Cookie Policy

Effective Date: August 5, 2026 Last Updated: August 5, 2026

At Vertex Learnbox (“we,” “our,” or “us”), we believe in being completely transparent about how we collect and use data related to you. This Cookie Policy applies to our website (https://vertexlearnbox.com), our Progressive Web Application (PWA), the Vertex OS learning environment, and our Tutor Marketplace.

By continuing to visit or use our Platform, you are agreeing to the use of cookies and similar technologies for the purposes we describe in this policy.

1. What Are Cookies and Local Storage?

Cookies are small text files stored on your browser or device by websites, apps, online media, and advertisements. They remember who you are and your preferences, ensuring you don’t have to re-enter information every time you navigate between pages.

Local Storage is an industry-standard technology that allows us to store data locally on your smartphone or computer. Because Vertex Learnbox is engineered as a mobile-first Progressive Web App designed for Southern Africa, we rely heavily on Local Storage to cache course data. This ensures our platform remains blazing fast and accessible even in low-bandwidth environments.

2. How and Why We Use Cookies

Unlike standard platforms that use cookies primarily for advertising, Vertex Learnbox is a dynamic “System of Action.” We use cookies fundamentally to make your educational experience seamless. We classify our cookies into the following categories:

A. Strictly Necessary (Essential) Cookies

These cookies are required for the operation of the Vertex Learnbox platform. Without them, you would not be able to log in or access your courses.

  • Authentication: We use these to verify your account and keep you securely logged in via our Paid Memberships Pro (PMPro) and WooCommerce architecture.
  • Security: To protect your user data, prevent fraudulent use of login credentials, and shield our cross-origin messaging systems (such as when rendering secure iFrames for past papers).

B. Functional & State Management Cookies

These cookies allow the platform to remember the choices you make and provide enhanced, highly personalized features.

  • Curriculum Routing: We inject specific cookies to seamlessly remember whether you are studying LGCSE, IEB, NSC, Cambridge, or IBDP. This ensures ITHUTEX and our course archives only show you relevant content.
  • Payment Preferences: Cookies like vertex_preferred_payment remember your preferred gateway (e.g., M-Pesa, EcoCash, C-Pay, or credit card) to provide a frictionless checkout experience when purchasing subject add-ons.

C. Performance & Analytics Cookies

These help us understand how students interact with Vertex Learnbox so we can continuously improve the platform.

  • Learning Metrics: We track module completion rates, spaced repetition timers, and dynamic exam sprint momentum.
  • System Health: These cookies monitor page load speeds (especially our mobile UI/UX) and help us debug internal server errors swiftly.

3. Third-Party Cookies

In some cases, we use trusted third parties that may place cookies on your device when you use our Platform:

  • Payment Processors: When routing transactions through gateways like Stripe or local mobile money APIs (M-Pesa/EcoCash), these services use cookies to secure the transaction and verify OTPs.
  • Tutor Marketplace Integrations: Our digital classroom and booking features may utilize third-party cookies to manage live scheduling and video conferencing.

Note: We do not sell your data to third-party advertisers.

4. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You have the right to decide whether to accept or reject non-essential cookies. However, because Vertex Learnbox is an integrated software ecosystem, disabling certain functional or essential cookies will directly break your learning experience (e.g., you will be repeatedly logged out, or your AI flashcards will not save).

Browser Settings: Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings preferences. You can set your browser to refuse all or some browser cookies, or to alert you when websites set or access cookies.

  • Chrome: Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data
  • Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Block all cookies
  • Firefox: Options > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data

Mobile Devices: If you are using the Vertex Learnbox PWA on your mobile phone, you can clear the app’s cache and local storage via your phone’s system settings (e.g., Settings > Apps > Chrome/Safari > Clear Storage).

5. Updates to This Policy

As we deploy new features to Vertex OS or integrate additional Southern African payment ecosystems, we may update this Cookie Policy. When we do, we will revise the “Effective Date” at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

6. Contact Us

If you have any questions about our use of cookies or other technologies, please contact our compliance and support team:

Vertex Learnbox