Privacy regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and other global frameworks require businesses to gather user consent for data collection and processing. To streamline this process, businesses can implement a cookie banner that helps them gather and manage user consents, enabling compliance with privacy laws.
For businesses with limited resources, cookie banners from vendors who offer free plans can be a great solution. However, not all free plans offer the same features.
While some rival paid solutions, others may limit long-term compliance, functionality, and scalability.
*The comparison is based on publicly available information gathered on the vendor websites in September 2024 and includes only free plans.
Key features to consider in a CMP
When choosing a CMP, certain features are critical for ensuring compliance, a smooth user experience, and scalability. Below are the features we used for this comparison:
Domains, subpages, and traffic volume: These are an important aspect of any free plan; your cookie banner should scale with your business, offering flexibility to manage multiple site sections.
Cookie scans (frequency and scheduling): Automated, regular scans keep your site compliant without manual effort, especially in fast-changing environments.
Customization options: Look for flexible banner customization that allows you to align the banner with your brand (logos, colors, fonts, etc.).
Multi-language support: Global businesses need a cookie banner that supports different regions and languages.
Standards: You want to make sure that your cookie banner supports relevant standards and frameworks. For example, if you use Google Ads or Analytics, it’s crucial that your cookie banner supports Consent Mode v2.
Comparison chart
Core features
Domains
Number of subpages
Monthly traffic volume
Cookie scans, frequency
Cookie scans, scheduling
Cookie Information
1
1-200
25.000 (consents)
Weekly
Automatic
Cookiebot
1
1-50
–
–
Manual
CookieYes
–
1-100
15.000 (pageviews)
–
Manual
CookieFirst
–
–
–
One-time
–
Cookie Script
2
1-10
10.000 (pageviews)
Monthly
Automatic
Osano
1
–
5.000 (visitors)
–
–
Consentmanager
1
–
5.000 (pageviews)
Weekly
–
CookieHub
–
1-50
5.000 (sessions)
–
–
Termly
1
–
10.000 (banner views)
Quarterly
Automatic
Secure Privacy
1
–
500 (consents)
–
Manual
Customization & UI
Multi-language banner
Banner customization
Cookie Information
No
Yes (Limited)
Cookiebot
No
No
CookieYes
Yes
Yes (Limited)
CookieFirst
No
No
Cookie Script
Yes
Yes
Osano
–
–
Consentmanager
No
No
CookieHub
No
–
Termly
No
No
Secure Privacy
No
No
Standards
IAB TCF 2.2
Consent Mode V2
WCAG 2.1
Cookie Information
Yes
Yes
Yes
Cookiebot
No
Yes
–
CookieYes
No
Yes
–
CookieFirst
No
Yes
–
Cookie Script
No
Yes
–
Osano
–
Yes
–
Consentmanager
No
Yes
–
CookieHub
No
Yes
–
Termly
No
Basic
Yes
Secure Privacy
No
Yes
–
Comparison chart
Download the PDF below to view the full comparison chart.
Free cookie banners provide essential features to start with, but limitations can arise as your business grows. Platforms like CookieHub and Termly, for example, offer restricted traffic volumes, subpages, and customization options that might become challenging over time.
Cookie Information’s free plan stands out with its competitive set of features, including regular scans, banner customization, and support for up to 200 subpages. This makes it a strong contender for businesses seeking robust functionality without the need for an immediate upgrade.
As your needs expand, a paid plan may offer enhanced features like multi-domain support, more frequent scans, and greater customization. However, for small businesses or those starting out, Cookie Information’s free plan provides an ideal balance between functionality and cost-efficiency.
Take charge of your compliance today
With this detailed comparison, you’re now better equipped to choose the right cookie banner for your business. If you’re ready to take control of your consent management and ensure long-term compliance, Cookie Information’s free plan offers a rich feature set, scalability, and regular updates in line with changing regulations.
