Understanding Cookie Usage and Click Tracking in Pretty Links

Many users of the 'PrettyLinks – Affiliate Links, Link Branding, Link Tracking, Marketing and Stripe Payments Plugin' have questions about how it uses cookies, especially concerning privacy regulations like GDPR and browser restrictions. This guide explains the plugin's cookie behavior and the available options for managing it.

The Core Issue: Tracking Requires Cookies

Based on community discussions, the plugin's click tracking functionality is inherently tied to its use of cookies. The two primary cookies it sets are prli_click_1 and prli_visitor. These cookies are used to identify a unique user session to prevent duplicate click counts from the same visitor and to gather basic analytics.

Common User Questions and Solutions

1. Can I track clicks without using cookies?

According to the sample threads, this is not currently possible. The official stance, as seen in responses, is that "it isn’t currently possible to record clicks without cookies" as they are necessary for the plugin to identify who clicked a link. Disabling cookies effectively disables all tracking and click statistics.

2. How do I disable cookies and tracking?

To stop the plugin from setting any cookies, you must disable its tracking feature entirely. This can be done by navigating to WP-Admin -> Pretty Links -> Options -> Links and turning off the "Enable Tracking" option. It is important to note that this change will only apply to new links created after the option is disabled. For existing links, you must edit each one individually to disable tracking or run a specific SQL query on your database (UPDATE wp_prli_links SET track_me = 0;).

3. Does the plugin comply with GDPR?

The threads indicate that while the cookies do not store personal information, they are set regardless of the tracking method chosen. This means if a user must consent to cookies before they are set, you may need to integrate a cookie consent plugin to block Pretty Links' scripts until consent is given. One user mentioned using the Complianz plugin for this purpose. You would need to configure your consent tool to block the scripts that set the prli_click_1 and prli_visitor cookies until the user accepts.

4. Can I anonymize IP addresses or block specific IPs?

The sample threads show a user asking about IP anonymization, but no confirmed solution is provided within the excerpts. However, for blocking clicks from a specific IP address (like your own), the solution is to use the IP exclusion feature. You can find this by going to Pretty Links -> Options -> Reporting and entering the IP addresses you wish to exclude from click counts.

Conclusion and Best Practices

The functionality of the Pretty Links plugin is currently designed to require cookies for its core tracking features. For users who require a cookie-less solution for privacy or compliance reasons, the only built-in option is to disable tracking completely, which sacrifices click statistics.

For full GDPR compliance, it is recommended to list these cookies in your cookie policy and use a consent management platform to control their activation. Always ensure your configuration aligns with your local privacy laws and regulations.