Understand how Zenovay retains and manages your analytics data with our user-friendly two-phase deletion process.
Retention by Plan
Retention Periods
| Plan | Data Retention | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 1 year | 365 days of analytics data |
| Pro | 2 years | 730 days of analytics data |
| Scale | 4 years | 1,460 days of analytics data |
| Enterprise | Custom | As agreed in your contract |
What Data is Affected
All analytics data is subject to retention limits:
| Data Type | Free | Pro | Scale | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visitors | 1 year | 2 years | 4 years | Custom |
| Sessions | 1 year | 2 years | 4 years | Custom |
| Page views | 1 year | 2 years | 4 years | Custom |
| Events | 1 year | 2 years | 4 years | Custom |
| Daily aggregates | 1 year | 2 years | 4 years | Custom |
| GSC data | 1 year | 2 years | 4 years | Custom |
Your current analytics continue working normally. Retention only affects historical data older than your plan's limit.
Two-Phase Deletion Lifecycle
Zenovay uses a user-friendly two-phase approach to data deletion that gives you time to upgrade and recover your data.
Phase 1: Soft Hide
When data exceeds your plan's retention period:
What Happens:
- Data is hidden from your analytics dashboard
- Data remains in our systems (not deleted yet)
- Your current analytics work normally
- You receive an email notification
Your analytics continue to function perfectly - only historical data beyond your retention period is affected.
Phase 2: Grace Period (30 Days)
After data is hidden, you have a 30-day grace period:
Grace Period Timeline:
├── Day 0: Data hidden, initial email sent
├── Day 23: 7-day warning email
├── Day 27: 3-day warning email
└── Day 30: Grace period expires
During this period, you can:
- Upgrade your plan to recover the hidden data
- Export your data before permanent deletion
- Do nothing and data will be deleted after 30 days
Upgrade to Recover
Upgrading to a higher plan during the grace period automatically recovers all data that falls within your new retention period.
Phase 3: Permanent Deletion
After the 30-day grace period:
What Happens:
- Hidden data is permanently deleted
- Deletion is irreversible
- No recovery possible after this point
Visual Timeline
Your Data Timeline
──────────────────────────────────────────────────►
[Newer Data] [Older Data]
▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓|░░░░░░░░░░░|
◄─── Visible ───────►◄─ Hidden ─►◄── Deleted ──
(Active) (Grace) (After 30 days)
▓ = Normal analytics data (visible in dashboard)
░ = Hidden data (recoverable with upgrade)
Plan Changes and Data Retention
Upgrading Your Plan
When you upgrade to a plan with longer retention:
Example: Free → Pro Upgrade
Before (Free):
Retention: 1 year
Data hidden: Months 13-24 hidden
After (Pro):
Retention: 2 years
Data recovered: Months 13-24 now visible again!
Hidden data is automatically recovered when you upgrade. You'll receive an email confirming your data has been restored.
Downgrading Your Plan
When you downgrade to a plan with shorter retention:
Example: Pro → Free Downgrade
Before (Pro):
Retention: 2 years
All data from months 1-24 visible
After (Free):
Retention: 1 year
Data from months 13-24 now hidden
30-day grace period starts
Downgrading triggers the soft-hide process for data that exceeds the new plan's retention. You'll receive email notifications before any permanent deletion.
Email Notifications
You'll always be notified before any data is permanently deleted:
Notification Schedule
| When Sent | Purpose | |
|---|---|---|
| Initial | Day 0 | Data has been hidden |
| Reminder | Day 23 | 7 days until deletion |
| Urgent | Day 27 | 3 days until deletion |
What Emails Include
Every notification clearly states:
- Your analytics continue working normally
- Only historical data is affected
- How much data is scheduled for deletion
- The date range of affected data
- Your upgrade options to recover data
- Direct links to upgrade or export
Checking Your Retention Status
Watch your inbox
When data is hidden, Zenovay emails the website owner. The notification spells out exactly how much data is affected, the date range, and the deletion date. This is the primary way you learn that data has entered the grace period, so keep an eye on your inbox (and check the spam folder if you expect a notice). See the Email Notifications schedule above for timing.
Via API
You can confirm the date range your plan currently returns by querying your analytics. If a range beyond your plan's retention comes back empty, that data is hidden:
curl -X GET "https://api.zenovay.com/api/external/v1/analytics/{websiteId}?range=90d" \
-H "X-API-Key: zv_YOUR_API_KEY"
The API is available on Pro plans and above. Free plans do not include programmatic API access.
Export Before Deletion
Why Export?
Even if you don't plan to upgrade, you can export your data for archival:
- Keep local backups
- Compliance requirements
- Historical analysis
There are two export paths, depending on what you need. For full details see the Data Export guide.
Your own personal data (free, all plans)
To export the data Zenovay holds about you as a user (profile, websites metadata, team memberships, your own audit trail):
- Go to Settings → Account (
app.zenovay.com/settings/account) - In the Data export section, click Download my data
This is your GDPR Article 20 export and does not include the analytics data of the sites you track.
Your analytics data (Pro and above)
A packaged CSV or JSON export of a website's visitor and event data is requested through the API. Zenovay generates the file and emails it to the team owner when it is ready:
# Request a CSV export for one website
curl -X POST "https://api.zenovay.com/api/team/{teamId}/export/{websiteId}/csv" \
-H "X-API-Key: zv_YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"aggregation_level": "daily"}'
Swap /csv for /json to request JSON instead. Request the export while the data is still within the grace period, since exports only cover data your plan can currently see.
Compliance Considerations
GDPR Alignment
Our two-phase approach supports GDPR compliance:
- Transparency: Email notifications before deletion
- Data minimization: Automatic cleanup of old data
- User control: Export and upgrade options
Privacy Policy Language
Include in your privacy policy:
We use Zenovay for website analytics. Analytics data is retained for
[1 year/2 years/4 years] depending on our subscription plan. After this
period, data is permanently deleted following a 30-day grace period.
During the grace period, data is hidden but can be recovered through
a plan upgrade.
Documentation
Maintain records of:
- Your chosen retention period
- Why this period is appropriate
- When data was deleted
- Any exports performed
Plan Comparison for Retention
Choosing Based on Retention Needs
| Your Need | Recommended Plan |
|---|---|
| Recent trends only | Free (1 year) |
| Year-over-year comparison | Pro (2 years) |
| Multi-year trend analysis | Scale (4 years) |
| Regulatory compliance (5+ years) | Enterprise |
Scale Plan Note
Scale plan users who need longer than 4 years retention:
- Your only upgrade option is Enterprise
- Contact [email protected] for custom retention
- Enterprise offers unlimited retention options
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my current analytics stop working?
No! Your current analytics work exactly as before. Only historical data older than your retention period is affected.
Can I recover deleted data?
Once the 30-day grace period expires and data is permanently deleted, it cannot be recovered. Export your data during the grace period if needed.
Do I need to do anything?
If you're happy with your plan's retention period, no action needed. You'll receive emails before any deletion occurs.
What if I upgrade after data is deleted?
Upgrading after permanent deletion cannot recover that data. The extended retention applies to current and future data.
Is aggregated data affected?
Daily aggregated statistics may be retained longer than raw event data, depending on your plan. Check your specific plan details.
Best Practices
Regular Exports
Request a periodic export so you always have a recent backup outside Zenovay:
- On Pro and above, request a CSV or JSON export through the API (see Export Before Deletion above) on whatever schedule suits you.
- On Scale, recurring Scheduled Exports can be configured by the team owner from the Agency dashboard, with delivery to a chosen email address.
Monitor Usage
- Check retention status monthly
- Review email notifications promptly
- Plan upgrades before grace period ends
Document Decisions
Keep records of:
- Why you chose your retention period
- Business justification
- Compliance requirements
Next Steps
- Export Your Data - Set up regular exports
- Upgrade Your Plan - Get longer retention
- GDPR Overview - Compliance guidance
- Right to Erasure - Handle deletion requests