GDPR Privacy Policy Template — Free Generator (2026)

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the world's most comprehensive data privacy law, and it applies to any business that processes the personal data of EU residents — regardless of where your business is based. If your app or website has users in Europe, you need a GDPR-compliant privacy policy. Here's everything you need to know in 2026.

What Is GDPR and Why Does It Matter?

The GDPR came into effect on May 25, 2018, and fundamentally changed how businesses handle personal data. It applies to:

Any company established in the EU
Any company (anywhere in the world) that offers goods or services to EU residents
Any company that monitors the behavior of EU residents

If your app is available in the EU — even if you're a solo developer in the US, India, or anywhere else — GDPR applies to you. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to €20 million or 4% of global annual revenue, whichever is higher.

What GDPR Requires in Your Privacy Policy

Articles 13 and 14 of the GDPR specify exactly what information you must provide to users. Your privacy policy must include:

1. Identity and Contact Details

Your name or company name, physical address, and email address. If you have a Data Protection Officer (DPO), their contact details must also be included.

2. What Data You Collect

A clear, specific list of the categories of personal data you process. Under GDPR, "personal data" is broadly defined and includes names, email addresses, IP addresses, device identifiers, location data, cookies, and even behavioral data.

3. Legal Basis for Processing

This is one of the most critical GDPR requirements. You must state the legal basis for each type of data processing. The six lawful bases are:

Consent — The user has given clear, affirmative consent
Contract — Processing is necessary to fulfill a contract with the user
Legal Obligation — Processing is required by law
Vital Interests — Processing is necessary to protect someone's life
Public Task — Processing is necessary for a task in the public interest
Legitimate Interests — Processing is necessary for your legitimate business interests, balanced against the user's rights

4. Data Retention Periods

You must specify how long you keep each type of data, or the criteria used to determine the retention period. "We keep data as long as necessary" is not sufficient — be specific.

5. User Rights

GDPR grants EU residents eight specific rights that must be clearly explained:

Right of Access — Users can request a copy of their data
Right to Rectification — Users can request corrections to inaccurate data
Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten) — Users can request deletion of their data
Right to Restrict Processing — Users can limit how their data is used
Right to Data Portability — Users can request their data in a machine-readable format
Right to Object — Users can object to certain types of processing
Rights Related to Automated Decision-Making — Users can opt out of automated profiling
Right to Withdraw Consent — Users can withdraw previously given consent at any time

6. International Data Transfers

If you transfer data outside the EU/EEA (which is common — using US-based services like AWS, Google Cloud, or Firebase counts as an international transfer), you must disclose this and explain the safeguards in place.

7. Third-Party Recipients

List all categories of third parties who receive user data, including analytics providers, cloud hosting services, payment processors, and advertising networks.

8. Right to Lodge a Complaint

Inform users of their right to file a complaint with a supervisory authority (Data Protection Authority) in their EU member state.

Common GDPR Privacy Policy Mistakes

Many businesses think they're GDPR-compliant but make critical errors:

Vague language — "We may collect some data" doesn't cut it. GDPR requires clear, specific disclosures.
Missing legal basis — Every type of processing needs a stated legal basis. This is the #1 oversight.
No data retention periods — You can't just say "as long as needed." Specify timeframes.
Ignoring third-party SDKs — Firebase, Google Analytics, Facebook SDK, and ad networks all process personal data. Disclose them.
Not mentioning user rights — All eight rights must be explicitly stated with instructions on how to exercise them.
Buried or hard-to-find policy — Your privacy policy must be easily accessible. Link it from your app, website footer, and sign-up forms.
No update mechanism — You need to explain how users will be notified of changes to the policy.

GDPR Privacy Policy Template: Key Sections

A GDPR-compliant privacy policy should follow this structure:

Introduction — Who you are and what this policy covers
Data Controller Information — Your identity and contact details
Data We Collect — Specific categories of personal data
How We Use Your Data — Purposes and legal basis for each
Data Sharing — Third parties and international transfers
Data Retention — How long each data type is kept
Your Rights — All eight GDPR rights with exercise instructions
Cookies — Cookie usage, types, and management
Data Security — Technical and organizational measures
Children's Data — Age restrictions and parental consent
Changes to This Policy — How updates are communicated
Contact & Complaints — How to reach you and supervisory authorities

Generate a GDPR-Compliant Privacy Policy for Free

Creating a GDPR-compliant privacy policy from scratch requires deep knowledge of EU privacy law. PrivacyPage simplifies this — answer a few questions about your app or website, and we generate a comprehensive, GDPR-compliant privacy policy in seconds.

Our generator covers all required GDPR sections, including legal basis for processing, user rights, data retention, and international transfers. No legal jargon to decipher, no templates to customize — just a professional document ready to use.

Generate your GDPR privacy policy now →