CookieYes vs iubenda
Which cookie consent tool fits your site best?
CookieYes and Iubenda are two of the most popular compliance solutions on the market, but they appeal to different users. CookieYes is famous for its generous free tier and dead-simple setup, while Iubenda is known for its rigorous, lawyer-crafted legal policy generators.
Where they are identical
Both tools are cloud-based SaaS platforms that integrate into any website via a simple JavaScript snippet. They both feature automated website scanners, customizable banners, automatic script blocking, and support for Google Consent Mode v2. Furthermore, both offer free plans for small websites just getting started.
Where the difference lies
Hosting and Legal Roots. Iubenda is an Italian company, meaning all data processing stays strictly within the EU. CookieYes is based in the UK. Post-Brexit, the UK is considered a "third country" under the GDPR. While there is an adequacy decision allowing data transfer, businesses with ultra-strict internal policies regarding EU-only data hosting may prefer Iubenda.
Policy Generation. CookieYes includes a basic privacy and cookie policy generator, which is sufficient for simple websites. Iubenda's generator is on another level. It is actively maintained by an international legal team, offers deeply customizable legal clauses, and auto-updates when laws change. If legal rigor is your priority, Iubenda is superior.
Pricing and Ease of Use. CookieYes is incredibly easy to set up and its pricing is straightforward (starting around $10/month, based on pageviews). Iubenda is much more complex to configure because you have to match legal clauses to the banner. While Iubenda's starting price is lower (around $3/month), its complex web of "licenses" and pageview limits can be confusing.
Quick overview
| CookieYes | iubenda | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | from $10/mo | from $3/mo |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| EU-based | ✗ | ✓ |
| Consent Mode v2 | ✓ | ✓ |
Feature comparison
| Feature | CookieYes | iubenda |
|---|---|---|
| Google Consent Mode v2 Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| 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 | ✗ | ✗ |
| CCPA Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Google Tag Manager Support | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ Included ⚡ Paid plan only ✗ Not available
Platform support
| Platform | CookieYes | iubenda |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shopify | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wix | ✓ | ✓ |
| Squarespace | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✗ | — |
| Any HTML/JS Website | ✓ | ✓ |
Based on explicit mentions on the vendor's website.
Our recommendation
For most standard websites, we recommend CookieYes. Its generous free tier, straightforward dashboard, and incredibly simple setup make it the best choice for small business owners who just want compliance handled quickly and easily.
Choose Iubenda if your website handles sensitive data, you operate in multiple regions, or you want the peace of mind of having an auto-updating Privacy Policy crafted by real lawyers. It is also the better choice if strict EU data hosting is a hard requirement for your business.
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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