Does your website use third-party services? Get GDPR compliant in minutes.
Try FlowConsentFree plan · 10-min setup
Poltio is an interactive content platform for embeddable polls, quizzes, surveys, tests and product finders that collect first party and zero party data through tracking cookies.
Poltio is an interactive content platform that lets brands create polls, quizzes, surveys, tests and product finders and embed them on their websites and social channels. These widgets collect respondent answers and engagement data and set cookies to track responses, prevent duplicate voting and build audience insights. Because this activity touches user devices and personal data, it falls within the scope of the GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive and requires careful handling.
Founded in 2014 and used by brands worldwide, Poltio provides no code tools to build embeddable interactive experiences such as smart surveys, engaging tests, product quizzes, gift finders and guided selling flows. The content is delivered through an embedded widget that loads on the publisher website, which means the platform operates directly in the visitor browser and can read and write information on the user device.
When a visitor interacts with a Poltio widget, the platform records the answers given and engagement signals such as which options were selected and whether the interaction was completed. It sets cookies to store a visitor identifier, to remember responses and to prevent the same person from voting multiple times. Combined with the answers that users knowingly provide, this produces a mix of first party and zero party data that brands use to personalise content and build audience insights.
Setting cookies that are not strictly necessary triggers the consent rule of the ePrivacy Directive, and processing the resulting answers and identifiers is personal data processing under the GDPR. The publisher embedding the widget is generally the controller for the data collected on its site, so it must identify a valid legal basis, inform users transparently and respect data subject rights. The appropriate basis is consent for tracking and audience cookies, while legitimate interest may cover only basic duplicate vote prevention.
Get GDPR compliant in 10 minutes
Free plan available · No credit card required
Because the widget relies on tracking and audience cookies, prior informed consent must be obtained before it loads. In practice this means blocking the Poltio embed behind a consent management platform so that the script and its cookies are only activated once the visitor has actively agreed. The consent request should clearly explain that interactive content will record responses and set cookies, and users must be able to refuse as easily as they accept.
Depending on the hosting region and the integrations connected to a Poltio project, response and engagement data may be processed outside the European Economic Area, including in the United States. Transfers to third countries require appropriate safeguards such as reliance on the EU US Data Privacy Framework where applicable or Standard Contractual Clauses backed by a transfer impact assessment. Publishers should confirm the hosting location with Poltio and document the safeguards in their records of processing.
To use Poltio compliantly, list its cookies in your cookie policy, load the widget only after consent, and sign a data processing agreement with the vendor. Map the data flows, verify the hosting region and put transfer safeguards in place, and assess whether a data protection impact assessment is needed for large scale or sensitive quizzes. Finally, honour access and deletion requests and review the configuration regularly to keep it aligned with your privacy notice.
Websites using Poltio must obtain user consent under GDPR regulations.
DPIA considerations
Poltio collects respondent answers and engagement data and sets cookies to track responses, prevent duplicate voting and build audience insights, which can profile individuals at scale. A data protection impact assessment is recommended when quizzes or product finders process large volumes of behavioural or special category responses. Particular attention should be paid to international data transfers and the combination of zero party answers with first party tracking.
Sample consent text
We use Poltio interactive content that sets cookies to record your responses, prevent duplicate voting and build audience insights, and we only activate it once you give your consent.
Third-party domains contacted
poltio.comcdn.poltio.comapi.poltio.comCookies placed
| Name | Type | Duration | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| poltio_uid | Tracking | 1 year | Stores a unique visitor identifier used to recognise the respondent across interactions and build audience insights. |
| poltio_response | Functional | 6 months | Remembers the answers a user has given so that completed polls and quizzes display the correct results. |
| poltio_voted | Functional | 6 months | Records that a vote has been cast to prevent the same person from voting multiple times in a poll. |
| poltio_session | Functional | Session | Maintains the state of the interactive content during a single browsing session. |
Poltio places tracking cookies for advertising — comply with GDPR using FlowConsent.
Poltio sets cookies that store a visitor identifier, remember a user's answers and prevent the same person from voting more than once. These are not strictly necessary cookies, so they support response tracking and audience insights rather than the basic delivery of the page.
Yes. Because Poltio relies on tracking and audience cookies that are not strictly necessary, the ePrivacy Directive requires prior informed consent before the widget loads. The embed should be blocked behind a consent management platform and activated only after the visitor agrees.
The appropriate legal basis is consent under Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR for tracking and audience cookies. Legitimate interest under Article 6(1)(f) may cover only basic duplicate vote prevention, but it cannot replace consent for the cookies that profile users.
It can. Depending on the hosting region and connected integrations, response and engagement data may be processed in the United States or other third countries. Such transfers need safeguards such as the EU US Data Privacy Framework where applicable or Standard Contractual Clauses.
A data protection impact assessment is recommended when quizzes or product finders process large volumes of behavioural responses or any sensitive data. It is good practice to document the assessment, especially where international transfers and audience profiling are involved.
Block the Poltio script until consent is given, list its cookies in your cookie policy and sign a data processing agreement with the vendor. Map the data flows, confirm the hosting region, apply transfer safeguards and honour access and deletion requests.
Yes. Other interactive content and survey tools exist, and some offer regional EU hosting or reduced tracking. Whichever tool you choose, you still need a clear legal basis, consent for non essential cookies and transparency in your privacy notice.
List the Poltio cookies by name, type, duration and purpose, and explain that they track responses, prevent duplicate voting and build audience insights. Note any data transfers outside the European Economic Area and keep the entry aligned with your consent banner.