# CookieFirst — Data Protection CookieFirst by CookieFirst holds a panel rating of 2/5 from 6 AI judges (category median 2.5/5), as of 2026-10-21. Provenance: provenance unknown; sovereignty: not determined. - Vendor: CookieFirst (https://cookiefirst.com) - Category: [Data Protection](https://whats-best.ai/software/data-protection.md) - Provenance (editorial classification): provenance unknown - Canonical page: https://whats-best.ai/software/data-protection/cookiefirst - Alternatives: https://whats-best.ai/software/data-protection/cookiefirst/alternatives ([markdown](https://whats-best.ai/software/data-protection/cookiefirst/alternatives.md)) - Data as of: 2026-10-21 · evaluated 2026-10-21 · oldest source captured 2026-10-20 **AI-generated.** Every score, rationale and verdict here is written by a panel of AI judges from public evidence — an analysis, not a hands-on test. Every fact quotes the vendor page it was read from. No score can be bought. How scores are made: https://whats-best.ai/methodology ## At a glance - Vendor: CookieFirst - Headquarters: Not stated on the vendor’s pages as of 20 Oct 2026 - Data hosting: Default not stated; pages mention Germany [S4] - Free plan: Not stated on the vendor’s pages as of 20 Oct 2026 ## The panel's verdict CookieFirst, by Digital Data Solutions BV, “an iubenda company”, is a website cookie-consent platform. Sovereignty scores 7, framework coverage 6 and audit readiness 4, while pricing transparency scores 1 and privacy management and rights and incidents sit at 1-2. Strongest is the live web estate: an official WordPress plugin with Consent API support, Shopify and Shopware apps, React, Google Tag Manager with Consent Mode v2 and Microsoft Consent Mode, automated monthly scans feeding an auto-updating cookie statement, and seven regimes, GDPR to Thai PDPA, served from one geo-templated configuration. Weakest: we found no public price for any paid edition — only a 14-day free trial, a free account option and a 30% reseller commission are published — and no public information on records of processing, DPIA tooling, request workflows with statutory clocks or exportable evidence packs. The split is integrations and automation (4 to 7): the lone 4 reflects that the only API in evidence covers consent categories and we found no public information on a management API, SSO or webhooks, against higher scores for checkable connectors and automated recurring work. **Speaks for it:** - Official WordPress plugin directory listing with Consent API support, plus Shopify, Shopware and React connectors and Google and Microsoft Consent Mode - Automated monthly cookie scans feed an auto-updating cookie statement, removing recurring cookie-list maintenance - Seven regimes — GDPR, ePrivacy, CCPA, LGPD, PIPEDA & CPPA, Quebec Law 25, PDPA — served by one banner configuration through geo-templating and opt-in/opt-out region detection - Consent registration logs given, modified or deleted consent, with monthly reporting of cookies, cookie changes and the consent log - The published data processing agreement names a Dutch entity with Chamber of Commerce number 75762277, OVH hosting in Frankfurt, EEA-default processing, SCCs/BCRs for transfers and a 21-day subprocessor objection window **Held against it:** - We found no public prices for any paid edition, billing period or scale step, so every real invoice is a sales conversation - We found no public information on records of processing, DPIA tooling, processor management or customer-side TOMs as product modules - We found no public information on request workflows with statutory clocks, a breach register or deletion execution tracking as product features - We found no public information on revision-safe change history, auditor access roles or exportable evidence packs beyond the consent log - Ownership is stated only as “an iubenda company” without a jurisdiction, the named subprocessors were not captured, and the captured pages give different figures for the data centers used (Frankfurt versus LIM3 and RBX8) **Best for:** - You need one cookie banner that adapts across GDPR, ePrivacy, CCPA, LGPD, PIPEDA & CPPA, Quebec Law 25 and Thai PDPA regions from a single geo-templated configuration - Your sites run on WordPress, Shopify, Shopware or React and use Google Tag Manager or Microsoft Consent Mode, and you want scans and the cookie statement maintained automatically - You need logged, dated proof of consent — given, modified, deleted — with monthly reporting to answer the consent question a regulator asks first - You are a European buyer who wants a Dutch contracting entity, OVH hosting in Frankfurt and EEA-default processing documented in a published data processing agreement **Avoid if:** - You need records of processing, DPIA tooling or processor management as product modules — the captured pages evidence a cookie register, scans and consent logging, not a records system - You need to run data-subject request workflows with statutory clocks, a breach register or deletion tracking — what is operational here is the visitor-facing slice: consent given, changed or revoked and logged, plus a Do Not Sell button option - You need published prices to budget before talking to sales — the only published numbers are a 14-day free trial, a free account option and a 30% reseller commission - You need to wire consent data into other systems by API — the only API in evidence covers consent categories, and we found no public information on a management API, SSO or webhooks ## Scores by judge and criterion Scores out of 5, each judge scoring independently against the published rubric (v2). "n/r" = not rated: the vendor publishes no price. | Criterion | The External DPO | The In-House Counsel | The Drafted Generalist | The Lead Auditor | The IT Integrator | The Skeptic | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Records & DPIA depth | 0.5/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 0.5/5 | 0.5/5 | | Data subject rights & incidents | 1/5 | 1/5 | 0.5/5 | 1/5 | 0.5/5 | 1/5 | | Privacy regime coverage | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | | Audit readiness & evidence | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | | Integrations & automation | 3/5 | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 3.5/5 | | European sovereignty | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | | Pricing transparency | 0.5/5 | 0.5/5 | 0.5/5 | 0.5/5 | 0.5/5 | 0.5/5 | | **Weighted verdict** | **1.5/5** | **2/5** | **1.5/5** | **2/5** | **1.5/5** | **2/5** | ### The judges - **The External DPO** (v2.0): Carries thirty client mandates and bills by the hour they save. Optimizes for multi-client capability, reusable templates, a RoPA that drives the rest, and client-ready reports. Rejects single-tenant tools that treat the consultancy as thirty separate customers. - **The In-House Counsel** (v2.0): Answers personally when the authority writes. Optimizes for defensibility: request clocks that never slip, a breach workflow that produces the Art. 33 notification, regime coverage that matches where the company actually operates. Rejects tools whose legal content nobody maintains. - **The Drafted Generalist** (v2.1): Office manager at an 80-employee firm who got compliance added to her job title, not her calendar. Optimizes for guided workflows in plain language and software that knows the law so she does not have to. Rejects consultant-shaped platforms that assume a compliance department. - **The Lead Auditor** (v2.0): Audits management systems for a living and has seen every folder of screenshots. Optimizes for revision-safe history, evidence packs on demand, and a defensible answer to "show me the state on date X". Rejects systems where the audit trail is assembled the week before the audit. - **The IT Integrator** (v2.0): Has to feed the compliance platform from the estate that already exists: Entra ID, Jira, the CMDB. Optimizes for directory import, a real API, webhooks and SSO — compliance data that stays current because it syncs, not because someone retypes it. Rejects data islands with a CSV drawbridge. - **The Skeptic** (v2.1): Hunts certification logos that link nowhere, "AI-powered" features with no substance behind them, consulting bundled as software, legal-update promises with no named lawyer, and customer counts that disagree between pages. Exists to keep the rest of the bench honest. ## European sovereignty — proven facts Built only from facts on the vendor's own pages; a dimension we could not prove is left open, never scored as zero. Headline: not determined. | Dimension | Finding | Points | Source | |---|---|---|---| | Legal entity | Not determined | — | — | | Ownership | Not determined | — | — | | Data residency | Not determined | — | — | | Subprocessors | Not determined | — | — | ## Key facts Each fact is the vendor's own statement, cited to the source page it was read from ([S*n*] → Sources). **Compliance** - Access restriction: yes · yes · yes [S4] - Audit right: two weeks · yes · yes · 1 [S4] - Breach notification 72h: 72 [S2] - Data subject requests: 12-22 · yes [S4] - Datacenter certifications: LIM3 · RBX8 · SOC 1 Type II · SOC 2 Type II · ISO/IEC 27001 · PCI-DSS [S4] - Dpia cooperation: yes [S4] - Encryption at rest: LUKS [S4] - Environment segregation: yes [S4] - GDPR rights: yes [S2] - Incident notification: without undue delay [S4] - ISO 27001 datacenters: ISO270001 (as stated) · yes [S2] - MFA vpn: yes · yes · privileged access to production systems · if possible [S4] - Regimes: GDPR · ePrivacy · CCPA · LGPD · PIPEDA & CPPA · Quebec Law 25 · PDPA [S5] - Regulations: GDPR · CCPA · LGPD · PDPA · other international privacy laws [S8] - Regulations supported: GDPR · ePrivacy · CCPA · LGPD · PIPEDA & CPPA · Law 25 · PDPA [S3] - Security measures appendix: yes [S4] - Ssl encryption: yes [S2] - Subprocessor list appendix: yes · yes [S4] - Subprocessor objection period: written, duly motivated · 21 [S4] - Transfer mechanism: yes · yes [S4] - Vulnerability reporting: yes [S3] **Data** - Anonymised ip: yes [S2] - Deletion on termination: yes · yes · 4 [S4] - Retention: until removal request, cookie deletion, or purpose lapses · no [S4] - Retention policy: Deleted when no longer necessary or after contract ends [S2] **Hosting** - Data location: EEA [S2] - Data location: Frankfurt · Germany · OVH [S4] - Eea processing: yes · yes [S4] **Integrations** - Google consent mode: yes [S5] - Google tag manager: Google Tag Manager · Google Consent Mode · yes [S7] - Gtm: yes · yes [S1] - React: React Cookie Consent · yes [S7] - Reseller commission: 500 · 30 [S5] - Shopify app: Shopify App · yes [S7] - Shopware plugins: Shopware 5 · Shopware 6 · yes [S7] - Wordpress plugin: WordPress Plugin · yes [S7] - Wp consent API: yes · yes [S8] - Wp consent API categories: yes · yes [S8] **Legal** - Address: 1018 DH · Amsterdam · Plantage Middenlaan 42a [S2] - Age restriction: 16 [S2] - Cpra effective date: CCPA · 2023-01-01 [S6] - Cpra enforcement body: California Privacy Protection Agency · California Attorney General's office · yes [S6] - Cpra enforcement date: 2023-07-01 [S6] - Cpra fines: 2500 · 7500 [S6] - Cpra lookback period: 12 [S6] - Cpra new rights: right to correct inaccurate personal information · right to limit the use and disclosure of sensitive personal information [S6] - Cpra notice period eliminated: no [S6] - Cpra revenue threshold: 25000000 [S6] - Cpra threshold: 50000 · 100000 [S6] - Dsar: DSAR rights-exercise option available [S5] - Dsar process: yes [S3] - Entity: Digital Data Solutions BV · iubenda [S3] - Entity: Digital Data Solutions BV · iubenda [S5] - Entity: iubenda · Digital Data Solutions BV [S8] - Entity name: Digital Data Solutions B.V. [S2] - Governing law: Dutch · Amsterdam [S4] - Kvk number: 75762277 [S2] - Liability cap: fees paid over one year [S4] - Operating entity: Digital Data Solutions BV · iubenda [S6] - Owning entity: an iubenda company · Digital Data Solutions BV [S7] - Parent company: iubenda [S2] - Processor entity: 75762277 · Digital Data Solutions BV (CookieFirst) · Plantage Middenlaan 42A, Amsterdam [S4] - Termination: monthly · yes [S4] **Pricing** - Free trial: 14 [S1] - Free trial: yes · 14 [S3] - Free trial: 14 · yes [S5] - Free trial: yes · 14 [S7] - Reseller commission: 30 · 500 [S3] - Reseller commission: 30 [S6] - Trial: yes · 14 [S8] **Product** - Accessibility before consent: Website remains accessible; no cookies placed before consent except necessary [S5] - Account activation cross brand: email address only [S2] - Advanced features: yes · yes · yes [S8] - Alternatives: Cookiebot · Usercentrics · CookiePro · Illow · Borlabs Cookie · Axeptio · CookieYes · Osano [S5] - App server protections: malware scanner · WAF with ML rulesets · automated intrusion detection and protection · proactive defense · DDoS protection [S4] - Async loading: yes [S8] - Backups: daily · yes [S4] - Categories: functional · statistics · statistics-anonymous · marketing [S8] - Cms compatibility: Works with virtually every web technology or CMS; named: Wix, Hubspot, Drupal, Joomla, Prestashop, Woocommerce, Magento / Adobe Commerce, Typo3 [S7] - Compatible plugins: Google Site Kit · Pixel Manager for WooCommerce · WP Statistics · Burst Statistics [S8] - Competitors listed: Cookiebot, Usercentrics, CookiePro, Illow, Borlabs Cookie, Axeptio, CookieYes, Osano [S3] - Compliance laws: GDPR · ePrivacy · LGPD · CCPA · Law 25 · PDPA [S1] - Compliance regimes: GDPR · LGPD · CCPA [S6] - Consent data collected: consent status/withdrawal · anonymized IP address · browser type · device type · operating system · visit date and time · country and region [S4] - Consent logging: yes [S3] - Consent mode v2: yes [S8] - Consent registration: Consent registration and log of given, modified or deleted consent [S5] - Consent revocation: yes [S3] - Consent statistics: yes [S1] - Cookie policy generator: yes [S3] - Cookie policy generator: Cookie policy generator [S5] - Cookie scan: yes · yes · yes [S3] - Cookie statement: Automatic up-to-date cookie statement, integrable with privacy statement [S5] - Cross device consent: yes [S3] - Dnsmp button support: yes [S3] - Features: third-party script and consent management · statistics · periodic cookie scans · automated cookie declaration · banner customization · multiple language options [S8] - Geo templating: EU-only banner display · CCPA compliance · yes [S4] - Google consent mode: yes [S3] - Google consent mode: yes [S6] - Google consent mode v2: yes [S1] - Ip anonymization: remove last octet, replace with 0 [S4] - Languages: >40 · yes [S8] - Languages cookie policy: 44+ [S1] - Marketing team blue hub: team.blue N.V. · yes [S2] - Microsoft consent mode: yes [S1] - Monthly reporting: Monthly reporting of cookies, cookie changes and consent log [S5] - Monthly scan: Automated monthly cookie scanning; 33% of cookies change monthly [S5] - Opt in out: Explicit opt-in per cookie type and opt-out/revoke mechanism [S5] - Platform capabilities: third-party script and consent management · statistics · periodic cookie scans · automated cookie declaration · banner customization · multiple language options [S6] - Plugins integrations: yes [S3] - Regional opt: yes [S8] - Regions regulations: GDPR (Europe) · ePrivacy Regulation (Europe) · CCPA (US) · LGPD (Brazil) · PIPEDA & CPPA (Canada) · Quebec Law 25 (Canada) · PDPA (Thailand) [S6] - Scanning: yes [S8] - Script management: yes · yes · yes [S8] - Service description: cookie consent management / compliance for websites · cookie identification · consent-gated cookie execution [S4] - Third party consent sharing: yes [S3] - Third party insight: Insight into third-party data sharing locations [S5] - Tracking scan: Scans all known tracking technologies on the website [S5] - Trial: yes · 14 [S6] - Wp consent API ecosystem: >100000 [S8] **Support** - Status page: yes [S3] - Trial offer: 14 [S2] ## Questions ### Is CookieFirst European? Not determined: the vendor’s pages as captured do not say where CookieFirst is based. ### Where does CookieFirst store data? The default storage location for customer data is not stated on the vendor’s pages as of 20 Oct 2026. The vendor’s pages mention Germany as hosting location, per [the vendor’s page captured 20 Oct 2026](https://whats-best.ai/evidence/9311). ### Does CookieFirst have a free plan? Not stated on the vendor’s pages as of 20 Oct 2026. ### What are the best alternatives to CookieFirst? As of 21 Oct 2026, the panel rates [preeco | datenschutz (4/5)](https://whats-best.ai/software/data-protection/preeco), [Dastra (3/5)](https://whats-best.ai/software/data-protection/dastra) and [caralegal (3/5)](https://whats-best.ai/software/data-protection/caralegal) highest among the other 41 Data Protection products evaluated. Ratings that look equal are rounded to half stars; the order uses the unrounded rating, then the name. The highest-rated European alternative is [preeco | datenschutz](https://whats-best.ai/software/data-protection/preeco) (EU-Made). Ratings are the AI panel’s opinion, formed from public evidence: [how scores are made](https://whats-best.ai/methodology#ordering). The full list, with European products first: [CookieFirst alternatives](https://whats-best.ai/software/data-protection/cookiefirst/alternatives). ## What this page leaves out - 14 subprocessors facts could not be confirmed on the vendor’s page as captured and were left out of this page and of the panel’s material. - 11 pricing facts could not be confirmed on the vendor’s page as captured and were left out of this page and of the panel’s material. - 7 product facts could not be confirmed on the vendor’s page as captured and were left out of this page and of the panel’s material. - 1 support fact could not be confirmed on the vendor’s page as captured and was left out of this page and of the panel’s material. - 3 sovereignty dimensions could not be confirmed on the vendor’s own pages and are shown as unknown. ## Sources - [S1] Vendor page: https://cookiefirst.com (checked 2026-10-20) - [S2] Legal notice — found from the homepage: https://cookiefirst.com/legal/privacy-policy/ (checked 2026-10-20) - [S3] Security / trust page — found from the homepage: https://cookiefirst.com/ccpa-compliance/ (checked 2026-10-20) - [S4] Records & DPIA depth — found from sitemap: https://cookiefirst.com/legal/dpa-netgate/ (checked 2026-10-20) - [S5] Privacy regime coverage — found from sitemap: https://cookiefirst.com/cookie-consent-gdpr/ (checked 2026-10-20) - [S6] Privacy regime coverage — found from sitemap: https://cookiefirst.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-ccpa-cpra-in-2023/ (checked 2026-10-20) - [S7] Integrations & automation — found from sitemap: https://cookiefirst.com/cookie-consent-plugins-integrations/ (checked 2026-10-20) - [S8] Integrations & automation — found from sitemap: https://cookiefirst.com/cookiefirst-supports-wp-consent-api-enhanced-plugin-experience/ (checked 2026-10-20) --- Cite as: whats-best.ai, "CookieFirst — Data Protection", AI panel analysis, as of 2026-10-21. https://whats-best.ai/software/data-protection/cookiefirst Corrections: https://whats-best.ai/correct/885?target=page