You’re here because something changed. Maybe Cookiebot’s price increase landed in your inbox last year and you’re still wondering if the jump was worth it. Maybe you’re starting fresh and you want to know which of these two tools is actually better for your site – not according to their own marketing teams.
Here’s the thing: most “Cookiebot vs CookieYes” articles you’ll find are written by one of the tools being compared. Guess who wins those comparisons. We don’t sell either product. We just review consent management platforms for a living. So here’s our honest take on how Cookiebot and CookieYes stack up in 2026.
The short version: CookieYes is simpler and now cheaper for most small and mid-sized sites. Cookiebot is more powerful for complex, multi-site setups – but its 2025 price doubling makes it hard to recommend unless you genuinely need those extra capabilities.
At a glance: Cookiebot vs CookieYes
| Cookiebot | CookieYes | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Large or multi-site setups | Small to mid-sized businesses |
| Pricing model | Per domain, per subpage count | Per domain, per pageview |
| Entry paid plan | $8/mo (up to 50 subpages) | $10/mo (100k pageviews) |
| Free plan | Yes – 1 domain, up to 50 subpages | Yes – limited features |
| Ease of setup | Moderate | Easy |
| Google CMP certified | Yes | Yes |
| API access | Enterprise tier only | No |
| Built-in policy generators | Via Usercentrics | Yes |
What is Cookiebot?
Cookiebot is a consent management platform (CMP) founded in 2012 and acquired by Usercentrics in 2021. It uses patented scanning technology to automatically detect cookies and trackers on your site, categorise them, and record each user’s consent decision. You can read our full Cookiebot review for the deep dive.
For this comparison, the key context is that Cookiebot approximately doubled its base pricing in August 2025. That change triggered significant customer backlash – and it’s precisely why the question “cookiebot vs cookieyes” is being asked more often right now.
Cookiebot pros
- Strong compliance depth: automated scanning with a library of 13,000+ pre-categorised trackers
- Cross-domain consent sharing – one user consent applies across multiple domains (rare feature)
- Detailed reporting with opt-in/opt-out stats and CSV export
- Wide regulation coverage: GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, LGPD, VCDPA, POPIA
- Google Consent Mode v2 and IAB TCF 2.3 support
- A/B testing on enterprise tiers
Cookiebot cons
- Steeper learning curve – advanced configuration needs a developer
- Subpage-based pricing auto-upgrades without warning when you cross a tier threshold
- Prices doubled in August 2025 with little advance notice
- Email-only support on standard plans (no live chat)
- API access is reserved for enterprise tiers only
Cookiebot pricing (2026)
Pricing is per domain based on how many subpages your site has. Plans auto-upgrade if a scan finds more pages than your current tier allows.
| Plan | Monthly price | Subpages per domain |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 50 (1 domain) |
| Premium Lite | $8/mo | Up to 50 |
| Premium Small | $16/mo | Up to 350 |
| Premium Medium | $34/mo | Up to 3,500 |
| Premium Large | $56/mo | Up to 7,000 |
| Premium Extra Large | $96/mo | 7,000+ |
The auto-upgrade risk is real. A site that grows from 350 to 351 subpages moves from $16 to $34 per month automatically. If you manage a growing blog or e-commerce store, plan for that.
What is CookieYes?
CookieYes launched in 2018 – the same year GDPR came into force – as a WordPress plugin for developers who needed quick cookie compliance. It has since expanded into a full standalone CMP with a web app, a Shopify app, and an agency partner programme. Today, over 1.5 million businesses use it.
Its core selling point is simplicity. You can go from signup to a live cookie banner in under 30 minutes without touching a line of code.
CookieYes pros
- Beginner-friendly setup – works via plugin, script, or GTM
- Subdomain consent sharing (user consent carries across your subdomains)
- Multi-domain management under one account
- Built-in privacy policy and cookie policy generators
- Customisable banners on all plans, including free
- Responsive support with live chat on paid plans
CookieYes cons
- Pageview-based pricing scales with traffic – high-traffic sites face unexpected costs
- No API (rules it out for teams that need programmatic integration)
- Limited enterprise features: no whitelabel, no advanced consent analytics
- Per-domain subscription – each domain needs its own plan
- Some users report gaps in developer documentation
CookieYes pricing (2026)
| Plan | Monthly price | Pageviews/month |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited features |
| Basic | $10/mo | 100,000 |
| Pro | $20.83/mo | 300,000 |
| Ultimate | $45.83/mo | Unlimited (fair use) |
Extra pageviews above your plan limit are billed at $0.30 per 1,000. If your site gets a traffic spike, that adds up.
Feature comparison: Cookiebot vs CookieYes
Both tools cover the fundamentals: automatic cookie scanning, customisable banners, geo-targeting, multi-language support, consent logging, and Google Consent Mode v2. Here’s where they differ.
Cookie scanning and auto-categorisation
Both tools scan your site automatically and categorise cookies into the standard buckets: necessary, analytics, marketing, preferences. Cookiebot’s library of 13,000+ pre-categorised trackers gives it a slight edge for complex sites that run a lot of third-party scripts. CookieYes does the job well for most standard setups – you just may need to manually review a few edge cases.
Banner customisation
CookieYes wins here for ease of use. Non-technical users get a clean drag-and-drop interface to adjust colours, layout, and messaging. Cookiebot also allows full customisation, but options like disabling the banner on specific pages require manual script configuration rather than a dashboard toggle.
Google Consent Mode v2 and IAB TCF support
Both are certified Google CMP partners and fully support Google Consent Mode v2 and IAB TCF 2.3. No difference here.
Platform integrations
Both integrate with WordPress, Shopify, Wix, and Google Tag Manager. CookieYes offers native WordPress and Shopify plugins, which makes setup faster if that’s your platform. Cookiebot works with the same platforms but some configurations require more manual setup.
Pricing comparison: which works out cheaper?
For a single small website with under 350 pages, Cookiebot’s entry paid plan ($8/mo) technically undercuts CookieYes Basic ($10/mo). But the calculus shifts quickly.
If your site is content-heavy and growing past 350 pages, Cookiebot jumps to $34/mo. CookieYes Basic at $10/mo handles unlimited subpages – it only cares about traffic, not page count. For a typical small business blog, CookieYes will cost less over time.
The exception: if you manage 10+ domains. Neither tool is cheap at scale, but Cookiebot’s cross-domain consent feature means users only have to consent once across all your domains. That’s a real operational advantage if you run a portfolio of sites.
Bottom line on pricing: CookieYes is the better value for single-site operators. Cookiebot makes financial sense only when you need its multi-domain capabilities or cross-domain consent.
Is Cookiebot worth it after the 2025 price increase?
For most small businesses: no. The August 2025 pricing changes roughly doubled the cost of standard plans, and the increase came with minimal advance notice. At $34/mo for a 3,500-page site, Cookiebot is no longer a budget-friendly tool.
That said, if you manage multiple domains or need cross-domain consent sharing, the pricing still makes sense at scale. Ten Cookiebot Medium domains at $34/mo each is $340/mo – but there’s no comparable feature from CookieYes at any price point.
For everyone else: the price increase tipped the balance toward CookieYes. The core compliance job is the same; you pay less and get a more intuitive interface.
Which tool is better for GDPR compliance?
Both are legitimate GDPR-compliant CMPs. Both are certified Google Consent Mode partners. Both handle consent logging, audit trails, and the geo-targeting required for showing different banners to EU vs. US visitors.
Cookiebot has a slight edge for organisations under heavy regulatory scrutiny – its detailed reporting, audit logs, and broader tracker library make compliance documentation more thorough. If you’re in a regulated industry (healthcare, finance, legal), or if you’ve received a data protection authority inquiry before, Cookiebot’s paper trail is worth the cost.
For the vast majority of small and mid-sized businesses: CookieYes is fully compliant and will keep you on the right side of GDPR, CCPA, and most other regulations without overcomplicating things.
Verdict: who should choose which?
Choose Cookiebot if…
- You manage multiple websites and need cross-domain consent (a user’s consent carries across all your domains automatically)
- Your site has complex third-party tracking setups that need granular categorisation
- You’re in a regulated industry where detailed audit trails and compliance documentation matter
- You have a developer on hand to handle configuration and occasional auto-upgrades
- You need API access (available on enterprise tiers)
Choose CookieYes if…
- You run a single website or a small portfolio
- You want to be up and running in under 30 minutes without developer support
- Budget is a priority – CookieYes undercuts Cookiebot for most small business use cases post-2025
- You want built-in cookie and privacy policy generators without paying extra
- You value live chat support over a ticketing system
Not sure which fits your situation? Our best CMP ranking compares both tools alongside OneTrust, TrustArc, and others in a full side-by-side table.
FAQ
Is Cookiebot better than CookieYes?
It depends on what you’re running. Cookiebot is better for large multi-site setups that need cross-domain consent and enterprise-level reporting. CookieYes is better for small to mid-sized businesses that want a simple, affordable setup. After Cookiebot’s August 2025 price increase, CookieYes offers stronger value for most single-site operators.
What is the best alternative to Cookiebot?
CookieYes is the most popular alternative for small businesses making the switch. Other options worth considering include OneTrust for enterprise needs and TrustArc for mid-market buyers. See our full guide to Cookiebot alternatives for a ranked breakdown with pricing.
How much does Cookiebot cost?
Cookiebot pricing is per domain based on subpage count. The free plan covers one domain with up to 50 subpages. Paid plans start at $8/month, rising to $34/month for up to 3,500 subpages and $96/month for 7,000+ subpages. Plans auto-upgrade if your page count crosses a tier threshold – which means costs can increase without you actively choosing to upgrade.
Is CookieYes free?
Yes. CookieYes has a free plan for low-traffic sites with basic features. Paid plans start at $10/month (100,000 pageviews) and include a 14-day free trial. The free plan doesn’t include live chat support or advanced features, but it’s functional enough for very small sites.
What is the difference between Cookiebot and CookiePro?
Cookiebot is a standalone CMP owned by Usercentrics. CookiePro is a consent management product from OneTrust, typically bundled within OneTrust’s broader privacy governance suite. Both handle GDPR and CCPA compliance, but CookiePro is aimed more at enterprise buyers who are already using OneTrust for data privacy management – it’s not usually sold as a standalone tool in the way Cookiebot is.
