Disclosure: Some links are sponsored. We may earn a commission if you sign up or buy through them, at no extra cost to you. This is general information, not legal advice.
Last reviewed: by the Smart Savings Guides editorial team. How we research and update articles.
Not legal advice: this is a plain-English summary to help you ask the right questions. Which laws apply depends on where you and your visitors are, what data you collect and how big your business is. For anything high-stakes, talk to a lawyer licensed where you operate.
Your three options
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Free built-in tools and templates | Simple sites on platforms that include them, tight budgets | Generic wording; you must edit it to match what you actually do |
| Policy generators (Termly, TermsFeed, iubenda and others) | Typical small business and e-commerce sites | Only as accurate as your answers; ongoing updates usually cost money |
| A lawyer | Health, financial or children's data, large data volumes, unusual business models, disputes | Cost, and you still need to update it when your site changes |
Want a generator to do the drafting?
Sponsored link: we may earn a commission if you buy through it, at no extra cost to you.
Opens Termly's privacy policy generator. The free plan covers one basic policy; paid plans are listed on Termly's Pricing page (Starter from $10 and Pro+ from $15 per website a month, billed annually, checked October 15, 2026). A generator only reflects your answers and isn't legal advice.
Our Termly partner link is set up for readers in the US. If you're outside the US, you can go to Termly's website directly.
Free options worth knowing
- WordPress includes a privacy policy page with suggested text (Settings > Privacy), and many plugins add their own suggested wording.
- Shopify provides free policy templates in its admin under Settings > Policies.
- Free generator tiers: several generators, Termly included, let you create one basic policy for free.
Free is fine as long as you read the result line by line and fix anything that doesn't match your site.
When a generator makes sense
- Your site collects ordinary data: contact forms, newsletters, orders, mainstream analytics.
- You want a cookie banner and policy that stay in sync with a scan of your site.
- You want reminders or automatic updates when laws change, which is usually a paid feature.
When to pay a lawyer
- You handle sensitive data (health, financial, biometric, precise location) or children's data.
- You're large enough to meet the CCPA thresholds or process lots of EU data.
- You've had a data breach, complaint or regulator letter.
- You need custom contracts, such as B2B data processing agreements.
Many owners combine the two: generate a draft, then pay a lawyer for a one-time review.
Sources
Official sources this article relies on, checked October 15, 2026. Rules and prices change, so confirm details at the source.
Our pick for a generator: Termly
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. This is a sponsored link.
Termly walks you through a questionnaire and builds a privacy policy (plus cookie, terms and other policies on paid plans) from your answers. Its free plan covers one basic policy and a cookie consent banner with up to 10,000 banner views a month. Paid plans are billed per website and add more policies, editing and automatic updates when laws change. Termly offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans.
Opens Termly's privacy policy generator. The free plan covers one basic policy; paid plans are listed on Termly's Pricing page (Starter from $10 and Pro+ from $15 per website a month, billed annually, checked October 15, 2026). A generator only reflects your answers and isn't legal advice.
The honest catch: a generator only describes what you tell it, so the policy is only as accurate as your answers, and it isn't a lawyer reviewing your business. Free alternatives exist too; see our generator vs lawyer guide. Our Termly partner link is set up for readers in the US. If you're outside the US, you can go to Termly's website directly.
More guides
- How to Start a Small Business Website, Step by Step
- Does My Website Need a Privacy Policy? GDPR, CCPA and CalOPPA Explained
- Do I Need a Cookie Consent Banner on My Website?
- Terms of Service Basics for Small Business Websites
- Small Business Website Legal Checklist
- Termly Review: What the Free Plan Covers, Pros and Cons
- Does GDPR Apply to a US Small Business?
- Does a Shopify Store Need a Privacy Policy?
- Google Analytics and Your Privacy Policy: What Google Requires