# Cookie policy

> The cookies and local storage YelMail uses, why we use them and how to control them.

Source: https://yelmail.com/cookies · Last updated: 2026-10-02

This policy explains how YelMail uses cookies and similar technologies on yelmail.com. For how we handle personal data in general, see our [Privacy policy](https://yelmail.com/privacy).

## What are cookies?

Cookies are small text files that a website stores in your browser. Similar technologies, such as local storage, work the same way. They let a site remember things between visits, like whether you are signed in.

## Cookies we use

### Strictly necessary

These make the Service work. They cannot be switched off, and they are never used for advertising.

| Name | Purpose | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- |
| tm_inbox | Holds the private key of your guest inbox, so only your browser can open it | 30 days |
| better-auth.session_token | Keeps you signed in to your account | 30 days after last use |
| better-auth.session_data | Short-lived copy of your session, so pages load faster | 5 minutes |

When the site runs over HTTPS, the session cookies are named with a "__Secure-" prefix.

### Preferences

| Name | Type | Purpose | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| theme | Local storage | Remembers whether you chose light or dark mode | Until you clear it |

### Advertising (free pages only)

Free pages show ads from Google AdSense. Google and its partners may set cookies such as __gads, __gpi, __eoi and IDE, or use similar technologies, to show ads, limit repeats, measure performance and fight ad fraud, and, if you allow it, to personalise ads. These cookies can last up to 13 months. See [how Google uses cookies in advertising](https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads).

Where the law requires consent (for example in the EEA, the UK and Switzerland), we ask for it before advertising cookies are used, and you can change your choice at any time.

Premium users see no ads, and we do not load any advertising code for them.

### Third-party pages

When you check out, you are taken to Stripe, and when you sign in with Google, you are taken to Google. Those pages set their own cookies under their own policies. They are not cookies on yelmail.com.

## Browser extension and mobile apps

The extension and the apps do not use web cookies. They keep your inbox keys, sign-in token and settings in the extension's storage or in your device's secure storage, as described in the [Privacy policy](https://yelmail.com/privacy#browser-extension).

## Managing cookies

- **Ad personalisation:** use the consent choices shown on the site, or visit [myadcenter.google.com](https://myadcenter.google.com).
- **Browser settings:** you can block or delete cookies in your browser. If you block strictly necessary cookies, you will not be able to keep a guest inbox or stay signed in.
- **Go ad-free:** [Premium](https://yelmail.com/pricing) removes ads and advertising cookies.

## Changes

We update this policy when the cookies we use change. The date at the top shows the latest version.

Questions: [privacy@yelmail.com](mailto:privacy@yelmail.com).