Best Cookie Management Platforms to use in 2024

It’s impossible that you have never heard about cookies until now. Not in your kitchen or from a supermarket, but digital cookies. So, let’s talk about cookies, their management and CMP platforms.

Cookies are text files that store data in a web user’s browser.

Short intro on web cookies

Web cookies are used for various purposes on the web. Here are some of the top ways cookies are used:

1. Session Management: Cookies are commonly used to manage user sessions on websites. When a user logs in to a website, a session cookie is often created to identify the user and maintain their session state as they navigate the site. This allows users to stay logged in and access restricted areas of the site without having to re-enter their credentials on every page.
2. Personalization and User Preferences: Cookies can be used to store user preferences and personalize the user experience. For example, websites may use cookies to remember a user’s language preference, display customized content based on their browsing history, or remember items in their shopping cart.
3. Tracking and Analytics: Cookies are widely used for tracking user behavior and gathering analytics data. Websites can use cookies to track user interactions, such as pages visited, links clicked, and time spent on site. This data can be used to analyze user behavior, improve website performance, and target advertising.
4. Advertising and Targeting: Cookies are commonly used for targeted advertising purposes. Advertisers and ad networks use cookies to track users across websites, build user profiles based on their interests and behavior, and deliver personalized ads. This allows advertisers to target their ads more effectively and measure the performance of their campaigns.
5. Authentication and Security: Cookies are often used for authentication and security purposes. For example, cookies can be used to verify a user’s identity during the login process and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive areas of a website. Cookies can also be used to implement security measures such as cross-site request forgery (CSRF) protection and session timeouts.
6. Remembering User Interactions: Cookies can be used to remember user interactions and preferences across multiple sessions. For example, a website may use cookies to remember a user’s login status, preferences for how content is displayed, or settings for a web application.
7. Third-Party Services: Many websites use third-party services and plugins that rely on cookies to function properly. For example, social media widgets, embedded videos, and analytics tools often use cookies to track user interactions and provide features such as social sharing buttons or video playback controls.

Some use cases for cookies include the ability to transfer personal data to third parties or to track users, without respecting user privacy.

Some laws, such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation and the California Consumer Privacy Act, require all websites to first obtain permission from their visitors before using specific cookies; this is where the cookie consent management platform comes in.

Consent management platforms, as software tools, assist websites in complying with cookie regulations. With CMP, visitors will be able to select which cookies to accept and what data to share and collect.

Key Features to Consider regarding CMP solutions

Consent Management

Consent management is the process of informing users about the data they want to share with businesses.

Options for obtaining user consent for cookies

There are numerous ways for websites and businesses to obtain user consent for cookies. Here are some ways to get consent:

1. Consent Banner/Pop-up – A banner or pop-up that informs the user about the use of cookies and requests consent before they can use any cookies.
2. Explicit Consent– Website users must click the accept button to confirm their acceptance of cookies.
3. Implied Consent – This means that website users accept and consent to the use of cookies without explicitly accepting them, such as by closing the cookie banner or continuing to use the website.
4. Cookie Preferences– Allow website users to manage their cookies, including changing their cookie preferences at any time.
5. Granular Consent – Allows website users to allow, reject, and customize cookies based on their preferences.

Customization features for consent banners and pop-ups

1. Cookie Categories– This feature allows website owners to categorize their cookies and give users the option of only accepting certain types of cookies, such as necessary cookies, performance cookies, analytics cookies, and so on.
2. Placement Selection– This feature allows website owners to specify where their banner or pop-up should be placed.
3. Customize Language: This feature allows the user to change the language to their preferred one.
4. Custom Design– This feature lets website owners change the color, size, and font of the text on their banner.
5. Customize Content– This feature enables website owners to customize the content of their cookies.
6. Analytics – This feature enables website owners to monitor and understand user behavior and interactions with the website.

Cookie Inventory and Tracking

Ability to catalog and categorize cookies used on a website

It is necessary to catalog and categorize cookies used on websites for user transparency and compliance with laws such as GDPR and CCPA. Websites use the following categories of cookies:

Necessary Cookies– These cookies are required by websites to function properly and provide accurate information about them.

Functional cookies are used by websites to provide a personalized experience for their users.
Analytics and Statistical cookies– are used to track how frequently users visit a website and how they interact with it.

Marketing cookies– are used to track your website’s activity and promote products to visitors.

Tracking mechanisms to monitor cookie usage and compliance

1. Cookie Consent Management Platform- It is a tool that provides a simple and legal solution for obtaining consent from users to collect and process their personal information.
2. Cookie Audit Tools – This tool allows you to categorize cookies, explain how they are used, and list all of the cookies that your website sends.
3. Regular Cookie Audit– regularly audits the cookies used on your website to ensure that they are in accordance with your policies and regulations.
4. Keep a Record– Maintain a record and documentation of how cookies are used on your website.
5. Tracking and Analytics Tools: These tools allow you to monitor and analyze user behavior and interactions with cookies.

Privacy Regulation Compliance

Support for GDPR, CCPA, and other regional privacy regulations

Using cookies requires you to adhere to data privacy regulations; failure to comply will result in legal challenges and a fine. GDPR, or the General Data Protection Regulation, is a privacy regulation in the European Union that requires every website that processes personal data, regardless of location, to request cookie consent and inform users or visitors how, what, and why cookies are used. Users have the right to withdraw their consent and have their personal data erased under the GDPR.

CCPA, or the California Consumer Privacy Act, is another privacy regulation in California that requires websites to inform California users about what personal data is being collected and that they have the right to correct or delete the data they share at any time.

Other laws that govern cookies include the ePrivacy Directive in the EU, the Australian Act 1988, the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations in the UK, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act in Canada.

Features for implementing cookie consent preferences and honoring user choices

‘Accept’ and Reject Button – Include an accept and reject button on your banner to give users an option.

Cookie Preference Center – This feature will allow users to withdraw their consent, change, or adjust their preferences.

Persistent Cookies– With this feature, users are not prompted about their cookie preferences every time they visit your website.

Cookie expiry – Include a cookie expiration date so that users can regularly update their preferences.

Cookie Renewal – Because cookies have an expiration date, renewal must be done; make sure you inform them clearly about this.

Cookie Blocking Option– Provide users who do not want to receive non-essential cookies with the option to block them.

Data Security

Here are some ways to secure the storage of user data:

Encryption – To protect data from theft, use strong encryption to encrypt users’ personal information.

Secure Storage and Backup– Implement backup and secure storage solutions with strong security controls to protect data and prepare backups as needed.

Access Controls– Use access controls to prevent unauthorized access to data and to regulate who can and cannot access it.

Security Audit – Conduct regular security audits to ensure that data is secure and to identify problems that need to be addressed.

Data minimization– involves collecting only necessary data while avoiding acquiring unnecessary data.

Here are some ways to prevent unauthorized access to cookie data:

HttpOnly Attribute– used to prevent cookies from being stolen and accessed via JavaScript.

Secure Attribute – helps to mitigate Man-in-the-Middle attacks by only sending cookies to the server via https.

Samesite Attribute- protects against cross-site request forgery attacks by ensuring that cookies are only passed when the request originates from the same site rather than a third-party site.

Encryption – secure data by encrypting the cookie with a strong key and algorithm, such as AES-256.

CMP Platform Comparison

Name	Offers free Plan	First Paid plan cost	Offers Free Trial
Cookiebot	Yes	12	yes
Osano	Yes	199	yes
Onetrust	–	–	yes
Trustarc	–	0	yes
Cookieyes	Yes	10	yes
Cookiefirst	Yes	9	yes
Illow	Yes	40	yes
Cookie Information	–	15	yes
Consent Manager	Yes	21	Yes
Axept.io	Yes	29	No
Usercentrics	No	50	Yes
CookieScript	Yes	8	Yes

Top Cookie Management Platforms in 2024

Cookiebot

Cookiebot enables businesses to easily comply with the GDPR, ePrivacy, and Digital Markets Acts by leveraging cutting-edge technology and legal expertise. Easily collect data and gain user trust by using their platform.

Cookiebot offers a pricing starting at 0 (for up to 50 subpages) and 12 Euros for up to 500 subpages.

In terms of regulations, according to their website, they respect the following regulations: DMA (EU)GDPR (EU)CCPA (California)LGPD (Brazil)VCDPA (Virginia)TCF 2.2 (IAB)Google Consent Mode (EU)

Osano

Osano simplifies privacy compliance by providing transparency and control over the personal data that businesses process. They can assist you in staying compliant, simplifying your tasks, saving resources, and building trust.

Osano offers a self-service Cookie Consent Service starting at $0 for 1 domain and up to 5000 Monthly visitors

They mention on their website about the following regulations: CPRA, CCPA and GDPR

OneTrust

OneTrust allows you to easily organize all data, detects all cookies, tags, and other elements across your websites. Provides a seamless user experience and supports over 250 languages.

One trust does not show their pricing publicly.

TrustArc

TrustArc offers a wide range of solutions to assist businesses, including streamlining customer consents and preferences, improving the customer experience, and increasing loyalty.

They promise to be globally compliant cookie consent management that’s robust yet easy.

CookieYes

CookieYes is a cookie consent solution trusted by 1.5 million websites. It provides users with privacy control, a custom consent experience, a responsive banner, and other features.

CookieYes offer pricing plans starting at 0 for up to 100 pages per scan and 25.000 pageviews per month

Their solution seem to be very “compliant”, at least by the regulations mentioned on their home page:

CookieFirst

Cookiefirst promise to obtain cookie consent and comply with GDPR LGPD CCPA. and other Privacy regulations. They offer a nice banner selection tool on their homepage and promise to offer a cookie policy generator in 44+ languages.

Their pricing strategy also comes with a Free plan.

Illow

Illow presents themselves as the Cookie Consent Solution to Privacy Compliance.

Their list of regulations is quite complete and includes the most populare ones as well:

From a pricing point of view they offer a Free version for up to 30.000 page views per month.

CookieInformation

Cookie Information presents themselves as the cookie banner that support your marketing goals. They are Certified CMP Partner (according to their website)

You can use their compliance checker tool available on the website

You can also organize Data Subject Requests using their platform

ConsentManager.net

ConsentManager is another CMP platform that helps websites comply with TTDSG, GDPR/ePrivacy and CCPA compliance.

Their product helps with cookie banners and compliance for Publishers, Online Shops, Agencies and Data Protection Offices.

Pricing for ConsentManager is below. They also offer an agency and enterprise solution.

Axeptio.io

The one that complies with the law, the one that offers real choices to your visitors, the one that creates preference for your brand.

Axeptio seems to be compliant with GDPR, NFADP (Switzerland), Law25, CCPA. They start with a free package for up to 200 visitors per month.

Pricing model is based on page views and is limited to 1 domain.

Usercentrics

Usercentrics is a more advanced solutions, with multiple products targeting various types of businesses. From websites to mobile applications, TV applications as well as preference centers.

They also target companies interested in server side tagging, making them competitors to many other solutions (and other vertical).

From a cost perspective, usercentrics offers plans starting at $50 per month:

CookieScript

Cookie Script presents itself as a multi-language (a lot really) and old (10 years) solution in the cookie management solution.

They offer a Cookie Scanner and Privacy Policy generator you can use right away

Their pricing is one of the smallest on the market, starting at $8

CookieScript Cookie Management Platform offers many features and is compliant with GDPR, CCPA, LGPD and many other regulatory compliance laws.

What is included in every plan with CookieScript are:

• cookie banner (all other solutions have it as well)
• Cookie Scanner and Cookie Database
• Cookie blocking
• Consent Control.

Emerging Trends and Future Outlook

Predictions for the future of cookie management platforms

Predictions for the future of cookie management platforms include:

1. Increased Automation: As privacy regulations become more complex and stringent, cookie management platforms will likely incorporate more automation to streamline compliance processes. This could include automated scanning of websites for cookie usage, automatic updates to consent banners based on regulatory changes, and AI-driven analytics for monitoring and managing cookie data.
2. Integration with Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs): With growing concerns about online privacy, cookie management platforms may start integrating with Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) such as differential privacy, federated learning, and homomorphic encryption. These technologies can help protect user data while still allowing for valuable insights to be gleaned from cookie data.
3. Enhanced User Control: Future cookie management platforms are likely to offer more granular control to users over their cookie preferences. This could include options for users to specify preferences for different types of cookies (e.g., essential, functional, analytical, marketing) and greater transparency into how their data is being used.
4. Cross-Platform Compatibility: As users increasingly access websites and apps across multiple devices and platforms, cookie management platforms will need to offer seamless integration and synchronization across different environments. This could involve the development of standardized protocols and APIs for cookie consent and data management across web, mobile, and IoT devices.
5. Blockchain-Based Solutions: Blockchain technology holds promise for enhancing the security and transparency of cookie management platforms. By leveraging blockchain’s immutable ledger capabilities, these platforms could provide a tamper-proof record of user consent preferences and cookie usage, increasing trust and accountability in data handling practices.
6. Global Standardization: As privacy regulations continue to evolve globally, there may be efforts to establish standardized frameworks for cookie management and consent across different regions. This could help streamline compliance efforts for businesses operating in multiple jurisdictions and provide greater consistency and clarity for users.
7. Focus on User Education: Cookie management platforms may place a greater emphasis on educating users about the importance of data privacy and the implications of cookie tracking. This could involve providing informative content, interactive tools, and personalized recommendations to help users make informed decisions about their privacy settings.

Overall, the future of cookie management platforms will likely be shaped by a combination of technological advancements, regulatory developments, and evolving user expectations regarding privacy and data protection.

Emerging technologies and features to watch out for

Privacy Controls will become very important as regulations tend to change and adapt to what happens in the market. Here are some emerging trends that we’re thinking are going to be important in the next period.

1. Machine Learning and AI: As the volume and complexity of online data continue to grow, machine learning and AI algorithms will play an increasingly important role in cookie management platforms. These technologies can help analyze user behavior patterns, predict consent preferences, and automate compliance tasks such as cookie categorization and consent banner optimization.
2. Privacy-preserving Analytics: Traditional analytics platforms often rely on tracking cookies to gather data about user interactions. However, emerging privacy-preserving analytics techniques, such as federated learning and differential privacy, allow businesses to collect valuable insights from user data without compromising individual privacy. Cookie management platforms may integrate these techniques to provide robust analytics capabilities while minimizing the impact on user privacy.
3. Zero-Knowledge Proof Authentication: Zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) authentication is a cryptographic technique that allows users to prove ownership of certain information without revealing the information itself. In the context of cookie management, ZKP authentication could enable users to authenticate their consent preferences without disclosing sensitive data, enhancing privacy and trust in the consent process.
4. Decentralized Identity Solutions: Decentralized identity solutions, based on blockchain technology, offer a promising approach to managing user consent and identity information in a secure, transparent, and decentralized manner. Cookie management platforms may leverage decentralized identity protocols to enable users to maintain control over their identity and consent preferences across different websites and platforms.
5. Contextual Consent Management: Traditional cookie consent mechanisms often rely on generic banners or pop-ups that appear regardless of the user’s context or preferences. Contextual consent management solutions aim to provide more relevant and personalized consent experiences by taking into account factors such as user behavior, device type, location, and time of day. These solutions can help improve user engagement and compliance rates while respecting user preferences.
6. Interoperability Standards: With the proliferation of cookie management platforms and privacy regulations worldwide, there is a growing need for interoperability standards that enable seamless integration and data exchange between different platforms and systems. Industry initiatives such as the Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF) aim to establish common standards for cookie consent and data transparency, facilitating compliance and interoperability across diverse ecosystems.
7. Enhanced User Control Tools: Future cookie management platforms may offer advanced user control tools that empower users to manage their consent preferences with greater granularity and flexibility. This could include features such as consent preference dashboards, fine-grained cookie settings, and automated consent expiration reminders, enabling users to exert greater control over their online privacy.

Regulatory changes and their potential impact on cookie management practices

Regulatory changes have a significant impact on cookie management practices, shaping how businesses collect, store, and process user data. Here are some potential regulatory changes and their impact on cookie management practices:

1. Strengthened Consent Requirements: Regulatory bodies may introduce stricter requirements for obtaining user consent for cookie tracking. This could include mandates for explicit, informed consent that is freely given, specific, and unambiguous. Cookie management platforms would need to adapt by providing more transparent and user-friendly consent mechanisms to ensure compliance with these regulations.
2. Enhanced Transparency Obligations: New regulations may impose greater transparency obligations on businesses regarding their use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Cookie management platforms may need to provide comprehensive cookie disclosures, including details about the types of cookies used, their purposes, and the entities involved in data processing. Enhanced transparency features such as cookie preference dashboards and real-time tracking tools may become essential for compliance.
3. Stricter Data Minimization Requirements: Some regulatory changes may introduce stricter requirements for data minimization, limiting the use of cookies to only essential purposes. Cookie management platforms may need to implement measures to reduce the reliance on tracking cookies and prioritize the use of alternative technologies such as session-based identifiers or anonymized data collection methods.
4. Cross-Border Data Transfer Restrictions: Changes in data protection laws, such as the European Court of Justice’s ruling on the invalidation of the EU-US Privacy Shield, may impact the ability of businesses to transfer cookie data across borders. Cookie management platforms may need to provide tools and features to facilitate compliance with cross-border data transfer restrictions, such as data localization options or enhanced encryption mechanisms.
5. Increased Enforcement and Penalties: Regulatory bodies may ramp up enforcement efforts and impose higher penalties for non-compliance with cookie regulations. Cookie management platforms may need to enhance their monitoring and auditing capabilities to detect and address potential compliance issues proactively. Additionally, features such as automatic compliance reports and audit trails may become essential for demonstrating compliance with regulatory requirements.
6. Focus on User Rights and Control: Regulatory changes may place greater emphasis on empowering users to exercise their rights regarding cookie consent and data privacy. Cookie management platforms may need to provide enhanced user control tools, such as preference management dashboards, opt-out mechanisms, and data access request features, to facilitate compliance with user rights under privacy regulations.

Overall, regulatory changes can significantly impact cookie management practices, requiring businesses to adapt their approaches to comply with evolving legal requirements and uphold user privacy rights.

Cookie management platforms play a crucial role in facilitating compliance by providing tools and features that enable businesses to manage cookies effectively and transparently while respecting user preferences and regulatory obligations.