1. Introduction and scope
This Cookie Policy explains how Cinel AI (“Cinel”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) uses cookies, local browser storage, and related technologies on cinel.ai, cinel.app, and related web services. We believe in privacy by design, transparency, and giving you clear control over what data is stored on your device.
Unlike traditional ad-supported websites, Cinel AI does not use third-party behavioral advertising networks, trackers that profile your activity across the internet, or marketing pixel trackers. We only use strictly necessary technologies required to run the service securely, persist your interface preferences, and—only with your consent—collect privacy-focused aggregate analytics to improve performance.
2. Consent banner and Google Consent Mode v2
When you visit Cinel AI, a cookie banner informs you of our use of cookies and gives you an explicit choice to Accept or Deny non-essential analytics cookies, with a direct link to this policy.
- Consent persistence (cinel_cookie_consent): Your choice is stored in both browser localStorage and a first-party cookie named cinel_cookie_consent with a 1-year lifespan (SameSite=Lax, path=/). Storing this choice ensures you are not repeatedly prompted on every page load.
- Deny by default: Cinel follows a strict privacy-by-default architecture. Until you click "Accept", Google Consent Mode v2 initializes all measurement categories (analytics_storage, ad_storage, ad_user_data, and ad_personalization) in a denied state.
- Acceptance: If you click "Accept", the consent state updates dynamically to granted, allowing aggregate analytics scripts to run.
- Denial: If you click "Deny", cinel_cookie_consent is saved as "denied", the banner closes immediately, all analytics parameters remain denied, and optional tracking cookies are never set.
3. Strictly necessary & authentication cookies
Strictly necessary cookies and tokens are essential for the security, stability, and fundamental functions of Cinel AI. These cannot be disabled through our consent banner because the service cannot operate without them.
- better-auth.session_token: An HttpOnly, Secure cookie managed by Better Auth that securely authenticates your user account and keeps you logged in across requests.
- better-auth.csrf_token: A cryptographic token cookie that prevents Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks when submitting forms or API requests.
- better-auth.state: A temporary security cookie used during federated login (such as Sign in with Google) to protect the authentication callback against state tampering.
- cinel:session-hint (localStorage): A lightweight client storage flag indicating an active session, allowing the header to render your avatar and balance instantly without layout flicker during initial hydration.
4. Preferences and workspace functional storage
Cinel AI is built so anyone can start creating immediately without registering. To deliver a fast and customizable creative experience, we use browser localStorage and lightweight cookies for functional workspace settings:
- PARAGLIDE_LOCALE (Cookie): Remembers your chosen language (such as English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Italian, German, or Arabic) so pages render in your preferred language across visits.
- theme (localStorage): Maintains your visual theme preference (dark or light mode, defaulting to Cinel dark cinematic styling).
- cinel_sidebar_collapsed (localStorage): Remembers whether you have collapsed or expanded the left-hand tool navigation panel.
- cinel_generator_model_v1 & cinel_provider_order (localStorage): Remembers your last selected AI model (such as GPT Image 2.5, Seedream 5 Pro, Seedance, or Kling) and custom model ordering so the workspace is immediately ready when you return.
- cinel_credit_cache & task records (localStorage): Stores cached credit snapshots and temporary guest task ids locally so your creations remain accessible during your current browser session.
5. Performance & analytics cookies
Cinel AI uses Google Analytics 4 (GA4, Measurement ID G-EKQMQHMD87) to monitor site stability, detect broken user flows, analyze response times, and understand aggregated visitor engagement.
- _ga & _ga_*: When analytics consent is granted, Google Analytics sets first-party cookies (_ga with a default lifetime of up to 2 years, and _ga_<container-id> to maintain session state). These cookies assign a pseudonymous random client identifier to distinguish visits without identifying you personally.
- Consent Mode compliance: If you refuse or ignore cookie consent, analytics storage remains disabled. Google Analytics runs in cookieless consent-restricted mode, preventing analytics cookies from being written to your device.
6. Third-party integrations & payments
We rely on trusted infrastructure providers to deliver authentication and secure payment processing:
- Google Sign-In & One Tap: When using Google authentication or if Google One Tap is presented, Google may place security cookies (such as g_state) on google.com to manage the login prompt status according to Google’s Privacy Policy.
- Payment processing (Dodo Payments / Stripe): When you subscribe or buy credit packs, checkout takes place via PCI-DSS certified payment processors (such as Dodo Payments or Stripe). During checkout on their hosted sessions, these providers may place fraud-detection and session cookies necessary to verify financial transactions. Cinel never receives or stores your full payment card number.
7. How to control, block, or delete cookies
You have full control over the cookies and local storage stored on your device:
- Browser controls: You can configure your browser to notify you when a cookie is set, block cookies from specific domains, or reject all cookies. Note that blocking strictly necessary cookies will prevent login and checkout from functioning.
- Resetting your Cinel consent choice: To change your previous Accept/Deny choice on Cinel AI, clear the cinel_cookie_consent entry from your browser’s localStorage or cookies for cinel.ai. The consent banner will reappear on your next visit.
- Do Not Track & Global Privacy Control: Cinel does not engage in cross-site tracking or sale of personal data. If your browser sends a Global Privacy Control (GPC) or DNT signal, we do not activate optional tracking.
8. Contact and policy updates
We may periodically update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in our technology, features, or applicable legal obligations. The date at the top of this page indicates when it was last revised.
If you have questions about our use of cookies or wish to submit a privacy inquiry, please reach out through our Contact Page or email us directly at support@cinel.ai. For more details on how we process your creative data and personal information, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.