Free cookie banners: which are the best?

Why a cookie banner matters

With the enactment of GDPR (EU General Data Protection Regulation), the ePrivacy Directive, and other global privacy laws (such as CCPA in California), websites that serve users in regulated jurisdictions must obtain valid consent before placing non-essential cookies (for example analytics, marketing, advertising) on users’ devices.
A cookie-banner (or cookie consent notice) is the first user-facing step: it informs the visitor that cookies are used, gives at least the option to refuse or configure them, and records the consent state. Without this, a website risks regulatory non-compliance, reputational damage, and potentially enforcement actions.

For an SEO/web agency context (such as your project), offering cookie-banner setup is an important companion service to “creation of website” and “consulenza SEO”, particularly when you handle clients who serve EU users.

What to look for in a good free cookie banner

When choosing a free cookie banner tool (especially for an agency or client website) you’ll want to evaluate several criteria:

Pre-consent blocking: The banner should delay or block non-essential cookies/scripts until the user has given consent (or expressly rejected). Some “free” solutions merely display a banner after cookies are already set — that’s a weaker compliance position.
Consent preferences & categories: Good banners allow users to choose which categories of cookies they accept (e.g., functional, analytics, marketing) rather than only “Accept all”.
Consent logging / audit trail: For compliance purposes you’ll want to record the user’s consent decision, timestamp and possibly export it.
Customization & branding: You should be able to adapt the banner’s look & feel (colors, positioning, text) so it integrates neatly with the website’s design (important when you’re creating the site for a client).
Multilingual & geo-targeting support: If your clients have multilingual websites (Italian/English) or serve multiple jurisdictions, the banner should handle this.
Lightweight performance: A banner that slows page‐load significantly or pulls in heavy scripts may negatively impact SEO and UX.
Open-source / free-forever vs “free tier”: Many solutions offer a free version but restrict features or force upgrade for geolocation, advanced blocking, removal of branding. You’ll want to understand where the limits are.
Integration with Google Consent Mode / tag management: If the site uses Google Analytics, Google Ads, or tag manager, support for Google Consent Mode or blocking until consent is given is a plus.

Top free cookie banner tools

Here are some of the best free cookie banner options that we found, with pros & cons.

1. CookieYes – Cookie Banner for Cookie Consent

Short-summary: A widely used WordPress plugin but also offered for non-WordPress sites.

Features: The plugin supports GDPR, CCPA, ePrivacy and other global laws; offers automatic blocking of non-essential cookies until consent is given. WordPress.org+2CookieYes+2
Free version covers many basics; premium version unlocks geo-targeting, custom logo, advanced scan features. WordPress.org English (Canada)+1
Pros: Strong functionality, good reputation, appears in many “best cookie plugin” lists. wpglob.com+1
Considerations: If you need advanced features (multi-domain, geolocation, IAB TCF) you’ll likely need the paid version.
Best for: WordPress sites or websites where you want a robust free solution with upgrade path.

2. Silktide Cookie Banner (100% Free & Open Source)

Short-summary: A truly free-forever, open-source cookie banner build.

Features: According to Silktide, their solution is “100% free and open source” with no domain or user limits, supports Google Consent Mode v2, multilingual, lightweight. Silktide
Pros: Excellent for full transparency, no forced upgrade, no hidden fees; good for agencies wanting to deliver free solution without “upgrade push”.
Considerations: Being open source, you may need more setup/technical effort compared to “plug-and-play” plugins; fewer premium service options (support, legal updates) than commercial vendors.
Best for: Projects where budget is minimal, and you (or your client) are comfortable with some technical setup.

3. Cookie Notice & Compliance for GDPR/CCPA

Short-summary: A simple free WordPress plugin aimed at basic cookie banner functionality.

Features: Free version provides a cookie banner, links to privacy policy, minimal configuration. According to listings: “quick to set up, works well for basic GDPR/CCPA needs”. SeedProd+1
Pros: Very simple, lightweight, a good choice for small websites or blogs with minimal complexity.
Considerations: Lacks advanced features such as automatic cookie scanning, granular blocking, multi-jurisdiction features. If your client has more complex compliance needs (eCommerce + global users), this may be too basic.
Best for: Small websites, blogs, or clients with limited budget who still need a cookie banner in place.

4. Complianz – GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent

Short-summary: A free plugin that provides a “privacy suite” including cookie banner plus more advanced compliance features.

Features: Free version supports GDPR, CCPA, allows automatic blocks for social media cookies, integration with WooCommerce, multilingual. WP Table Builder+1
Pros: Robust free functionality, particularly for eCommerce or multilingual sites.
Considerations: The free version will still have limits (some advanced features reserved for paid). Setup may be more involved.
Best for: Clients with higher compliance requirements (e.g., multi-language site, eCommerce) but who still prefer to begin on a free plan.

Which one is best?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer; the “best” free cookie banner depends on your project’s scope, client needs, budget, and technical comfort. Here’s a quick decision guide for your agency context:

Scenario	Recommended Tool
Small blogs or simple websites, minimal budget, want “just a banner”	Cookie Notice & Compliance for GDPR/CCPA
Standard business website (Italian + English), need good free features and upgrade path	CookieYes – Cookie Banner for Cookie Consent
Larger or multilingual site, possibly eCommerce, need more compliance features, still free initially	Complianz – GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent
Very budget-tight, open source preference, comfortable with technical setup	Silktide Cookie Banner

Implementation & SEO / Agency considerations

Since your project (ieros.it) addresses web agencies and SEO consultancy across Italy, it’s wise to factor in how cookie banners interplay with site performance, user-experience, and SEO:

Page speed & UX: A heavy cookie-banner script can slow page load, undermine Core Web Vitals, or interfere with user behaviour. Choose lightweight solutions, test performance (e.g., via PageSpeed Insights).
Design integration: The banner should match the website’s look and feel (branding colours, typography) so it doesn’t feel like an afterthought and maintains trust. For your clients, emphasise customizing the banner rather than using the default “ugly” styles.
Consent before tracking: If your client uses analytics (like Google Analytics), remarketing or ad-tracking, ensure the banner (or plugin) blocks those non-essential scripts until the visitor consents. If you don’t, you may risk incorrect data or non-compliance.
Multilingual & jurisdiction awareness: If the site serves users in Italy and other EU provinces (distinct provinces as you target for your SEO services), make sure the banner is properly localised (Italian + English) and respects EU cookie requirements (pre-consent, distinct categories).
Legal and policy alignment: The banner is part of a broader compliance setup — cookie policy page, privacy policy, proper documentation of consent. While the banner is “free”, you must still ensure the legal texts and processes are correct (you may offer this as part of your “consulenza SEO / web agency” service).
Upgrade path & future proofing: Many “free” solutions will lock advanced features behind paid tiers (geolocation, consent logs, IAB TCF, multiple domains). If your client might scale (multiple sub-domains, multisite, global audience), choose a solution with a manageable upgrade path.

Final thoughts

For agencies and consultants working in the Italian market (and EU broadly), offering clients a cookie-banner setup is now a standard piece of web-agency service, not just a nice-to-have. Using a good free solution reduces cost and barrier-to-entry, while still delivering professional compliance and UX.

My recommendation: start with a solid free solution (e.g., CookieYes or Silktide), configure it properly (block non-essential cookies until consent, customise design, localise content), and ensure the client understands that the banner is only part of compliance (privacy policy, documentation, consent logs). As clients scale, you can propose the paid upgrade of the plugin or additional compliance tools.

The best free cookie banner tools right now are Silktide Consent Manager and Termly. Both offer full compliance with GDPR and Google Consent Mode V2, without hidden fees or traffic limits.

Here’s a breakdown of the top free cookie banner solutions based on features, compliance, and ease of use:

🥇 Silktide Consent Manager

100% free and open source—no subscriptions, traffic limits, or user accounts required
Supports GDPR, ePrivacy, and Google Consent Mode V2, making it ideal for EU and global compliance
Fully customizable—you can tailor text, colors, and layout to match your brand
Lightweight and fast, minimizing impact on page speed
Hosted on GitHub, so developers can easily integrate or modify it

🔗 Try it:

🥈 Termly Cookie Banner Generator

Free version available with customizable banners for GDPR and CCPA compliance
Easy setup with visual editor for banner style, position, and colors
Trusted by over 2 million businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises
Includes privacy policy and cookie policy templates, making it a full compliance suite