties.
4. Legal basis for processing
Under POPIA, we process personal information mainly based on:
Your consent – for example, when you submit a review or contact form, or accept cookies for analytics/marketing.
Our legitimate interests – such as running the website, preventing fraud and improving our services, provided these interests are not overridden by your rights.
Legal obligations – where we are required to keep certain records or share information with regulators or authorities.
You may withdraw your consent at any time where processing is based on consent (e.g. marketing emails, non-essential cookies), but this will not affect processing that has already occurred.
We reserve the right to suspend or terminate access to the Website for any user who breaches these Terms.
5. How we share your information
We may share your information with:
Service providers / operators
Website hosting providers
Analytics providers (e.g. Google Analytics)
Email and contact form services
Affiliate networks and tracking platforms
These parties process information on our behalf and are bound by appropriate confidentiality and data protection obligations.
Software vendors and brands
When you click through to a third-party brand or offer, those brands may independently collect and process your information according to their own privacy policies.
If you contact us as a vendor and request to be listed or advertise, we may share limited business contact details internally or with external partners for that purpose.
Legal and regulatory authorities
Where required by law, court order or lawful request by authorities.
To enforce our legal rights or protect the safety of users and the public.
We do not sell your personal information.
6. International transfers
Some of our service providers or partners may be located outside South Africa. Where personal information is transferred cross-border, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that it is processed securely and in line with POPIA requirements, for example by using providers in jurisdictions with adequate protections or through appropriate contractual safeguards.
7. How long we keep your information
We keep personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this policy, unless a longer retention period is:
Required or allowed by law, or
Needed to establish, exercise or defend legal claims.
Examples:
Contact form enquiries: typically retained for a reasonable period to manage correspondence and for audit/logging needs.
Reviews: may be kept and displayed on the site until you request removal or until they are no longer relevant to the site.
Analytics data: often stored in aggregated or pseudonymised form for longer periods.
8. Your rights
Subject to POPIA and any other applicable law, you may have the right to:
Access the personal information we hold about you
Correct or update inaccurate or incomplete information
Delete personal information in certain circumstances
Object to certain types of processing (e.g. direct marketing)
Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa)
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at partners@comparesoftware.co.za. We may need to verify your identity before responding.
Information Regulator (South Africa): details and contact information are available on the Regulator’s official website.
9. Third-party websites
CompareSoftware.co.za contains links to other websites and offers from third-party brands.
When you click on these links, you leave our site. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content or policies of those third-party sites. You should read their privacy and cookie policies before providing personal information or completing any transactions.
10. Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration or destruction.
However, no website or internet transmission is completely secure. You use the site and provide information at your own risk.
11. Children
CompareSoftware.co.za is intended for business users and adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can delete it where appropriate.
12. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will change the “Last updated” date at the top.
Your continued use of the site after any changes means you accept the updated policy.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions about our privacy policy or about how we work with Software Providers and affiliate partners, you can contact us at:
Email: partners@comparesoftware.co.za
Website: CompareSoftware.co.za