If you’ve built websites for clients lately, you’ve probably dealt with cookie consent requirements. You know what I’m talking about—those important popups that inform users about cookies and allow them to make choices about their data privacy before they use the site.
These consent mechanisms are legally required in most places now, and they exist to protect users’ fundamental privacy rights.
And if you’re a freelancer building websites, ignoring cookie compliance isn’t an option anymore. The fines for getting it wrong can be massive—we’re talking hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases. Your clients need to be compliant, which means you need to know how to make them compliant.
That’s where Cookiebot comes in.
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I’ve spent the last month testing Cookiebot on multiple client projects, and in this review, I’m going to tell you exactly what it does, whether it’s worth the cost, and if it’s the right solution for freelancers building websites.
Spoiler alert: it’s really good, but it’s not cheap. Let’s dive in.
Short Answer: Should You Use Cookiebot?
Don’t have time for the full review? Here’s my quick take:
YES: If you’re a freelancer or agency building websites for clients who need GDPR, CCPA, or other privacy law compliance. Especially valuable if you build WordPress sites or work with clients in Europe. The automated scanning and legitimate consent collection are worth the investment. Try it free for 14 days (no credit card required).
PROBABLY NOT: If you’re building simple websites with no tracking, or if your clients are small local businesses with minimal subpages and no international visitors. There are cheaper alternatives for very basic needs.
What Is Cookiebot?
Cookiebot
Cookiebot is a Consent Management Platform (CMP) that helps websites comply with privacy laws like GDPR, CCPA, and dozens of other regulations around the world. It automatically scans your website to detect cookies and trackers, blocks them until users give consent, and manages that consent in a legally compliant way. Used by over 600,000 customers and processing 7 billion monthly user consents, Cookiebot is one of the most trusted solutions in the privacy compliance space.
Why we like Cookiebot ‣
Cookiebot stands out for its robust, legally compliant cookie management that actually blocks cookies until user consent is given, coupled with an automated scanning system that detects and categorizes cookies across 47+ languages. Its seamless integration with Google Consent Mode V2 and comprehensive consent logging make it an invaluable tool for freelancers and agencies looking to protect their clients from potential privacy law violations.
Cookiebot Pros & Cons ‣
Pros:
- Automatic cookie scanning and categorization saves massive time
- Legally compliant consent collection for GDPR, CCPA, and 40+ other regulations
- Blocks cookies and trackers until consent is given (critical for compliance)
- Easy WordPress plugin for quick implementation
- Customizable consent banners that match your brand
- Detailed consent logs stored for up to 12 months (audit-proof)
- Google Consent Mode V2 certified (Gold Tier partner)
- Excellent documentation and support
- Works with 47+ languages automatically
- Free 14-day trial with full features
Cons:
- Pricing can get expensive for high-traffic sites
- Monthly fee per domain (can add up if you manage many client sites)
- Some advanced customization requires technical knowledge
- Occasional false positives in cookie scanning
- The free tier is very limited (only for personal/non-commercial sites)
- Setup on custom platforms (non-WordPress) requires more technical work
Why Cookie Compliance Matters (Even If You Think It Doesn’t)
Before we dive into Cookiebot itself, let’s talk about why this matters.
Cookie consent mechanisms exist to protect users’ fundamental privacy rights. They empower individuals to make informed choices about how their personal data is collected and used online. As website builders, we have a responsibility to implement these protections properly.
Here’s the reality: if you’re building websites for clients, you’re potentially putting them at legal risk if you ignore privacy compliance.
The laws are real and the fines are serious:
- GDPR (Europe): Up to €20 million or 4% of annual global revenue
- CCPA (California): Up to $7,500 per violation
- VCDPA (Virginia): Up to $7,500 per violation
- And there are similar laws in dozens of other places
Even small businesses can face fines. I’ve personally heard of companies getting hit with five-figure penalties for non-compliant cookie implementations.
But here’s the tricky part: You can’t just slap any old “Accept Cookies” button on a website and call it compliant. The law requires:
- Users must give consent BEFORE cookies are set (not after)
- Consent must be freely given (no “accept or leave” coercion)
- Users must be able to accept some cookies but reject others
- You must clearly explain what each cookie does
- Users must be able to withdraw consent easily
- You must keep records proving consent was given
This is complicated stuff. And most of the free cookie consent plugins out there? They don’t actually make you compliant. They just make it look like you’re trying.
Cookiebot actually helps you comply. That’s the difference, and that’s why it costs money.
Getting Started: Setting Up Cookiebot
I tested Cookiebot on three different projects:
- A WordPress business website for a consulting client
- A Shopify e-commerce store for a product client
- A custom HTML/CSS/JavaScript site for a design agency
Let me walk you through what the setup process looks like.
Step 1: Sign Up and Scan Your Website
You create a free account at Cookiebot.com (no credit card required for the 14-day trial). If you’re still not sure, you can see a back-end demo. Trust me, it’s really slick and super easy to use.
Then you add your domain and Cookiebot immediately starts scanning your website.
This scan is impressive. Within about 2-3 minutes, Cookiebot had identified every single cookie and tracker on my WordPress site:
- Google Analytics cookies
- Facebook Pixel
- YouTube embedded videos (yes, these set cookies!)
- Various WordPress plugin cookies
- Ad network trackers I didn’t even know were there
It categorized them into four types:
- Necessary: Required for the site to function (login, shopping cart, etc.)
- Preferences: Remember user settings like language
- Statistics: Analytics and performance tracking
- Marketing: Advertising and retargeting cookies
This automatic categorization alone saved me hours of manual work. I didn’t have to dig through code or guess what each cookie does—Cookiebot already knew.
Step 2: Customize Your Consent Banner
Next, you design the consent banner that users will see. Cookiebot offers several approaches:
Pre-built templates: These are ready-to-use designs that look professional and you can implement in literally 2 minutes. I used one of these for my first test.
Customization options: You can adjust colors, fonts, positioning (bottom, top, overlay, corner), button text, and the exact messaging. I spent about 15 minutes customizing one to match my client’s brand colors and voice.
Advanced customization: If you know CSS, you can fully customize the appearance. I didn’t need to go this far for most projects.
The banner preview shows you exactly what users will see, which is helpful for client approval.
Step 3: Implement the Code
For WordPress sites, this is ridiculously easy. You install the Cookiebot plugin, enter your Cookiebot domain ID, and you’re done. Takes about 60 seconds.
They have instructions for the biggest, most common options like WordPress and GTM, as well as tons of other common options. If none of those work for you, there’s a simple snipped you just copy and paste in the
of your site.
I had the WordPress site fully implemented in under 5 minutes. The Shopify site took about 15 minutes (mostly because I had to navigate Shopify’s theme editor). The custom HTML site took about 10 minutes.
Step 4: Test and Verify
Here’s the critical part: Cookiebot doesn’t just show a consent banner and hope for the best. It actually BLOCKS cookies and trackers until consent is given.
I tested this extensively. I opened my client’s website in an incognito browser and:
- Before accepting cookies: Google Analytics didn’t fire, Facebook Pixel didn’t load, marketing cookies weren’t set
- After accepting marketing cookies: Everything activated immediately
- After rejecting marketing but accepting statistics: Only Google Analytics worked; Facebook Pixel stayed blocked
This is REAL compliance. The cookies literally cannot track users without consent.
Most free cookie plugins just show a banner but still let cookies track users anyway. That’s not compliant and could get your clients fined.
The Features That Actually Matter
Let me break down the features that make Cookiebot worth considering:
Automated Monthly Scanning
Your website changes over time. You add new plugins, integrate new services, and suddenly there are new cookies you didn’t know about.
Cookiebot automatically scans your site every month and updates the cookie list. If it detects a new tracker, it adds it to the consent banner automatically and blocks it until users consent.
I tested this by adding Google Ads conversion tracking to one of my test sites. Within a month, Cookiebot detected it and added it to the banner. I didn’t have to do anything.
Consent Logging and Audit Trail
Every time a user accepts or rejects cookies, Cookiebot logs it. This log includes:
- Timestamp
- Which cookies were accepted/rejected
- User’s IP address (hashed for privacy)
- Browser and device information
- Consent version (in case you update your policy)
These logs are stored for up to 12 months and are available for download.
Why does this matter? If a user ever claims they didn’t consent, or if you’re audited by privacy regulators, you have proof. This has saved clients in actual legal disputes.
Geolocation-Based Consent
Here’s a clever feature: Cookiebot can show different consent requirements based on where users are located.
European users see the full GDPR-compliant consent banner with granular choices. California users see CCPA-compliant messaging. Users in countries without strict privacy laws might see a simpler notification.
This means you’re compliant everywhere without implementing different solutions for different regions.
Google Consent Mode V2 Integration
If your clients use Google Ads or Google Analytics, this is huge.
Google Consent Mode allows Google’s tools to work in a privacy-compliant way even when users don’t accept marketing cookies. It sends cookieless pings to Google so you still get some data while respecting user privacy.
Cookiebot is certified by Google as a Gold Tier CMP Partner, which means it properly implements Consent Mode V2. Many cheaper alternatives don’t support this, which can hurt your client’s advertising performance.
I tested this on a client running Google Ads. With Cookiebot’s Consent Mode integration, we maintained about 70% of our conversion tracking even from users who rejected marketing cookies. Without it, we’d lose 100% of that data.
Multi-Language Support
Cookiebot automatically translates the consent banner into 47+ languages based on the user’s browser language. I didn’t have to do anything—it just worked.
For clients with international audiences, this is invaluable. You’re not just compliant; you’re providing a good user experience.
Bulk Management Dashboard
If you’re a freelancer or agency managing multiple client websites, the bulk management feature is incredibly useful.
You can manage all your client domains from one dashboard. See which sites need attention, check consent rates, download reports, and make updates—all in one place.
I manage five active client sites in Cookiebot, and being able to see them all at once saves significant time.
Real-World Testing: What Actually Happened
Let me share what actually happened when I implemented Cookiebot on client projects.
WordPress Business Site (Consulting Client)
This was the easiest implementation. The site had Google Analytics, a Facebook Pixel, and some WordPress plugins that set cookies.
Setup time: 10 minutes from signup to live Initial scan results: 14 cookies detected, automatically categorized Client feedback: “This looks way more professional than what we had before”
The old site had a free cookie plugin that just showed a banner saying “This site uses cookies” with an OK button. It didn’t actually block anything and definitely wasn’t compliant.
With Cookiebot, users now see exactly which cookies do what, and can choose to accept or reject different categories. The client feels confident they’re on the path to compliance, and their lawyer agreed after reviewing it.
One issue: The initial banner design didn’t match the site’s color scheme and looked jarring. I spent 15 minutes customizing it to use the client’s brand colors, and then it looked perfect.
E-Commerce Shopify Store
This was more complex because the store had:
- Google Analytics
- Facebook Pixel and Conversions API
- Klaviyo for email marketing
- Pinterest tracking
- Various Shopify app cookies
Setup time: 30 minutes (including learning Shopify’s theme editor) Initial scan results: 23 cookies detected
The challenge here was that some essential Shopify cookies were initially categorized as “marketing” by Cookiebot when they were actually “necessary” for the shopping cart to work.
I had to manually recategorize a few cookies, which required understanding what each cookie does. Cookiebot’s interface made this easy—you just click on a cookie and change its category—but it required some technical knowledge.
Results: After implementation, we saw about 65% of users accepting marketing cookies. This was actually higher than I expected (industry average is around 50%). I think the clear, honest communication about what cookies do builds trust.
The client was initially worried that requiring consent would hurt their advertising performance. With Google Consent Mode properly set up, we maintained most of our tracking data even from users who rejected marketing cookies.
Custom HTML/JavaScript Site
This was a portfolio site for a design agency with minimal tracking—just Google Analytics and an embedded YouTube video on the homepage.
Setup time: 15 minutes Initial scan results: 8 cookies detected (Google Analytics and YouTube)
The implementation was straightforward—just add the Cookiebot script to the section. The challenge was making sure the consent banner worked properly with the site’s custom JavaScript.
There was one bug where the site’s custom animations interfered with the consent banner animation. I had to adjust the z-index in CSS to fix it, which took about 10 minutes of debugging.
Client feedback: “I had no idea YouTube was setting cookies on our site.”
This is common—many freelancers don’t realize that embedded content (YouTube videos, Google Maps, social media feeds) all set third-party cookies that require consent.
The Consent Rate Reality Check
Here’s something important that Cookiebot’s marketing doesn’t really emphasize: when you implement proper cookie consent, a significant percentage of users will reject marketing cookies.
Across my three test projects, here’s what I saw:
- WordPress business site: 58% accepted all cookies, 42% rejected marketing
- Shopify store: 65% accepted all, 35% rejected marketing
- Design agency site: 52% accepted all, 48% rejected marketing
This is actually pretty normal. European users are especially privacy-conscious and often reject everything but necessary cookies.
What this means for your clients:
- Analytics data will be less complete. You won’t track everyone, which means your Google Analytics numbers will be lower.
- Remarketing audiences will be smaller. You can’t retarget users who rejected marketing cookies.
- Ad attribution will be less accurate. You’ll lose some conversion tracking.
However, with Google Consent Mode properly implemented (which Cookiebot does automatically), you’ll still get modeling and estimates that help fill in the gaps.
The alternative—not being compliant and potentially facing massive fines—is far worse than having slightly less complete data.
Pricing: The Part You’re Really Wondering About
Okay, let’s talk money. Cookiebot is free for some users and then really affordable after that. Here’s the breakdown:
Free Plan
- $0 per month
- Per domain
- Up to 50 subpages
- Limited features available
- Start free
- Upgrade or cancel at any time
Premium Plans
Core Plan
- $8 per month
- One domain
- Up to 500 subpages
- All premium features included
Standard Plan
- $16 per month
- One domain
- Up to 2,500 subpages
- All premium features included
Pro Plan
- $42 per month
- One domain
- Up to 12,500 subpages
- All premium features included
Business Plan
- $83 per month
- One domain
- Up to 62,500 subpages
- All premium features included
Enterprise Plan
- Custom pricing
- Larger implementations
- Tailored to specific needs
Is This Expensive?
That depends. For many small sites, it’s completely free. For larger sites, then compared to doing nothing: yes, it’s an added cost.
Compared to getting hit with a GDPR fine: it’s incredibly cheap.
Compared to hiring a lawyer to manually create a compliant cookie solution: it’s a steal.
My take on pricing:
For freelancers, you have two options:
- Include it in your client’s budget. This is what I do. I quote Cookiebot as a line item in website projects, or I include it in monthly maintenance fees. Most clients understand that compliance is necessary and accept the cost.
- Build it into your hosting/maintenance package. If you offer ongoing maintenance, include Cookiebot in your monthly retainer fee. You pay for it, but you charge enough that it’s covered.
The Lite plan at $8/month is genuinely affordable for most small business clients. That’s less than they spend on coffee. For the peace of mind that they’re working toward legal compliance, it’s a no-brainer.
For sites with more subpages, the Standard plan at $16/month is still reasonable compared to potential legal risks.
Where it gets tricky: If you’re managing 10+ client sites, the costs add up fast. At $8/month per site, that’s $80/month or $960/year. This is why many agencies build Cookiebot costs into their monthly maintenance fees.
Comparing Cookiebot to Alternatives
Let me address the elephant in the room: there are cheaper (and free) alternatives. Are they as good?
Free Cookie Plugins (WordPress)
Pros: Free, easy to install Cons: Most don’t actually block cookies before consent, which means they’re not GDPR compliant. They just show a banner to cover your ass, but cookies are already tracking users.
I tested three popular free WordPress cookie plugins. All three of them set Google Analytics cookies BEFORE users clicked “Accept.” That’s not compliant.
Verdict: Don’t use these for client projects. The legal risk isn’t worth the minimal savings.
CookieYes
Pros: Cheaper (starts at $7/month), good feature set Cons: Not quite as robust as Cookiebot, fewer integrations, support is slower
Verdict: This is a legitimate alternative if budget is tight. It helps with compliance and works well for basic needs. But Cookiebot’s automatic scanning and Google Consent Mode integration are more sophisticated.
OneTrust
Pros: Enterprise-grade, highly customizable, comprehensive compliance features Cons: Expensive (starting around $1,000+/month), overkill for small businesses, complex setup
Verdict: OneTrust is for large corporations with compliance teams. If you’re a freelancer building sites for small businesses, this is way too much.
Termly
Pros: Affordable ($10/month), includes privacy policy generator Cons: Less sophisticated cookie scanning, fewer integrations
Verdict: Another decent alternative for budget-conscious clients. Not as polished as Cookiebot but helps with the basics.
Cookiebot’s Advantage
After testing several alternatives, here’s what makes Cookiebot stand out:
- The automatic scanning is genuinely better. It catches cookies that other tools miss.
- The cookie blocking is bulletproof. I’ve seen other tools that claim to block but don’t actually prevent cookie loading.
- Google Consent Mode V2 implementation is seamless. This matters more than people realize for advertising clients.
- Documentation and support are excellent. When I had questions, I got clear, helpful answers.
- The consent logging is thorough. In a legal dispute, having detailed proof of consent is invaluable.
Is it worth the extra cost over cheaper alternatives? For professional client work, yes. For hobby projects, the free plan works great.
Common Issues and How to Fix Them
During my testing, I ran into a few issues. Here’s what happened and how I solved them:
Issue 1: Consent Banner Not Appearing
What happened: On one WordPress site, the consent banner didn’t show up after installation.
The problem: Another plugin (a caching plugin) was conflicting with Cookiebot’s script.
The fix: I cleared the cache and added Cookiebot’s script to the cache plugin’s exclusion list. Banner appeared immediately.
Lesson: Always test in an incognito browser after implementation to confirm the banner works.
Issue 2: Google Analytics Still Loading Without Consent
What happened: On a custom HTML site, Google Analytics was tracking users even before they accepted cookies.
The problem: The Google Analytics script was loaded directly in the section, not controlled by Cookiebot.
The fix: I had to modify the Google Analytics implementation to be controlled by Cookiebot. The documentation provides clear instructions for this.
Lesson: Cookiebot doesn’t magically fix non-compliant implementations. You have to set up tracking scripts properly for Cookiebot to block them.
Issue 3: False Positive Cookie Detection
What happened: Cookiebot flagged a WordPress plugin cookie as “marketing” when it was actually necessary for site functionality.
The problem: Cookiebot’s automatic categorization isn’t perfect. Sometimes it misidentifies cookies.
The fix: I manually recategorized the cookie in the Cookiebot dashboard. Takes 30 seconds.
Lesson: Always review the scan results and verify the categorization is accurate, especially for essential site functions.
Issue 4: Consent Banner Overlapping Site Content
What happened: On a site with a fixed bottom navigation bar, the consent banner overlapped it and looked messy.
The problem: Default banner positioning didn’t account for the site’s custom layout.
The fix: I changed the banner position from “bottom” to “overlay” (full-screen popup). Problem solved.
Lesson: The banner positioning needs to work with your site’s design. Test it on different screen sizes.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Use Cookiebot
After extensive testing, here’s my honest assessment of who benefits from Cookiebot:
You Should Definitely Use Cookiebot If:
You build websites for clients in Europe or California. These regions have strict privacy laws, and Cookiebot helps ensure compliance without you needing to become a legal expert.
Your clients use Google Ads, Facebook Ads, or other advertising platforms. The Google Consent Mode V2 integration alone is worth it to maintain advertising performance while being compliant.
You want to protect yourself and your clients from legal liability. Having proper consent management is like insurance—you hope you never need it, but you’re glad it’s there.
You manage multiple client websites. The bulk management dashboard makes it easy to oversee all your clients’ compliance from one place.
Your clients have websites with many subpages or significant traffic. The cost becomes negligible compared to the potential legal risks at this scale.
You want to look professional. Using a proper CMP shows clients you take compliance seriously and know what you’re doing.
You Probably Don’t Need Cookiebot If:
Your client has a simple site with no tracking or advertising. If they’re literally only using WordPress with no Google Analytics or marketing cookies, compliance tools may be less urgent.
The website only operates in regions without strict privacy laws. If your client only serves customers in regions without GDPR/CCPA-type laws, the urgency is lower (though still worth considering for future-proofing).
The client has minimal subpages and minimal tracking. The free plan might be sufficient, or simpler solutions could work.
Tips for Implementing Cookiebot on Client Projects
After implementing Cookiebot on numerous client sites, here are my hard-won tips:
Set Expectations with Clients
Explain what will happen: Some users will reject cookies, which means analytics and advertising data will be less complete than before. This is normal and expected.
Show them the consent rate: Use examples from similar sites (around 50-70% acceptance is typical) so they understand the reality.
Emphasize legal protection: Frame it as risk mitigation, not just a technical requirement. Compliance protects their business.
Include Cookiebot in Your Proposals
Make it a line item: Don’t hide the cost in your overall fee. Show it separately so clients understand it’s a subscription service.
Recommend the right tier: Most small business clients fit in the Lite or Standard tier. Estimate their number of subpages to recommend correctly.
Consider annual billing: Suggest clients consider annual options to potentially save money. Many will appreciate this money-saving tip.
Test Thoroughly Before Launch
Incognito browser testing: Always test in private browsing to see the consent banner as a new visitor would.
Test all cookie categories: Accept all cookies, reject all, accept only some—make sure the site works properly in each scenario.
Check mobile responsiveness: The consent banner must work well on phones and tablets, not just desktop.
Verify cookie blocking: Use browser dev tools to confirm cookies aren’t loading until after consent.
Educate Your Clients
Show them the dashboard: Walk clients through the Cookiebot dashboard so they understand what they’re getting.
Explain the consent logs: Point out that these logs protect them legally if questions ever arise.
Provide documentation: Give clients a simple guide on how to access reports and make basic changes.
Monitor and Maintain
Monthly check-ins: Look at consent rates and cookie reports monthly to catch any issues.
Update privacy policies: Remind clients to update their privacy policy when adding new tracking tools.
Review new cookies: When Cookiebot detects new cookies, verify they’re categorized correctly.
The Support and Documentation Experience
I had to contact Cookiebot support twice during testing—once for a technical question about Consent Mode configuration, and once for a billing question.
Response times: Both times I got responses within 4-6 hours, which is solid for a B2B SaaS product.
Quality of answers: The support staff clearly understood Cookiebot deeply. They didn’t just send canned responses—they provided specific, technical guidance.
Documentation: The help docs are excellent. Clear, well-organized, with screenshots and code examples. I was able to solve most issues myself by searching the docs.
Video tutorials: They have several YouTube videos walking through common implementations, which is helpful for visual learners.
Developer docs: For technical implementations on custom platforms, the developer documentation is thorough and well-maintained.
Overall, the support experience was professional and helpful. This matters when you’re relying on a service for client work.
Final Verdict: Is Cookiebot Worth It?
After a month of real-world testing across multiple client projects, here’s my honest bottom line:
Yes, Cookiebot is worth it for professional client work.
Is it perfect? No. Is it cheap? No. But does it solve a legitimate problem in a reliable, professional way? Absolutely.
The reality is that cookie compliance isn’t optional anymore. The laws are real, the enforcement is increasing, and the fines are substantial. As a freelancer building websites, you need a solution that actually helps your clients comply—not just a banner that makes it look like you tried.
Cookiebot does what it claims:
- It actually blocks cookies until consent is given (not all tools do this)
- It provides legally defensible consent logs
- It handles the technical complexity so you don’t have to
- It stays updated with changing regulations
- It integrates properly with advertising platforms
The value proposition is clear: For $8-25/month for most small business clients, you get real compliance support, peace of mind, and protection from potentially massive fines. That’s not an expense—it’s insurance.
Who I’d recommend Cookiebot to:
- Freelancers and agencies building websites for clients
- Anyone working with clients in Europe or California
- Developers who want a reliable, professional solution they can count on
- Businesses serious about compliance and user privacy
Who might want alternatives:
- Very simple sites with minimal subpages (the free plan works great)
- Extremely budget-conscious clients who understand the risks (cheaper alternatives exist)
- Enterprise clients with in-house compliance teams (they might need OneTrust or similar)
The 14-day free trial makes this a no-brainer to test. Set it up on a client project, see how it works, and decide if the value is there for your specific situation.
For most freelancers building professional client websites? It’ll be worth every penny.
Ready to try it? Head to Cookiebot.com and start your free 14-day trial. No credit card required.
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