In short
- Founded 2012 in Copenhagen by Cybot, acquired by Usercentrics in 2021
- Google-certified CMP with native Google Consent Mode v2 and IAB TCF 2.2 support
- Automatic cookie scanner detects and categorises trackers across all subpages on a recurring schedule
- EU-hosted by default with an optional European CDN for strict no-third-country data flows
- Pricing tiered by number of subpages, free for 1 domain up to 50 subpages
What is Cookiebot
Cookiebot is a Google-certified cookie consent management platform developed by Cybot A/S in Copenhagen. Founded in 2012, it became one of the earliest plug-and-play CMPs aimed at SMB and mid-market sites that needed GDPR and ePrivacy compliance without an enterprise contract. In 2021 Cybot merged with Munich-based Usercentrics, so Cookiebot now sits inside the same parent organisation as its main upmarket sibling, but continues to ship as a separate product for the self-service segment.
Where Cookiebot fits in 2026
Cookiebot targets small and mid-sized websites that want a banner live in a day, without a sales call. The automated scanner crawls every subpage on a schedule, classifies cookies into four standard categories (necessary, preferences, statistics, marketing), and surfaces them in the banner with localised text in 47+ languages. Compliance coverage is broad, GDPR, ePrivacy, CCPA, LGPD, plus IAB TCF 2.2 for publishers running programmatic ads. The main trade-off is pricing: Cookiebot bills by subpage count per domain, not page views, so large content sites or multi-domain estates can see costs scale faster than expected. For privacy-first buyers it offers an EU-only CDN option that keeps all signals inside the EEA.
How Cookiebot compares to alternatives
- Usercentrics. Same parent company, but Usercentrics is the upmarket sibling for enterprise and app CMP, with session-based pricing and more configuration depth.
- OneTrust. The enterprise heavyweight, far more powerful but quote-only and typically $10K+ annually. Choose OneTrust when consent is one module inside a broader privacy programme.
- CookieYes. The most direct SMB rival with a similar plug-and-play UX at lower entry pricing, but with a less mature scanner and smaller compliance footprint.
FAQ about Cookiebot
How much does Cookiebot cost?
Cookiebot is free for 1 domain up to 50 subpages and starts at roughly €7/month on the Premium Lite plan. Paid tiers scale by subpage count: Plus around €15, Pro €30, Business €50, and a custom Corporate plan for sites over 7,000 subpages. The scanner auto-detects your subpage count and can bump you to the next tier mid-subscription.
Is Cookiebot GDPR-compliant?
Yes. Cookiebot is built specifically for GDPR and ePrivacy, with documented opt-in consent, granular per-category controls, and automatic consent logs that satisfy the accountability requirement under Article 7. The Danish DPA’s guidance is reflected directly in the default banner configuration.
How does Cookiebot handle Google Consent Mode v2?
Cookiebot natively integrates with Google Consent Mode v2, passing the four required signals (analytics_storage, ad_storage, ad_user_data, ad_personalization) to Google tags on consent submission. You set the default state once, and the Cookiebot script handles the runtime updates without custom code.
Does Cookiebot support IAB TCF?
Yes. Cookiebot is a registered IAB TCF v2.2 CMP, which lets publishers running programmatic ads pass a TC string to ad exchanges and SSPs. The TCF layer is an optional add-on, not enabled by default for non-publisher sites.
Is Cookiebot EU-hosted?
Yes. Cookiebot is developed in Denmark and processes all data within the EU. A dedicated European CDN option is available for buyers who want zero possibility of IP addresses being logged outside the EEA, addressing concerns raised by 2021 German court rulings on US-based cookie providers.
How to use Cookiebot?
Sign up at cookiebot.com, add your domain, and paste a short script tag in the site’s head. Cookiebot scans your pages within a day, builds the consent banner automatically, and starts logging consents. Most teams go live before the first weekly scan completes.
Why choose Cookiebot?
Cookiebot is the safe default for EU sites that need GDPR-grade consent without enterprise complexity. The automated scanner, Google certification, EU hosting, and free starter tier make it the lowest-friction option for getting compliant fast.
How does Cookiebot work?
A script tag injects the consent banner, the scanner crawls and categorises every cookie on your domain, and a runtime API exposes the user’s consent state to your tags so they fire only when permitted. Consent records are stored for audit.
Is Cookiebot free?
Yes, there is a permanent free plan for 1 domain up to 50 subpages. Anything larger or multi-domain moves to a paid tier, starting around €7/month.
How to learn Cookiebot?
Cookiebot’s support hub at support.cookiebot.com has step-by-step guides for GTM, WordPress, Shopify, and custom stacks, plus implementation guides for Consent Mode v2 and TCF. The Usercentrics YouTube channel publishes regular product walkthroughs.
What are Cookiebot reviews?
Cookiebot is rated 4.2 on G2 with 178 reviews. See the reviews for detailed customer feedback.
Does Cookiebot have an API?
Yes. Cookiebot exposes a JavaScript consent API for runtime checks, a server-side API for fetching consent logs, and webhooks for consent events. Documentation is at https://www.cookiebot.com.
Does Cookiebot have a trial or a demo?
Cookiebot has a permanent free tier (1 domain, up to 50 subpages) which works as an extended trial, plus an interactive product demo on the marketing site.
Does Cookiebot have AI?
Cookiebot’s automated scanner uses ML-assisted classification to categorise unknown cookies and trackers into the four standard buckets, which is the closest thing to AI in the product. The broader Usercentrics platform is investing in agentic governance, but the SMB Cookiebot product stays focused on automation rather than generative AI.
Cookiebot pricing
Cookiebot is free. Plans are organised as Per domain, tiered by subpage count. A free plan up to 50 subpages option is available. See the full Cookiebot pricing page for current tiers and any add-ons.
