Cookies, not the ones your grandma baked.
As a website owner, you’ve probably heard of cookies before. And no, we’re not talking about the delicious chocolate chip kind. We’re talking about the tiny files that get saved on a user’s device when they visit your website.
These files contain information about the user’s browsing habits, preferences, and even personal information.
But don’t worry, these cookies aren’t as bad as they seem!
They’re pretty useful in helping to provide a better user experience and to help you understand your audience better.
However, with the introduction of data privacy laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), website owners are required to inform their users about the use of cookies and to obtain their consent before collecting any data.
That’s where cookie consent managers come in!
In this post, I’ll be sharing my top 8 free cookie consent managers for GDPR and CCPA compliance. So let’s dive in and find out which one is the best fit for your website!
If you’re already familiar with cookie consent, feel free to skip ahead to the list. For those who are new to the topic, we’ve provided a quick explanation (below) of why you need a cookie consent manager.
Table of Contents
Cookie Consent: A quick overview
If you run an online business or a website, you have a responsibility to ensure that your users’ personal information is being collected, used, and stored transparently and ethically.
The GDPR and CCPA were created to protect users’ privacy rights and to give them control over their data.
If your website is accessible to users in the EU or California, you must comply with these regulations. And that’s where cookie consent managers come in!
What is a cookie consent manager?
Before we dive into why you need a cookie consent manager, let’s first define what it is.
A cookie consent manager is a tool that helps you comply with data privacy regulations by providing a way for you to inform your users about the use of cookies and to obtain their consent before collecting any data.
Why do you need a cookie consent manager?
Now, you might be thinking, “But I already have a cookie banner on my website, isn’t that enough?” Unfortunately, no.
Simply having a banner that says “We use cookies, click ‘Accept’ to agree” isn’t enough to comply with GDPR and CCPA.
These regulations require that you provide detailed information about the cookies being used, and the purpose of the cookies, and obtain explicit consent from your users.
Benefits of using a cookie consent manager
Aside from helping you comply with data privacy regulations, using a cookie consent manager also has other benefits.
For one, it can help improve user experience by giving users control over their data. It can also help you gain trust with your audience by showing that you take their privacy seriously.
So, if you want to ensure that your website is compliant with GDPR and CCPA and you want to provide a transparent and ethical user experience, a cookie consent manager is a must-have tool!
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Free Cookie Consent Managers for GDPR and CCPA Compliance
My favorite free tools for compliance.
Now that we’ve covered why cookie consent managers are important, let’s take a look at some of the top free tools available to help you comply with GDPR and CCPA regulations.
1. CookieYes
CookieYes is a popular cookie consent solution that offers a free plan as well as paid plans for more advanced features. With their free plan, you get a customizable cookie banner, a cookie scanner, and automatic cookie blocking for users who don’t consent.
Additionally, the free plan of CookieYes is quite generous, allowing users to manage up to 100 pages and 25,000 pageviews per month. This should be more than enough for small to medium-sized websites.
One of the best things about CookieYes is how easy it is to implement on your website. They offer a WordPress plugin that makes the integration process simple. With just a few clicks, you can have a fully functional cookie consent manager up and running on your site.
While the free plan is great for basic cookie compliance, if you need more advanced features like geolocation targeting and detailed analytics, you can upgrade to one of their paid plans. Overall, CookieYes is a solid option for those who want a user-friendly cookie consent manager without breaking the bank.
2. Termly.io
Termly.io offers a free cookie consent solution that includes a customizable cookie banner and a consent management dashboard.
The free plan of Termly.io offers users access to one legal policy, with the ability to make four policy edits. This means that you can tailor your legal policies to suit your website and ensure that you’re fully compliant with regulations like GDPR and CCPA.
Additionally, the free plan offers a maximum of 10,000 page views per month, which is a decent allowance for smaller websites.
One of the standout features of Termly.io is its user-friendly consent management dashboard. This allows you to easily manage user consent preferences and even block cookies for users who don’t consent. You can also customize the cookie banner to match your website’s branding and style.
3. FreePrivacyPolicy
FreePrivacyPolicy is a cookie consent manager that provides a free cookie banner for your website. It’s a simple and easy-to-use solution, with no pageview limits, and is completely free of charge.
While it doesn’t offer a WordPress plugin, the cookie consent script can be added manually to your website.
However, the banner’s customization options are limited, with only two basic color themes available to choose from.
Additionally, it includes a consent log that helps you keep track of user consent, which is an essential feature for GDPR and CCPA compliance.
4. Osano
Osano offers a free cookie consent solution that includes a customizable cookie banner and a consent management dashboard.
They provide a user-friendly interface that allows you to customize the banner and choose from different layouts and color schemes.
Their free plan comes with 1 user, 1 domain, and 5,000 pageviews per month.
If you need more advanced features such as a cookie scanner and a privacy policy generator, you can upgrade to one of their paid plans.
5. Cookie-script
Cookie-script offers a free cookie consent solution that includes a customizable cookie banner, cookie blocking, and automatic cookie scanning.
With their free plan, you can scan up to 10 pages per domain and get up to 20,000 monthly pageviews.
Additionally, they offer a one-year free subscription period and allow up to 2 domains per account. They also offer paid plans for more advanced features such as a GDPR and CCPA compliance dashboard.
6. CookieConsent
CookieConsent is completely free with no pageview limits. However, it only offers two color modes (light and dark) for the banner to choose from and you cannot customize the banner design.
No WordPress plugin is available, so the cookie consent script would need to be added manually to your website, and if you don’t have the technical skills, you might need someone’s help.
They don’t offer any paid plan or consent management dashboard.
7. Cookiebot
Cookiebot is a popular cookie consent solution that offers a free plan as well as paid plans for more advanced features.
With their free plan, you get a customizable cookie banner, a cookie scanner, and automatic cookie blocking for users who don’t consent.
However, the free plan has some limitations, including a maximum of one domain and less than 100 pages scanned per domain.
Additionally, the free plan only allows for one scan per month, while paid plans offer more frequent scanning.
There you have it, my top 7 free cookie consent managers for GDPR and CCPA compliance! Choose the one that best suits your needs.
How to Implement a Cookie Consent Manager in Your WordPress Website
Choose your weapon: Plugin or code?
Now that you’ve found the perfect free cookie consent manager for your website, it’s time to implement it. Fortunately, if you’re using WordPress, there are two easy ways to do this.
A. Using a Plugin
The easiest way to implement a cookie consent manager in your WordPress website is by using a plugin. Most cookie consent managers offer a WordPress plugin that you can install and configure with just a few clicks.
To install the plugin, simply login to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to “Plugins” > “Add New”. Then, search for your chosen cookie consent manager and click “Install Now”. Once the plugin is installed, click “Activate” and follow the prompts to configure your cookie banner and consent settings.
B. Adding the Code Manually to the <head>
If you prefer to add the code for your cookie consent manager manually to the <head> of your WordPress website, you can do so by following these simple steps:
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to “Appearance” > “Editor”.
- Select the “header.php” file from the list of templates on the right.
- Scroll down to the <head> section of the file and paste the code for your cookie consent manager there.
- Save the changes and refresh your website to see the cookie banner in action.
Note: Before making any changes to your WordPress theme, it’s always a good idea to make a backup of your site in case anything goes wrong.
And that’s it! Now you know how to implement a cookie consent manager in your WordPress website using either a plugin or by adding the code manually to the <head>.
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GDPR vs. CCPA: Best Practices for Setting Up a Cookie Consent
Know your laws and best practices to stay on top of compliance.
As we mentioned earlier, GDPR and CCPA are two different data privacy laws, and there are some key differences between them that you need to be aware of when setting up your cookie consent manager.
A. Key Differences Between GDPR and CCPA Compliance
Here are some of the key differences between GDPR and CCPA compliance that you need to know:
- GDPR applies to all EU citizens, while CCPA only applies to California residents.
- GDPR gives users more control over their data and requires explicit consent, while CCPA requires businesses to give users the right to opt out of data sharing.
- GDPR carries heavier fines for non-compliance than CCPA.
B. Best Practices for Setting Up a Cookie Consent Manager
Now that you know the key differences between GDPR and CCPA compliance, here are some best practices for setting up your cookie consent manager:
- Clearly communicate to your users what cookies are being used and why.
- Give users the ability to opt-in or opt out of cookie usage, and ensure that they can easily change their preferences.
- Make sure that your cookie consent manager is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
- Keep your cookie consent manager up to date with the latest laws and regulations.
- Be transparent about your data collection and usage practices.
And there you have it!
By understanding the key differences between GDPR and CCPA compliance and following these best practices, you’ll be well on your way to setting up a cookie consent manager that’s compliant and user-friendly.
Just remember that this is not legal advice, so if you have any questions or concerns about data privacy laws, it’s always best to consult with a legal professional.
Conclusion
So, to sum it all up, we’ve covered a lot of ground when it comes to free cookie consent managers for GDPR and CCPA compliance. Here’s a quick recap of the 7 options we discussed:
- CookieYes
- Termly.io
- FreePrivacyPolicy
- Osano
- Cookie-Script
- CookieConsent
- Cookiebot
Each of these options has its own unique features and pricing plans, but they all share the goal of helping you comply with data privacy laws and provide a better user experience.
But you may be wondering, which cookie consent manager is the best for your website? Well, it depends on your specific needs. Here are some personal recommendations based on different website scenarios:
- Best for small to medium-sized websites with basic cookie consent needs: CookieConsent or Cookie-Script
- Best for larger websites with more complex data privacy needs: Termly.io or CookieYes
- Best for e-commerce websites: Osano or Cookiebot
At the end of the day, it’s important to choose a cookie consent manager that’s user-friendly, customizable, and compliant with the laws in your region.
So, take your time to research and test out different options until you find the one that works best for you and your website.
And that’s a wrap! We hope this guide has been helpful in your quest for cookie consent compliance, but remember that this is not legal advice. Always consult with a legal professional if you have any questions or concerns about data privacy laws.
Happy cookie managing!
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Ali is a digital marketing blogger and author who uses the power of words to inspire and impact others. He has written for leading publications like Business2Community, Inc. Magazine, and Marketing Profs. When not writing, he enjoys spending time with his family.