Complianz vs OneTrust
Which cookie consent tool fits your site best?
Complianz and OneTrust are often mentioned in the same breath when discussing privacy compliance. However, in practice, they are completely different systems. They target entirely different audiences, IT landscapes, and budgets.
Where they are identical
At the fundamental level—the cookie banner—their functionalities overlap. Both tools scan your website for trackers, display a consent banner, block scripts until consent is obtained, and support Google Consent Mode v2 and the IAB TCF. This covers the basic requirements of the GDPR and CCPA.
Where the difference lies
Target Audience and Scope. Complianz is essentially a WordPress plugin aimed at freelancers, SMEs, and webshops looking to quickly implement a cookie banner and related legal documents. OneTrust is a heavy, enterprise-grade suite for large multinationals. Beyond a cookie banner, OneTrust provides modules for data risk analysis, vendor management, and processing data subject requests (DSARs) at scale.
Pricing and Budget. Complianz features an accessible, fixed annual fee (starting around $5/month). OneTrust operates on a modular enterprise pricing model. Costs typically start around $1000/month and escalate depending on required modules and the number of domains.
Implementation. You install Complianz yourself, and its built-in wizard guides non-technical users through the process. OneTrust is a complex platform. Integration requires technical expertise, staff training, and often continuous management by a dedicated privacy team or compliance officer. Complianz stores data locally; OneTrust manages data in an external cloud.
Quick overview
| Complianz | OneTrust | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | from $5/mo | $1000/mo |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✗ |
| EU-based | ✓ | ✗ |
| Consent Mode v2 | ⚡ Paid | ✓ |
Feature comparison
| Feature | Complianz | OneTrust |
|---|---|---|
| Google Consent Mode v2 Support | ⚡ Paid | ✓ |
| Automated Cookie Scanning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automatic Script/Cookie Blocking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Customizable Consent Banners | ✓ | ✓ |
| IAB TCF 2.2 Support | ⚡ Paid | ✓ |
| Policy Generator (Cookie/Privacy) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Consent Audit Trail / Logs | — | ✓ |
| Self-hosted Data Processing | ⚡ Paid | ✗ |
| CCPA Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Google Tag Manager Support | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ Included ⚡ Paid plan only ✗ Not available
Platform support
| Platform | Complianz | OneTrust |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shopify | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wix | ✗ | ✓ |
| Squarespace | ✗ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✗ | ✓ |
| Any HTML/JS Website | ✗ | ✓ |
Based on explicit mentions on the vendor's website.
Our recommendation
For virtually all SME websites and webshops, we recommend Complianz. It provides a complete and accessible solution for cookie consent and privacy policies at a fraction of the cost and effort demanded by enterprise software.
Choose OneTrust exclusively if you work for a large, globally operating enterprise with complex privacy challenges. OneTrust is built for organizations with large-scale, cross-platform data mapping requirements and budgets matching enterprise software.
Setting up a banner does not equal compliance. Most violations occur post-installation because scripts still load too early via Google Tag Manager. Always run a free scan after configuration to verify it actually works.
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