A Consent Management Platform (CMP) handles cookie consent, privacy preferences, and regulatory compliance across your website. With dozens of options available, choosing the right one depends on your size, budget, regulations, and technical requirements. Here's a detailed comparison.
What a CMP Does
- Displays a cookie consent banner to visitors
- Blocks scripts and cookies until consent is obtained
- Records and stores consent proof for auditing
- Provides a preference center for granular consent management
- Integrates with advertising and analytics platforms (Google Consent Mode V2)
- Handles multi-regulation compliance (GDPR, CCPA, PECR, LGPD)
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Cookiebot | OneTrust | Iubenda | Didomi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free (1 domain, limited) | Custom pricing | $27/yr | Custom pricing |
| Best for | SMBs, WordPress | Enterprise | SMBs, multi-site | Publishers, enterprise |
| Auto cookie scanning | Yes (monthly) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TCF 2.2 support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (IAB certified) |
| Google Consent Mode V2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CCPA support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| LGPD support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Script blocking | Auto + manual | Manual categorization | Auto + manual | Auto + manual |
| WordPress plugin | Yes (official) | Yes | Yes (official) | Yes |
| Shopify app | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| A/B testing banners | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Analytics dashboard | Basic | Advanced | Basic | Advanced |
| Multi-language | 44 languages | 100+ languages | 30+ languages | 50+ languages |
| Consent proof storage | 12 months | Custom | 5 years | Custom |
| Page load impact | ~40ms | ~60ms | ~35ms | ~45ms |
Other Notable CMPs
| CMP | Price | Best For | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complianz (WP) | Free - $45/yr | WordPress sites | deepest WP integration, privacy policy generator |
| CookieYes | Free - $89/yr | Small businesses | Simple setup, affordable |
| Osano | $99/mo+ | Mid-market | Vendor privacy monitoring included |
| Usercentrics | Custom | Enterprise, apps | Mobile SDK, server-side consent |
| Termly | Free - $20/mo | Freelancers, small sites | All-in-one (banner + policy + T&C) |
How to Choose
For Small Businesses (1-5 sites, <100K visits/mo)
Recommended: Cookiebot Free, Iubenda, or CookieYes. These offer the best value with auto-scanning, multi-regulation support, and easy setup. If you use WordPress, Complianz is the best WordPress-native option.
For Growing Companies (5-50 sites, 100K-1M visits/mo)
Recommended: Cookiebot Premium or Iubenda Pro. You need reliable auto-scanning, consent proof storage, and Google Consent Mode V2 integration. Multi-site pricing matters at this scale.
For Enterprise (50+ sites, 1M+ visits/mo)
Recommended: OneTrust, Didomi, or Usercentrics. You need A/B testing, advanced analytics, SSO, custom integrations, and dedicated support. Enterprise pricing requires direct quotes.
Key Evaluation Criteria
- Auto-blocking accuracy: Does the CMP correctly block cookies before consent? Test this with a PrivacyChecker scan
- Page speed impact: Test your Core Web Vitals with the CMP installed
- Consent Mode V2: Essential if you use Google Ads or Analytics in the EU
- Script blocking reliability: Some CMPs miss dynamically loaded scripts
- No dark patterns: Ensure the default banner design is compliant
After installing your CMP, run a PrivacyChecker scan to verify that cookies are actually blocked before consent and that the reject flow works correctly.