Privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA now require most websites to get visitor consent before setting cookies. If your WordPress site doesn’t have a compliant cookie banner, you risk fines and lost visitor trust.
A cookie consent plugin handles this for you. It displays a consent banner, blocks tracking scripts until visitors opt in, and logs proof of consent. The best ones also support Google Consent Mode v2, which Google now requires for accurate ad measurement in the EU.
In this guide, I’ve ranked 9 cookie banner plugins based on hands-on testing, real GTmetrix performance data, and 15+ years of WordPress experience.
Quick Comparison of the Best WordPress Cookie Consent Plugins
Here’s a quick comparison of the best WordPress cookie consent plugins at a glance:
| Plugin | Best For | Free Plan | Starting Price | Google Consent Mode v2 | Auto Cookie Scanning |
| WPConsent | WordPress-native cookie consent | Yes | Free | Yes | No (manual) |
| MonsterInsights | Privacy-safe site analytics | No | $99.50/year | Yes (via EU Compliance addon) | No |
| OptinMonster | Popup banners with compliance | No | $9/month | No | No |
| CookieYes | Auto-scanning and global laws | Yes | $10/month | Yes | Yes |
| Cookiebot | Daily cookie scanning & reports | Yes | $13/month | Yes | Yes |
| GDPR Cookie Compliance | Simple GDPR compliance for small sites | Yes | $39/year | Yes | No |
| iubenda | Cookie consent plus privacy/terms in one | Yes | $27/year | Yes | Yes |
| Complianz | Full legal setup for global sites | Yes | $45/year | Yes | Yes |
| Cookie Notice | Basic banners for small sites | Yes | Free | No | No |
What Is Google Consent Mode v2 (And Why Your Cookie Plugin Needs It)
Google Consent Mode v2 lets your cookie consent plugin send consent signals directly to Google Analytics and Google Ads. Since March 2024, Google requires it for EU ad measurement. Without it, your conversion data goes dark for any user who hasn’t consented, and Google Analytics uses behavioral modeling to fill the gaps.
If your cookie plugin doesn’t support Consent Mode v2, you’re either missing EU ad conversions entirely or measuring them wrong. WPConsent, CookieYes, Cookiebot, and Complianz all support it. OptinMonster and Cookie Notice do not. I’ve noted v2 support in the comparison table above.
How I Tested These WordPress Cookie Consent Plugins
I tested each of these plugins hands-on using a fresh WordPress install with SeedProd, MonsterInsights, and WooCommerce activated. I focused on how easy each tool was to set up, how well it handled real-world privacy laws, and how it looked on both desktop and mobile.
Here’s what I specifically looked at during testing:
- Ease of Use: Could I set it up in under 10 minutes without needing help docs?
- Compliance Features: Did it support GDPR, CCPA, and regional targeting?
- Banner Design: Was it customizable and mobile-friendly?
- Integrations: Did it work with analytics tools like MonsterInsights or GA4?
- Free vs Paid: Was the free version usable, or did key features require upgrading?
- Performance Impact: I ran GTmetrix benchmarks on staceycorrin.com to measure the actual footprint each plugin added to page load times, request counts, and third-party connections.
After testing everything side-by-side, I picked WPConsent as the best all-around cookie plugin, especially for beginners and anyone who wants a fast, reliable solution that stays inside WordPress.
Performance Comparison: Plugin Footprint
Performance data from my GTmetrix testing in (February 2026). These numbers show what each plugin itself adds to your page, not total page load time, which varies by site.
| Plugin | Plugin Requests | Plugin Size (transferred) | Third-Party Domains | Self-Hosted |
| WPConsent | 2 | 12 KB | 0 | Yes |
| CookieYes | 9 | 28 KB | 2 | No (external CDN) |
| Complianz | 3 | 13.1 KB | 0 | Yes |
Complianz also blocks Google Tag Manager until consent is given, which cut my total page size from ~498 KB down to ~198 KB on my test site. That’s a significant difference if you run any GTM tags.
9 Best Cookie Consent Plugins for WordPress
Protecting your website visitors’ privacy builds trust and keeps you on the right side of the law. Here are my top WordPress cookie consent plugin recommendations, ranked for usability, features, and value.
1. WPConsent
| Pricing: Starts at $49/year |
| Free Plan / Trial: Yes |
| Standout Features: |
| 🔹 Visual banner editor 🔹 Region-based display rules 🔹 First-party logging & analytics support 🔹 Google Consent Mode v2 support |
| Rating: A+ |
| Best For: Site owners who want fast setup and full control |
WPConsent is a WordPress-native cookie consent plugin built by the team behind WPForms and AIOSEO. It handles GDPR, CCPA, ePrivacy, and Google Consent Mode v2 compliance with a visual banner editor, region-based consent rules, and first-party cookie logging, all from inside your WordPress dashboard.
I use WPConsent on the SeedProd, RafflePress, and my personal website. It’s the best WordPress cookie consent plugin I’ve tested: modern, lightweight, and beginner-friendly. The dashboard is clean and intuitive, and the banner styles look great out of the box with no coding required.
You can show cookie banners only in the regions where they’re legally required. It works with Google Consent Mode v2 and major analytics tools, so you don’t lose essential tracking when users opt in. Unlike CookieYes and Cookiebot, WPConsent stores consent logs on your own server rather than a third-party cloud service.
In my GTmetrix testing, WPConsent added just 2 requests and 12 KB to my page. That was the smallest plugin footprint of any tool I tested. All assets are self-hosted with zero third-party connections.
Pros
- Beginner-friendly and lightweight (2 requests, 12 KB)
- Visual banner editor with real-time preview
- Region-based display rules for legal accuracy
- First-party data logging (no third-party dashboard)
- Google Consent Mode v2 support
- Integrates with MonsterInsights and other analytics tools
Cons
- No automatic cookie scanning (you categorize cookies manually)
- Less well-known than some larger CMPs
My Verdict: WPConsent is my top pick for cookie consent on WordPress. I use it personally and it just works. It’s fast, self-contained, and has no third-party dependencies. Ideal for beginners and pros who want full control without complexity.
2. MonsterInsights
| Pricing: Starts at $99.50/year |
| Free Plan / Trial: No |
| Standout Features: |
| 🔹 EU Compliance addon 🔹 Real-time dashboard reports 🔹 Seamless cookie plugin integration |
| Rating: A |
| Best For: Site owners who want privacy-friendly analytics |
MonsterInsights is a WordPress analytics plugin, not a standalone cookie consent tool, but its EU Compliance addon handles GDPR and CCPA requirements automatically by anonymizing IP addresses, disabling demographic tracking, and turning off remarketing features.
I’ve used MonsterInsights on almost every site I work on to connect Google Analytics with just a few clicks. It gives you real-time data inside your WordPress dashboard with no code or complex setup required.
The EU Compliance addon helps you stay on the right side of privacy laws by:
- Making IP addresses anonymous
- Disabling UserID and demographic tracking
- Turning off remarketing features
- Supporting cookie opt-out integrations
You can also pair MonsterInsights with a cookie consent plugin like WPConsent or CookieYes to disable tracking for users who don’t accept cookies. The setup works well together.
Pros
- EU Compliance addon handles GDPR/CCPA requirements automatically
- Real-time analytics directly inside the WordPress dashboard
- Integrates easily with cookie banners to block tracking when needed
- No coding required to set up or customize
- Trusted by over 3 million websites
Cons
- No free version of the EU Compliance addon
- Analytics-only. You’ll still need a separate banner plugin
My Verdict: MonsterInsights is a strong choice if you want privacy-compliant analytics and legal protections in one place. I’ve used it on several projects, and the EU Compliance addon makes privacy setup much simpler. Pair it with WPConsent and you have a complete solution.
For more information, please see our in-depth MonsterInsights review.
3. OptinMonster
| Pricing: Starts at $9/month |
| Free Plan / Trial: No |
| Standout Features: |
| 🔹 Drag-and-drop popup builder 🔹 Location-based targeting 🔹 Cookie consent form templates |
| Rating: B+ |
| Best For: Businesses combining cookie banners with lead generation |
OptinMonster is primarily a lead generation and popup tool, but it also works for cookie consent banners. You can create fully customized popups, slide-ins, and bars that ask for cookie approval in a clean and friendly way.
I’ve used OptinMonster’s drag-and-drop builder to design GDPR-compliant forms and banners for websites with strict privacy rules. You can add a checkbox for cookie agreement or link to your privacy policy right inside the popup.
Its targeting features are strong too. You can show your cookie notice only to users from certain countries or after specific actions, like scrolling or trying to exit the page.
Pros
- Drag-and-drop builder is easy for beginners
- Custom cookie banner templates available
- Geo-targeting lets you show notices only where required
- Works well for combining cookie notices with lead gen
- Great popup controls and display triggers
Cons
- Not a dedicated cookie consent tool (more of a workaround)
- No automated cookie blocking or scanning
- No Google Consent Mode v2 support
- Needs careful configuration to ensure legal compliance
My Verdict: If you already use OptinMonster, it’s a practical way to add cookie consent banners without extra plugins. But it’s not a true consent management platform. I’ve made it work for clients who needed popups and privacy options together. Just make sure you configure it carefully.
If you need more information, please see our OptinMonster review.
4. CookieYes
| Pricing: Free or from $10/month |
| Free Plan / Trial: Yes |
| Standout Features: |
| 🔹 Auto cookie scan & categorization 🔹 Geo-targeted banners 🔹 Consent logging and reports 🔹 Google Consent Mode v2 support |
| Rating: A |
| Best For: Beginners who want fast, legal cookie compliance with auto-scanning |
CookieYes is one of the most popular cookie consent plugins on WordPress.org, used by over 1.5 million websites. It supports GDPR, CCPA, LGPD, Google Consent Mode v2, and more, with automatic cookie scanning so you don’t need to categorize cookies manually.
I like that it automatically scans your site and categorizes cookies for you. You get a clear opt-in/out banner with geo-targeting based on the visitor’s location, and it blocks third-party scripts until a user gives consent.
In my GTmetrix testing, CookieYes added 9 requests and 28 KB to my page, the most requests of any plugin I benchmarked. It connects to 2 external domains (cdn-cookieyes.com and log.cookieyes.com), loads a render-blocking script from its CDN, fires a logging ping, and loads its own web font that doubled my font payload.
Unlike WPConsent, which stores everything locally, CookieYes relies on external servers to deliver its consent functionality.
Pros
- Supports GDPR, CCPA, LGPD, POPIA, and more
- Automatic cookie scanning and categorization
- Google Consent Mode v2 support
- Geo-targeted banners based on visitor location
- Customizable appearance to match your branding
- Free plan available for small sites
Cons
- Consent logs and audit reports require a paid plan
- Most requests of any plugin tested (9 requests, 28 KB, 2 external domains)
- Loads its own web font, doubling your site’s font payload
- External CDN dependency means a third-party server is always involved
My Verdict: CookieYes is a reliable cookie consent plugin. I recommend it when you need automatic cookie scanning and global compliance coverage. The external dependency is worth knowing about before you install, especially if site speed is a priority.
5. Cookiebot
| Pricing: Free (up to 50 pages) or from $13/month |
| Free Plan / Trial: Yes |
| Standout Features: |
| 🔹 Auto scanner & cookie categorization 🔹 Detailed consent reports 🔹 Fully customizable banners 🔹 Google Consent Mode v2 support |
| Rating: B+ |
| Best For: High-traffic sites needing detailed scanning and compliance reports |
Cookiebot is a cloud-based consent management platform (CMP) that handles cookie scanning and compliance reporting through an external Cookiebot account. It runs daily scans, categorizes cookies automatically, and updates your banner without manual input. That makes it useful for ecommerce sites with frequent third-party integrations.
One of its best features is the automatic cookie scanner. It runs daily and keeps your consent banner current as your cookie inventory changes. I’ve seen it used well on ecommerce sites that need frequent audits without manual updates.
Like CookieYes, Cookiebot relies on external servers to deliver its consent functionality. All scanning, configuration, and consent data runs through the Cookiebot cloud dashboard rather than staying inside WordPress.
That’s a trade-off: you get powerful automation, but your compliance setup depends on a third-party service being available and fast.
Pros
- Automatic daily cookie scans with classification
- Detailed consent logs and compliance reporting
- Google Consent Mode v2 support
- Customizable banner that fits your site’s design
- Supports multiple languages and regions
- Free tier available for small sites (up to 50 pages)
Cons
- Pricing scales based on page count and can get expensive
- Requires an external Cookiebot account for management
- External CDN dependency for all consent functionality
My Verdict: Cookiebot is a solid pick for businesses that need in-depth cookie reporting and hands-off automation. It’s not the simplest option, and the cloud dependency is a trade-off worth noting. But if you want thorough scanning and audit reports, it delivers.
6. GDPR Cookie Compliance
| Pricing: Free or from $39/year |
| Free Plan / Trial: Yes |
| Standout Features: |
| 🔹 GDPR, CCPA, and LGPD compliance 🔹 Consent log with user records 🔹 Google Consent Mode v2 support |
| Rating: B+ |
| Best For: Site owners who want a free, GDPR-focused plugin with a solid free tier |
GDPR Cookie Compliance is a dedicated consent management plugin by Moove Agency with over 300,000 active installs. It covers GDPR, CCPA, and LGPD requirements, includes a consent log, and supports Google Consent Mode v2 on its premium plan.
The free version gives you a working consent banner with cookie category management, which is more than many free plugins offer. You can customize the banner’s colors and text to match your site.
The premium plan adds consent logs, Google Consent Mode integration, and additional layout options.
Compared to WPConsent, GDPR Cookie Compliance lacks the visual banner editor and first-party logging on the free plan. But it’s a step up from Cookie Notice if you want a dedicated compliance tool without spending anything upfront.
Pros
- 300,000+ active installs with solid support history
- Free version includes cookie category management
- Google Consent Mode v2 on premium
- Covers GDPR, CCPA, and LGPD
- Customizable banner appearance
Cons
- Consent logging requires paid plan
- No automatic cookie scanning
- Visual customization is more limited than WPConsent or CookieYes
My Verdict: GDPR Cookie Compliance is a dependable free option for small sites that need more than a basic banner but don’t need auto-scanning. The free tier is genuinely useful, and upgrading later is straightforward.
7. iubenda
| Pricing: Free or from $27/year |
| Free Plan / Trial: Yes |
| Standout Features: |
| 🔹 Cookie consent plus privacy policy generation 🔹 Auto cookie scanning 🔹 Google Consent Mode v2 support |
| Rating: B+ |
| Best For: Sites that need cookie consent and privacy policy documents in one platform |
iubenda is a compliance platform that combines cookie consent, privacy policy generation, and terms of service in one service. If you need all three documents and a consent banner, iubenda generates them automatically based on the services your site uses and keeps them updated as laws change.
The cookie banner setup connects to iubenda’s external servers to deliver consent functionality, similar to Cookiebot’s approach. Automatic cookie scanning is included, and Google Consent Mode v2 is supported.
The privacy policy generator is one of iubenda’s standout features. It’s a practical way to get legally sound documents without hiring a lawyer.
The trade-off compared to WPConsent is that iubenda is not WordPress-native. It relies on an external account and external servers to deliver the banner, which adds a cloud dependency to your site’s compliance setup.
Pros
- Cookie consent, privacy policy, and terms of service in one platform
- Automatic cookie scanning
- Google Consent Mode v2 support
- Lawyer-drafted document templates
- Available in multiple languages
Cons
- External server dependency (not self-hosted)
- Full functionality requires a paid plan
- More complex setup compared to WordPress-native plugins
My Verdict: iubenda makes sense if you need privacy policy and terms documents alongside your cookie banner and want one subscription to cover everything. If you just need a consent banner, WPConsent or CookieYes will be simpler and cheaper.
8. Complianz
| Pricing: Free or from $45/year |
| Free Plan / Trial: Yes |
| Standout Features: |
| 🔹 Setup wizard for compliance 🔹 Geo-targeted banners 🔹 Cookie scan & multi-language support 🔹 Google Consent Mode v2 support 🔹 Blocks GTM before consent |
| Rating: A |
| Best For: Multilingual or global sites that want automated legal tools and a lighter page load |
Complianz is a full-featured privacy compliance plugin that handles cookie consent, legal page generation, and geo-targeted banners, all self-hosted within WordPress. Unlike CookieYes and Cookiebot, Complianz stores everything locally with no external API calls or third-party domains.
I’ve tested it on multilingual sites and was impressed by how much it handles out of the box. The setup wizard walks you through compliance settings step-by-step, including creating cookie policies and “Do Not Sell” pages. Geo-targeting is built in, so consent banners only appear for visitors in regions that require them.
In my GTmetrix testing, Complianz added 3 requests and 13.1 KB, very close to WPConsent’s footprint. More significantly, it blocks Google Tag Manager before consent is given, which cut my total page size from ~498 KB down to ~198 KB on my test site.
If your site runs GTM with multiple tags, that’s a substantial performance difference compared to plugins that let GTM load immediately.
Pros
- Self-hosted with zero third-party connections
- Built-in setup wizard for easy onboarding
- Google Consent Mode v2 support
- Geo-targeted consent banners for region-specific laws
- Automatically creates legal pages like cookie and privacy policies
- Multi-language support with auto translation
- Blocks GTM before consent (reduces page weight significantly)
Cons
- Advanced settings can feel overwhelming at first
- Some legal documents only available in paid version
- GTM blocking before consent may affect some tracking setups
My Verdict: Complianz is a full privacy suite, not just a cookie banner. I recommend it for multilingual or high-compliance sites that want a set-it-and-forget-it experience with no cloud dependencies. It’s a bit more complex to configure, but the performance and compliance depth make it worth it.
9. Cookie Notice & Compliance
| Pricing: Free |
| Free Plan / Trial: Yes |
| Standout Features: |
| 🔹 Simple GDPR/CCPA compliance 🔹 Consent revoke button 🔹 Redirect and close options |
| Rating: B |
| Best For: Beginners or minimal setups on a tight budget |
Cookie Notice & Compliance is a free cookie banner plugin for basic GDPR and CCPA compliance. It doesn’t include cookie scanning, consent logging, or Google Consent Mode v2 support, but it’s quick to set up and handles the basics well for small sites with simple needs.
I’ve used it on minimalist sites where clients just needed a quick way to notify users and link to their privacy policy. It supports redirects, manual close buttons, and a “revoke consent” option, which is rare for a completely free plugin.
You can change the banner colors, text, and position to match your site’s branding. If your needs go beyond a basic notification, though, WPConsent’s free tier offers more compliance depth without cost.
Pros
- Totally free with no upsells
- Simple and fast setup for beginners
- Includes “revoke consent” button and auto-hide options
- Lets you link to privacy policy and redirect users
- Fully customizable to match your site’s design
Cons
- No cookie scanning or category management
- Doesn’t log user consent or generate audit reports
- No Google Consent Mode v2 support
- Limited to basic GDPR/CCPA banner functionality
My Verdict: Cookie Notice & Compliance is the right pick if you need something quick, free, and simple. I’ve used it on small sites where the budget was tight and the compliance needs were minimal. It’s not a full CMP, but it handles the basics well.
What Is the Best WordPress Cookie Plugin?
If you want a cookie consent plugin that’s easy to set up, lightweight, and 100% WordPress-native, I recommend WPConsent. It handles GDPR, CCPA, and Google Consent Mode v2 with a visual editor, region-based rules, and first-party logging.
In my GTmetrix testing it added just 12 KB to my page with zero third-party connections. I use it on my own sites and it just works.
If you also need automatic cookie scanning, CookieYes or Complianz are strong alternatives. For analytics, pair WPConsent with MonsterInsights for full GDPR/CCPA compliance without code.
WordPress Cookie Consent FAQs
I’m often asked many questions about WordPress cookie consent plugins that I’m more than happy to answer. Below are some of the most common questions our readers ask:
What happens if my website doesn’t have cookie consent?
Without cookie consent, you risk substantial fines under privacy regulations. GDPR penalties reach up to €20 million or 4% of annual global revenue, whichever is higher. CCPA penalties run up to $7,500 per intentional violation. Small businesses have been fined, not just large tech companies. Beyond fines, missing cookie consent can damage visitor trust if users realize you’re collecting their data without asking.
What is the best free cookie consent plugin for WordPress?
WPConsent has the best free tier of any cookie consent plugin I’ve tested. The free version gives you a working consent banner, region-based display rules, and first-party consent logging. These are features many plugins lock behind paid plans. If you need something even simpler with zero setup, Cookie Notice & Compliance is a solid fallback, though it lacks consent logging and Google Consent Mode v2 support.
Does installing a cookie consent plugin guarantee GDPR compliance?
No. A cookie consent plugin handles one piece of GDPR compliance: the consent banner and cookie management. Full compliance also requires a privacy policy that accurately describes how you process data, proper data processing agreements with third-party services, a data subject request process, and secure data storage practices. The plugin gives you the consent mechanism; the rest is on you as the site owner.
Get Started with WordPress Cookie Consent
I hope this guide has helped you find the best WordPress cookie consent plugin for your site. Whichever solution you choose, you’re taking an important step in building trust with your visitors and protecting your business from compliance risk.
You may also find the following WordPress guides helpful:
- Best WordPress Security Plugins: Top Picks for Site Safety
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- Best WordPress Multisite Plugins (Expert Pick)
- Best WordPress Tabs Plugins Compared
- Best CRM Software to Boost Business Sales
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