Need a free cookie banner generator for your website? Understanding cookie banner requirements and what is a cookie banner is crucial for GDPR compliance. This guide shows you how to create, customize, and implement a fully compliant cookie consent banner in minutes.

What Is a Cookie Banner?

A cookie banner (also called cookie consent banner or cookie notice) is a popup or banner that appears when someone visits your website, informing them about cookie usage and requesting permission to use non-essential cookies.

Why Do You Need a Cookie Banner?

Under GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy laws, you must:

• ✅ Inform visitors about cookies
• ✅ Get explicit consent before tracking
• ✅ Allow users to reject cookies
• ✅ Provide granular control
• ✅ Make withdrawal easy

Without a proper cookie banner, you risk:

• GDPR fines up to €20 million or 4% revenue
• CCPA fines up to $7,500 per violation
• Legal action from users
• Damage to brand reputation

Cookie Banner Requirements (GDPR Compliance)

1. Information Requirements

Your banner must clearly state:

• Who you are - Your company name
• What cookies you use - Types and purposes
• Why you use them - Specific purposes
• How long they last - Duration
• Third parties involved - Who else gets data

2. Consent Requirements

Cookie banner requirements for valid consent:

• ✅ Freely given - No forced acceptance
• ✅ Specific - Separate purposes clearly defined
• ✅ Informed - Users understand what they're agreeing to
• ✅ Unambiguous - Active opt-in, not implied
• ✅ Withdrawable - Easy to change mind

3. Design Requirements

Your banner must have:

• "Accept All" button - Let users accept everything
• "Reject All" button - Same prominence as Accept
• "Manage" or "Customize" option - Granular control
• Cookie categories - Essential, Analytics, Marketing, etc.
• Toggle switches - Users control each category
• Link to policy - Full cookie policy page

4. Technical Requirements

Implementation must:

• Load banner BEFORE any tracking cookies
• Block non-essential cookies until consent
• Store user's choice
• Not reappear after choice made
• Provide way to change preferences later

How to Create a Free Cookie Banner

Option 1: Use Our Free Cookie Banner Generator

The fastest way to create a compliant banner:

1. Go to our Free Cookie Banner Generator
2. Enter your website URL
3. Choose cookie categories you use
4. Customize colors and text
5. Generate code
6. Copy and paste to your website

Features:

• Auto-detects your brand colors
• Scans your cookies automatically
• Generates HTML, React, Vue, Angular code
• Mobile responsive
• GDPR, CCPA, PIPEDA, LGPD compliant

🍪 Generate Free Cookie Banner →

Option 2: Custom HTML Cookie Banner

For developers who want full control, here's a basic template:

<!-- Cookie Banner HTML -->
<div id="cookie-banner" style="
  position: fixed;
  bottom: 0;
  left: 0;
  right: 0;
  background: #1e40af;
  color: white;
  padding: 20px;
  box-shadow: 0 -2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);
  z-index: 9999;
  display: none;
">
  <div style="max-width: 1200px; margin: 0 auto;">
    <div style="display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: center; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 15px;">
      
      <div style="flex: 1; min-width: 300px;">
        <h3 style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; font-size: 18px;">🍪 We Value Your Privacy</h3>
        <p style="margin: 0; font-size: 14px; opacity: 0.9;">
          We use cookies to improve your experience. You can choose which cookies to accept.
          <a href="/cookie-policy" style="color: white; text-decoration: underline;">Learn more</a>
        </p>
      </div>
      
      <div style="display: flex; gap: 10px; flex-wrap: wrap;">
        <button onclick="acceptAllCookies()" style="
          background: #10b981;
          color: white;
          border: none;
          padding: 12px 24px;
          border-radius: 6px;
          font-weight: 600;
          cursor: pointer;
        ">Accept All</button>
        
        <button onclick="rejectAllCookies()" style="
          background: #ef4444;
          color: white;
          border: none;
          padding: 12px 24px;
          border-radius: 6px;
          font-weight: 600;
          cursor: pointer;
        ">Reject All</button>
        
        <button onclick="manageCookies()" style="
          background: transparent;
          color: white;
          border: 2px solid white;
          padding: 12px 24px;
          border-radius: 6px;
          font-weight: 600;
          cursor: pointer;
        ">Manage</button>
      </div>
      
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<script>
// Show banner if no choice made yet
if (!localStorage.getItem('cookie-consent')) {
  document.getElementById('cookie-banner').style.display = 'block';
}

function acceptAllCookies() {
  localStorage.setItem('cookie-consent', JSON.stringify({
    essential: true,
    analytics: true,
    marketing: true,
    timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
  }));
  document.getElementById('cookie-banner').style.display = 'none';
  loadTrackingScripts();
}

function rejectAllCookies() {
  localStorage.setItem('cookie-consent', JSON.stringify({
    essential: true,
    analytics: false,
    marketing: false,
    timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
  }));
  document.getElementById('cookie-banner').style.display = 'none';
}

function manageCookies() {
  // Open cookie preferences modal
  window.location.href = '/cookie-preferences';
}

function loadTrackingScripts() {
  // Load Google Analytics
  const gaScript = document.createElement('script');
  gaScript.async = true;
  gaScript.src = 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=GA-XXXXXXXXX';
  document.head.appendChild(gaScript);
  
  window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
  function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}
  gtag('js', new Date());
  gtag('config', 'GA-XXXXXXXXX');
}
</script>

Option 3: WordPress Cookie Banner Plugin

Best free WordPress cookie plugins:

1. Cookie Notice & Compliance
   • 500,000+ installs
   • Free GDPR compliance
   • Customizable design
   • Script blocking
2. GDPR Cookie Compliance
   • Granular cookie control
   • Pre-built templates
   • Multi-language support
3. Complianz
   • Auto-detects cookies
   • Wizard setup
   • Multiple regions
   • Free + Pro versions

Installation:

1. WordPress Dashboard → Plugins → Add New
2. Search "GDPR cookie consent"
3. Install and activate
4. Go to Settings → Cookie Notice
5. Configure categories and design
6. Save and test

Cookie Banner Design Best Practices

1. Placement Options

Bottom banner (Recommended)

• ✅ Doesn't block content
• ✅ Less intrusive
• ✅ Better user experience
• ❌ Might be missed on mobile

Top banner

• ✅ Immediately visible
• ✅ Hard to miss
• ❌ Blocks content
• ❌ More intrusive

Center modal

• ✅ Impossible to miss
• ✅ Forces decision
• ❌ Very intrusive
• ❌ Blocks all content

Recommendation: Use bottom banner for best balance of visibility and user experience.

2. Color and Branding

Match your brand:

• Use your primary brand color
• Maintain contrast for readability
• Keep text legible (minimum 14px)
• Use your brand fonts

Button colors:

• Accept: Green (#10b981) suggests positive action
• Reject: Red (#ef4444) or gray
• Manage: Outline or secondary color

Important: Accept and Reject buttons must have EQUAL prominence. Don't make reject button smaller or harder to find.

3. Mobile Responsiveness

Mobile design checklist:

• ☐ Buttons stack vertically on small screens
• ☐ Text remains readable (14px minimum)
• ☐ Touch targets at least 44x44px
• ☐ Doesn't block essential content
• ☐ Easy to dismiss on mobile
• ☐ Works in portrait and landscape

4. Clear Language

Avoid legal jargon:

❌ Bad: "We process personal data pursuant to legitimate interests"

✅ Good: "We use cookies to understand how you use our site"

❌ Bad: "Cookie identifiers facilitate user experience optimization"

✅ Good: "Cookies help us improve your experience"

Cookie Categories Explained

Essential Cookies (Always Allowed)

Purpose: Required for website functionality

Examples:

• Session cookies (login state)
• Shopping cart contents
• Security tokens
• Load balancing

Consent required: No (but must inform users)

Analytics Cookies (Optional)

Purpose: Understand how visitors use your site

Examples:

• Google Analytics (_ga, _gid)
• Page view tracking
• User behavior analysis

Consent required: Yes

Marketing Cookies (Optional)

Purpose: Show relevant ads and track campaigns

Examples:

• Facebook Pixel (_fbp)
• Google Ads conversion tracking
• Retargeting cookies

Consent required: Yes

Preference Cookies (Optional)

Purpose: Remember user settings

Examples:

• Language preference
• Dark mode setting
• Currency selection

Consent required: Debatable (safest to ask)

How to Block Cookies Before Consent

This is the most common compliance mistake. Here's how to fix it:

Method 1: Script Wrapper

// WRONG - Loads immediately
<script src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=GA-XXX"></script>

// RIGHT - Waits for consent
<script type="text/plain" data-consent="analytics">
  // Google Analytics code here
</script>

<script>
// Only execute when user accepts analytics
function loadAnalytics() {
  const scripts = document.querySelectorAll('[data-consent="analytics"]');
  scripts.forEach(script => {
    const newScript = document.createElement('script');
    newScript.text = script.text;
    document.head.appendChild(newScript);
  });
}
</script>

Method 2: Dynamic Loading

function loadGoogleAnalytics() {
  // Only called after user accepts
  const script = document.createElement('script');
  script.async = true;
  script.src = 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=GA-XXX';
  document.head.appendChild(script);
  
  window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
  function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}
  gtag('js', new Date());
  gtag('config', 'GA-XXX');
}

Method 3: Cookie Consent Manager

Use a consent management platform that automatically blocks scripts:

• Guardian of Compliance ($8/month)
• Cookiebot ($99/month)
• OneTrust ($500+/month)

Testing Your Cookie Banner

Manual Testing Checklist

1. Open site in Incognito mode
2. Verify banner appears immediately
3. Check Developer Tools → Application → Cookies
4. Before clicking banner:
   • Only essential cookies should be present
   • No _ga, _gid, _fbp cookies yet
5. Click "Accept All"
6. Verify analytics/marketing cookies now load
7. Refresh page → Banner should not reappear
8. Click footer "Cookie Settings"
9. Verify can change preferences
10. Test on mobile device
11. Test on different browsers

Automated Testing

Use our scanner to automatically test your cookie banner:

🔍 Test Cookie Banner Compliance →

What it checks:

• Banner appears before cookies load
• All buttons present and working
• Consent choices respected
• Scripts blocked until consent
• Mobile responsiveness

Common Cookie Banner Mistakes

1. No "Reject All" button
Must provide equal option to reject cookies.

2. Pre-checked boxes in "Manage"
Optional cookies must be unchecked by default.

3. Continuing equals consent
"By continuing to browse, you accept cookies" is not valid consent.

4. Cookie wall
Can't force acceptance to access content.

5. Loading cookies before consent
Most critical mistake - no tracking until user accepts.

6. No way to change preferences
Must provide footer link to change mind later.

7. Hiding reject button
Accept and reject must have equal prominence.

Conclusion: Create Your Free Cookie Banner

Creating a GDPR-compliant cookie banner is essential for any website with EU visitors. Follow these steps:

1. Generate your banner - Use our free tool
2. Customize design - Match your brand
3. Implement blocking - Stop cookies before consent
4. Test thoroughly - Verify compliance
5. Monitor regularly - Check for new cookies

🍪 Generate Free Cookie Banner Now →

Related Resources:

• How to Check GDPR Compliance
• GDPR Compliance Checklist
• Free GDPR Scanner
• Privacy Policy Generator