Cookie Policy
How Houfy uses cookies, pixels and local storage: what each category does, which companies set them, and how to accept or reject analytics and advertising cookies in Cookie settings.
Last updated September 2, 2026
This policy explains how Houfy uses cookies and similar technologies, why we use them, and the choices you have. Read it together with our Privacy Policy, which covers how we handle personal information generally.
What are cookies, pixels and local storage?
Cookies. A cookie is a small piece of data placed in your browser or on your device. Like most websites, we use cookies to keep you signed in, remember your settings, and understand how people use Houfy.
Pixels. A pixel is a small piece of code on a web page or in an email. We use pixels to learn whether you have opened an email or interacted with certain content, so we can measure and improve what we send you.
Local storage. Local storage lets a website store information directly on your device. We use it to remember things like listings you have recently viewed and a booking you have started but not finished.
We refer to all of these together as "cookies" in this policy.
First-party and third-party cookies
First-party cookies are set by Houfy through the domain you are visiting.
Third-party cookies are set by other companies through our website. The companies we work with are listed under Who else sets cookies on Houfy. What those companies do with the information they collect is governed by their own privacy policies, which we link to below.
Session and persistent cookies
Session cookies exist only until you close your browser.
Persistent cookies stay on your device for a set period, or until you delete them.
Why we use cookies
Cookies let you be recognised as the same user as you move between pages, and between visits. The information we collect through cookies and similar technologies includes your IP address, device identifier, the pages you view, your browser type and browsing activity, your operating system, your internet service provider, timestamps, the website you arrived from, and the features you use on Houfy.
We use cookies for four purposes.
Strictly necessary cookies
These make the site work. Without them, Houfy cannot function, so they cannot be switched off in our cookie settings. They are used to:
sign you in and keep you signed in
protect your account and keep your session secure
detect and prevent spam, fraud and abuse
manage access to content and to your bookings
Each of these is needed to deliver something you have asked for — signing in, staying signed in, keeping your session and your account secure, and completing a booking.
Functional cookies
These remember your choices so you do not have to make them again. They are used to:
remember your preferred language and currency
save your searches and search preferences
remember listings you have recently viewed
keep a booking in progress if you leave and come back
Analytics cookies
These help us understand how Houfy is used, so we can improve it. They are used to:
measure page views, traffic sources and conversion rates
understand which features people use and where they run into problems
compare different versions of a page or feature
We use Google Analytics for this. Google Tag Manager is the container that loads our tags and applies your cookie choices to them. It loads on every visit and sets no cookies of its own.
Advertising and marketing cookies
These help us measure our advertising and show Houfy ads to people on other platforms. They are used to:
measure whether an ad led to a visit or a booking
show Houfy ads to you on other websites and social platforms
limit how often you see the same ad
We use Google Ads and the Meta Pixel for this. We do not run a third-party advertising network on Houfy, and no outside company buys space to advertise to you here. Hosts can pay to promote their own listings, which affects where those listings appear in search — that is described in our Terms of Service. The cookies in this section are about measuring and targeting our own advertising on other websites and platforms.
Who else sets cookies on Houfy
Houfy's live chat is our own and involves no outside provider. Our analytics are not — Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager are Google's. The companies below set cookies or similar technologies through our site.
Companies that also use the information for their own purposes
What these companies collect is used for their own purposes as well as ours, as set out in their own privacy policies.
Google — Google Analytics and Google Ads, for measurement and advertising; Google Tag Manager, which loads those tags and sets no cookies itself; and Google Sign-In if you use it to sign in. See Google's privacy policy.
Meta Platforms — the Meta Pixel, for advertising measurement and retargeting. See Meta's privacy policy.
Trustpilot — displays reviews on some pages. See Trustpilot's privacy policy.
Companies that act only on our instructions
These companies use what they collect only to do the job we give them.
Stripe, Square and PayPal — payment processing. These set cookies when you pay.
Postmark — sends our email, including the pixels described under Where we use these technologies.
Where we use these technologies
Our website. Cookies provide core functionality, remember your preferences and help us measure how the site performs.
Our emails. Some of our emails contain a small pixel that tells us whether the email was opened and which links were used, so we can tell what is worth sending. Our email is sent through Postmark, which sets these pixels for us and uses the information only on our instructions. Marketing emails always carry an unsubscribe link, and you can change what we send you in your Houfy account settings. You can also stop the pixel working in any email by turning images off in your email client.
Your choices
Houfy cookie settings. Strictly necessary cookies are always on, because the site does not work without them. What happens with analytics and advertising cookies depends on where you are.
In the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. We do not set analytics or advertising cookies until you have agreed to them. Until you answer, they stay off.
Everywhere else. Analytics and advertising cookies are on by default, and you can turn them off whenever you want.
Either way, you can change your answer at any time in Cookie settings, in the footer of every page. Turning them off is as easy as turning them on, and takes effect immediately for that browser.
How we remember your answer. We record your choice in a cookie so we do not have to ask again. If you clear your cookies, that record goes with them and we will ask you again on your next visit.
If you are in a US state with a privacy law. Cookie settings is also how you opt out of targeted advertising for that browser. Your other privacy rights, including how to ask what we hold and how to appeal if we refuse a request, are set out in our Privacy Policy.
Your browser. Most browsers let you control cookies in their settings. Depending on the browser, you can usually block all cookies, block third-party cookies only, delete cookies when you close the browser, or be notified when a cookie is set. Look for "Cookies" in your browser's settings or help section. Local storage is usually cleared through the same settings, under "site data" or "cookies and site data" rather than "cookies" alone. Clearing it will sign you out and remove your saved preferences, recently viewed listings and any booking you had started.
Industry opt-out tools. For advertising and analytics cookies you can also opt out through:
Your Online Choices (Europe)
Opting out of an advertising network does not stop you seeing ads. It stops that network tailoring them to you. These opt-outs are stored in your browser, so clearing your cookies will remove them and you will need to opt out again.
One thing to know. If you block or delete cookies, parts of Houfy may not work properly. Blocking strictly necessary cookies in your browser will stop you from signing in or completing a booking.
Children
Houfy is not for children. You must be at least 18 to hold an account, and we do not knowingly use cookies to build a profile of anyone we know to be under 18. If you believe a child has used Houfy, email info@houfy.com.
Changes to this policy
We update this policy from time to time. When we do, we change the date at the top of this page. If a change materially affects your rights, we will tell you by email or through Houfy at least 30 days before it takes effect, as set out in our Terms of Service.
Contact us
Questions about this policy, or about how we use cookies? Email info@houfy.com or reach us through our Help Center.
Houfy, Inc. 1500 N Grant St # 4282, Denver, Colorado 80203, USA
