Canonical URL: https://chargezen.com/docs/spark/attribution/cookie-settings

# Cookie Settings

Configure tracking cookies for affiliate attribution

Last updated: 2026-01-19

Cookies store referral information on visitors' browsers, enabling attribution when they return to purchase. Configure cookie settings to balance tracking accuracy with user privacy.

## Cookie Duration

Cookie duration determines how long after clicking an affiliate link a sale can be attributed:

*   **7 days** — Short window, impulse purchases
*   **30 days** — Industry standard for most products
*   **60-90 days** — Higher-consideration purchases
*   **365 days** — Long sales cycles, B2B products

##### Choosing Duration

Set your cookie duration slightly longer than your average time-to-purchase. Check your Shopify analytics to see how long customers typically take to convert.

## Cookie Types

**First-Party Cookies (Recommended)**

Set on your domain (yourstore.com). Not blocked by Safari ITP, Firefox ETP, or ad blockers. This is Spark!'s default and recommended setting.

**Server-Side Tracking**

Store referral data server-side instead of in browser cookies. Immune to all client-side blocking but requires customer identification (email or account).

## Cookie Overwrite Behavior

When a visitor clicks multiple affiliate links, configure how cookies are handled:

*   **Always Overwrite** — Last affiliate always wins (matches last-click attribution)
*   **Never Overwrite** — First affiliate is locked in (matches first-click attribution)
*   **Append** — Track all affiliates for multi-touch attribution

## Privacy Compliance

Spark! tracking is designed for privacy compliance:

*   **GDPR** — Referral cookies are considered "strictly necessary" for affiliate payouts
*   **CCPA** — No PII stored in cookies, only affiliate reference IDs
*   **Cookie Consent** — First-party essential cookies typically don't require consent

##### Consult Legal

Cookie laws vary by jurisdiction. Consult with legal counsel to ensure your cookie practices comply with applicable regulations.

## Cookie-Less Tracking

For maximum privacy, enable cookie-less tracking alternatives:

*   **URL Parameters** — Pass affiliate ID through the entire session
*   **Fingerprinting** — Statistical device matching (optional)
*   **Email Matching** — Match checkout email to click email
*   **Account Linking** — Associate referral with customer account

## Next Steps

[

### Attribution Models

Configure how credit is assigned

Learn more



](https://chargezen.com/docs/spark/attribution/models)[

### Troubleshooting

Fix common tracking issues

Learn more



](https://chargezen.com/docs/spark/troubleshooting/common-issues)

### Related Articles

[

#### Attribution Models

How attribution works



](https://chargezen.com/docs/spark/attribution/models)[

#### Tracking Links

Link tracking overview



](https://chargezen.com/docs/spark/tracking-links/overview)

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