Free Tool
Free Cookie Compliance Checker
Enter your URL to check if your website sets cookies before visitors give consent. A common GDPR issue that can lead to fines.
How it works
Enter your URL
Paste your website address into the checker above.
We check for cookies
The tool loads your page and records all cookies set before any consent interaction.
Review the results
See which cookies are set pre-consent and whether a consent banner was detected.
What this tool checks
Pre-consent cookies
Detects cookies set by the server before any visitor interaction or consent.
Consent banner detection
Checks if a cookie consent banner is present in the page (OneTrust, Cookiebot, etc.).
Known trackers
Identifies cookies from Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, Hotjar and other tracking services.
Cookie categorisation
Categorises detected cookies by their purpose and the service they belong to.
GDPR compliance verdict
Gives a pass, warning or fail verdict based on what was found.
Why cookie compliance matters
Under GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive, websites must obtain informed consent before setting non-essential cookies. This means tracking cookies from Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel or advertising networks must not load until a visitor actively clicks 'Accept' on your consent banner.
Data protection authorities across Europe are actively enforcing cookie rules. France's CNIL has issued fines up to 150 million euros for cookie consent violations. Even small businesses have received fines in the thousands for setting tracking cookies without proper consent.
Getting cookie consent right is not just about avoiding fines. It builds trust with your visitors. When people see that you respect their privacy choices they are more likely to engage with your business and share their data voluntarily.
Frequently asked questions
What are pre-consent cookies?
Pre-consent cookies are cookies set by a website before the visitor has given consent through a cookie banner. Under GDPR only strictly necessary cookies like session cookies may be set before consent.
Does my website need a cookie banner?
If your website sets any non-essential cookies such as analytics or advertising cookies you need a cookie consent banner. Sites that only use strictly necessary cookies do not require a banner.
What is a strictly necessary cookie?
Strictly necessary cookies are essential for the website to function. This includes session cookies, CSRF tokens, load balancer cookies and authentication cookies. They do not require consent.
Can I get fined for cookie violations?
Yes. Data protection authorities in the EU can fine businesses for cookie consent violations under GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive. Fines range from a few thousand euros for small businesses to millions for large companies.
Why does the tool only check server-set cookies?
This free tool checks cookies set in HTTP response headers. JavaScript-set cookies from tag managers and analytics scripts require a full browser environment. Our full scan runs a real browser for complete results.
What should I do if tracking cookies are detected?
Configure your cookie consent manager to block tracking scripts until consent is given. Most CMPs like Cookiebot and OneTrust support this. Check that Google Tag Manager fires tags only after consent.
How often should I check my cookies?
Check after every website update or plugin change. New plugins and scripts can add cookies you are not aware of. Regular monitoring catches compliance issues before regulators or visitors notice.
Cookies are just one compliance area
Your cookie setup is important, but we also check security headers, accessibility, legal pages and 120+ other compliance points.
Run free website scan→