How to Use Cookiebot: Complete Feature Guide (2026)

Snelstart

This guide covers every Cookiebot feature:

• Aan de slag — Create an account and add your domain
• How to Use Cookie & Tracker Scanner — Find every cookie on your site
• How to Use Domains & Aliases — Cover subdomains under one domain slot
• How to Use Banner Implementer — Get the script into your HTML correctly
• How to Use Advanced Analyzer — Catch trackers hidden behind logins
• How to Use Template Editor — Customize how your consent banner looks
• How to Use Add-ons — Turn on Google Consent Mode and extras

Benodigde tijd: 5 minuten per film

Ook in deze handleiding: Professionele tips | Veelgemaakte fouten | Probleemoplossing | Prijzen | Alternatieven

Waarom zou je deze gids vertrouwen?

I’ve run Cookiebot on live sites and tested every feature here. When I lined up compliance software Q3 2026, Cookiebot had the fastest setup. This tutorial comes from real work — not vendor screenshots. Every price and plan limit below was checked against Cookiebot’s own pricing page in November 2026.

Cookiebot by Usercentrics is one of the best-known consent management platforms for website owners.

But most users stop after pasting the script and never touch the rest.

That’s a problem, because the script alone doesn’t make you compliant.

The scan, the blocking mode and the consent signals you send to Google are what regulators actually check.

This guide shows you how to use every major feature, and why each step matters.

Cookiebot Tutorial

This how to use Cookiebot tutorial walks you through setup, scanning, banner design and ongoing maintenance.

Getting Started with Cookiebot

Set up Cookiebot once and every feature below unlocks.

This one-time setup takes about three minutes.

Stap 1: Maak uw account aan

Go to the Cookiebot website and create an account.

Enter your email and set a password. No credit card is needed.

Every new account starts on a 14-day Premium trial for one domain, so you get the full feature set while you set up. When the trial ends you choose between the Free plan and a Premium plan.

✓ Controlepunt: Controleer uw inbox for the confirmation email.

Stap 2: Voeg uw domein toe

Open the Cookiebot dashboard and add your domain name.

Add the exact hostname visitors use. Cookiebot treats example.com and www.example.com as the same domain, but it treats a subdomain like shop.example.com as a separate domain that needs its own subscription.

The Free plan covers one domain only, with up to 50 subpages.

Zo ziet het dashboard eruit:

✓ Controlepunt: Your domain appears with a pending scan status.

Step 3: Embed the Script

Copy the Cookiebot script and embed it in your HTML.

Install it in the document’s HEAD-tag, above every other script.

The order matters. Cookiebot can only block a tracker it loads before. If Google Analytics or a Meta Pixel fires first, it has already set cookies by the time the banner appears, and that is exactly what GDPR enforcement looks for.

WordPress users can skip the manual paste and install the Usercentrics Cookiebot plugin instead. It places the script in the right spot for you.

How to Use Cookiebot Cookie & Tracker Scanner

Cookie & Tracker Scanner lets you identify every cookie and tracker your site drops.

This is the engine behind everything else. The scan result decides what the banner lists, what gets blocked and what your cookie declaration says. If the scan is wrong, the banner is wrong.

Step 1: Run the First Scan

Open your domain and click Start Scan.

On Premium plans Cookiebot re-scans your site automatically every month. On the Free plan scans are manual, so you need to trigger them yourself when the site changes.

Step 2: Review Cookie Categories

Every cookie lands in one of four cookie categories.

Those are Necessary, Preferences, Statistics and Marketing.

The categories are what visitors consent to, one by one. Cookiebot classifies most cookies automatically from a database of more than 13,000 known trackers, so the bulk of this step is checking rather than typing.

Zo ziet het eruit:

✓ Controlepunt: Each cookie shows a name, provider, purpose and expiry date.

Step 3: Fix Unclassified Items

Edit any cookie marked Unclassified and assign the right category yourself.

Unclassified cookies are the risky ones. Cookiebot can’t block what it can’t categorize, so an unclassified marketing cookie may keep firing without consent until you label it.

Your banner and cookie declaration both refresh after you save.

How to Use Cookiebot Domains & Aliases

Domains & Aliases lets you group related hostnames so they share one consent setup.

Hieronder leggen we stap voor stap uit hoe je het gebruikt.

Stap 1: Open de domeininstellingen

Go to Settings and select your website from the list.

Step 2: Add Aliases

Add each hostname that serves the same site, such as the www and non-www versions, as an alias under the main domain.

An alias tells Cookiebot these addresses are one website. Without it, consent given on one hostname doesn’t carry to the other, and a returning visitor sees the banner twice.

Cookiebot bills per domain and per subdomain, so keep the alias list to hostnames that really are the same site. A separate subdomain with its own content, like blog.example.com, still needs its own domain slot.

Zo ziet het eruit:

✓ Controlepunt: Every alias shows under the parent domain, not as a separate entry.

Step 3: Re-scan the Group

Trigger a fresh scan so the new aliases get crawled too.

How to Use Cookiebot Banner Implementer

Banner Implementer lets you place the consent banner script without touching raw code blindly.

Watch Banner Implementer in action:

Laten we nu elke stap eens nader bekijken.

Step 1: Pick Your Install Method

Choose direct HTML, the WordPress plugin, or Google Tag Manager.

Tag Manager installs are easiest for teams without developer access, but they add one rule: the Cookiebot tag must be the first tag that fires. Set it to fire on Consent Initialization, not on the default All Pages trigger.

Step 2: Copy and Place the Script

Insert the Cookiebot script in the HEAD-tag, above every other tag.

Zo ziet het eruit:

✓ Controlepunt: The Cookiebot banner appears on a fresh incognito visit.

Step 3: Turn On Automatic Blocking

Switch blocking mode to automatic so nothing fires before consent.

Automatic blocking is a Premium feature. On the Free plan, blocking is manual, which means you have to edit each tracking script yourself so it waits for consent. Automatic mode does that for every script the scanner recognizes, which is the main reason most sites end up on a paid plan.

How to Use Cookiebot Advanced Analyzer

Advanced Analyzer lets you scan pages that sit behind a login wall.

Standard scans only see what an anonymous visitor sees. Member areas, checkout flows and dashboards often load different trackers, and those stay invisible without this step.

Step 1: Open Advanced Analyzer

Find it under your domain’s scanning settings.

Step 2: Add Login Credentials and URLs

Give the scanner test credentials and the gated URLs to crawl.

Use a dedicated test account, not a real customer login. The scanner stores what it needs to log in, and you don’t want real account data sitting in a scan configuration.

Zo ziet het eruit:

✓ Controlepunt: Gated pages appear in the scan report with their own trackers listed.

Step 3: Set a Deeper Scan Schedule

Pick how often the deep scan repeats and save.

How to Use Cookiebot Template Editor

Template Editor lets you customize the consent banner so it matches your site.

A banner that looks like part of your site gets more considered responses than one that looks like a pop-up ad. That matters because consent rate is what decides how much analytics and ad data you keep.

Step 1: Choose a Banner Layout

Pick a template from the banner layout options.

Overlay works best when you need guaranteed attention. A bottom bar is less intrusive but easier to ignore, which lowers your consent rate.

Step 2: Edit Colors and Copy

Write your own banner tekst and match your brand colors.

On Premium plans you can also add your own company logo and restyle every element. The Free plan lets you adjust content and colors only, in one language. The Cookiebot by Usercentrics logo footer stays on the banner on every plan.

Zo ziet het eruit:

✓ Controlepunt: The live preview updates as you edit.

Step 3: Link Your Policies

Link your privacy policy and cookie declaration from the banner.

GDPR requires that consent be informed, so the banner has to point to where the detail lives. Cookiebot generates the cookie declaration for you; you just need to link it.

How to Use Cookiebot Add-ons

Aanvullingen let you connect Cookiebot CMP to Google and other platforms.

Hieronder leggen we stap voor stap uit hoe je het gebruikt.

Step 1: Open the Add-ons Tab

Access the add-ons list from the left menu.

Step 2: Turn On Google Consent Mode

Enable consent mode so Google Analytics and Google Ads receive consent signals.

Without it, blocking a visitor’s cookies means Google gets nothing at all from that visit. With Consent Mode v2, Google receives a cookieless ping and can model the missing conversions, so your reports keep most of their value even when visitors decline.

Zo ziet het eruit:

✓ Controlepunt: Consent data starts flowing into your Google tag within hours.

Step 3: Enable IAB TCF If You Sell Ads

Cookiebot supports the IAB TCF 2.4 framework for consent management.

TCF is how ad networks and SSPs lezen consent. If you run programmatic ads, Google and most exchanges won’t serve personalized ads in the EU without a TCF consent string.

Cookiebot Pro Tips and Shortcuts

After eight months with Cookiebot, here are my best tips.

Quick Access Shortcuts

Actie	Waar te klikken
Force a fresh scan	Domain → Scanning → Start Scan
Edit banner copy	Banner → Template Editor
Grab declaration embed code	Cookie Declaration → Copy Script
Export consent data	Reports → Download CSV

Verborgen functies die de meeste mensen over het hoofd zien

• Geotargeting: Different regions require different consent rules. Premium plans can show an opt-in banner to EU visitors and an opt-out notice to California visitors from the same setup.
• Consent logs: Cookiebot keeps a record of every consent for up to 12 months, which is the evidence you need if a regulator or a complainant asks when a visitor agreed.
• Withdraw-consent link: Visitors must be able to change their mind as easily as they consented. Drop the “renew or change consent” link in your footer.
• Cross-domain consent sharing: Premium accounts can let a visitor consent once across several of your domains instead of answering the banner on each one.

Cookiebot Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Loading the script too late

Mistake #2: Pre-ticking consent boxes

Mistake #3: Treating setup as one-and-done

Mistake #4: Assuming the Free plan blocks automatically

Cookiebot Troubleshooting

Problem: The banner never appears

Oorzaak: The script sits outside the head, or caching serves an old page.

Repareren: Move the script into the head, purge cache, then test in incognito.

Problem: Google Analytics data disappeared

Oorzaak: Blocking is on but Google Consent Mode was never enabled.

Repareren: Turn on consent mode in Add-ons so modelled data keeps flowing.

Problem: The scan misses pages

Oorzaak: Your plan caps the page count, or pages sit behind a login.

Repareren: Use Advanced Analyzer for gated pages and check your plan’s page limit.

Problem: The bill went up without warning

Oorzaak: The monthly scan found more subpages than your tier allows, and Cookiebot upgraded the plan automatically.

Repareren: Check the subpage count in the scan report. Remove or block crawl access to thin pages (tag archives, filtered URLs) you don’t need scanned, then contact support about the tier.

📌 Opmerking: If none of these help, check the help resources or contact Cookiebot support through the dashboard.

What is Cookiebot?

Cookiebot is a consent management platform that helps you obtain user consent before tracking starts.

Think of it like a doorman for your website’s trackers.

Cookiebot by Usercentrics is the full brand name you’ll see in the dashboard.

Bekijk dit korte overzicht:

Het omvat de volgende belangrijke kenmerken:

• Cookie & Tracker Scanner: Automated discovery and classification of cookies and trackers.
• Domains & Aliases: Group hostnames so one domain slot covers them all.
• Banner Implementer: Guided install through HTML, Google Tag Manager or the WordPress plugin.
• Advanced Analyzer: Scans gated pages that normal crawls never reach.
• Template Editor: Customize the Cookiebot banner layout, colors and copy.
• Extra's: Google Consent Mode, IAB TCF 2.4 and other connections.

One dashboard lets you manage user consent across your whole website.

It assists with compliance under GDPR, California’s CCPA/CPRA, Brazil’s LGPD, South Africa’s POPIA and similar privacy laws.

Those regulations keep shifting, so proper configuration matters more than installation.

GDPR needs prior consent, while CCPA leans on opt outs instead. Cookiebot’s geotargeting handles both from one account.

Voor een volledige recensie, zie onze Cookiebot review.

Cookiebot Pricing

Here’s what Cookiebot costs in 2026. Prices are from Cookiebot’s US pricing page, in USD, excluding VAT where it applies:

Plan	Prijs	Subpages per domain	Domain rule
Vrij	$0	Tot 50	One domain only; limited features
Premium Lite	$10/maand	Tot 50	One domain only
Premium Small	$20/mo per domain	Up to 350	Any account
Premium Medium	$43/mo per domain	Up to 3,500	Any account
Premium Large	$70/mo per domain	Up to 7,000	Any account
Premium Extra Large	$120/mo per domain	More than 7,000	Any account

All Premium tiers include the same features. The tier is set by site size, not by what you unlock.

Three billing rules catch people out:

• Tiers upgrade automatically. If the monthly scan finds more subpages than your plan allows, Cookiebot moves you to the next tier at the next billing cycle.
• Subdomains are separate domains. example.com and shop.example.com are two subscriptions. Language folders like example.com/de count as one.

Gratis proefperiode: Yes — 14 days of Premium for one domain, no credit card required. The Free plan itself runs indefinitely.

Geld-terug-garantie: Not advertised; there’s no contract, so cancel before renewal instead.

Large sites can reach hundreds of dollars monthly once page counts and domains stack up.

Controleer de Cookiebot pricing page for current rates in your currency.

💰 Beste prijs-kwaliteitverhouding: Premium Lite — for $10 it unlocks automatic blocking, your own logo and brand styling, 47+ languages, geotargeting and 12-month consent expiry on a site under 50 pages.

Cookiebot vs Alternatives

How does Cookiebot compare? Here’s the competitive landscape:

Bekijk deze vergelijking:

Hulpmiddel	Het beste voor	Beginprijs	Gratis plan
Cookiebot	Automatic scanning and blocking	$10/maand	Yes — one domain, up to 50 subpages
CookieYes	WordPress users on a budget	$10/mo per domain	Yes — 5,000 pageviews
CookieScript	Cheapest paid entry point	€9/maand	Yes — 10 pages
iubenda	Policies plus consent in one place	$5.99/mo per site	Ja — beperkt
OneTrust	Enterprise privacy programs	Offerte op maat	Nee

Snelle keuzes:

• Beste overall: Cookiebot — the scan and blocking engine is the most hands-off.
• Beste budget: CookieScript — lowest paid tier with real control.
• Het meest geschikt voor beginners: CookieYes — simplest setup for WordPress users.
• Best for large bedrijf: OneTrust — built for legal teams and many regions.

🎯 Cookiebot Alternatives

Looking for Cookiebot alternatives? Here are the top options:

• 👶 CookieYes: Friendly dashboard and a solid WordPress plugin. Good when you want a cookie banner live in ten minutes.
• 💰 CookieScript: Cheap paid tiers and a generous free plan. Strong choice for small website owners watching every dollar.
• 🎯 iubenda: Bundles privacy policy generation with consent management. Handy if you need policy documents and a banner together.
• 🏢 OneTrust: Enterprise-grade compliance software. Pricing is quote-based, so it usually goes through a procurement cycle.

Voor de volledige lijst, zie onze Cookiebot alternatives gids.

⚔️ Cookiebot Compared

Here’s how Cookiebot stacks up against each competitor:

• Cookiebot vs CookieYes: Cookiebot wins on automatic scanning depth and automatic blocking. CookieYes wins on price clarity and a gentler learning curve.
• Cookiebot vs CookieScript: CookieScript is cheaper per domain. Cookiebot handles third party tags and blocking with less manual work.
• Cookiebot vs iubenda: iubenda covers policies too. Cookiebot is the stronger pure consent management platform for cookies and trackers.
• Cookiebot vs OneTrust: OneTrust suits large legal teams. Cookiebot suits everyone who wants compliance without a procurement process.

Start Using Cookiebot Now

You learned how to use every major Cookiebot feature:

• ✅ Cookie & Tracker Scanner
• ✅ Domains & Aliases
• ✅ Banner Implementer
• ✅ Advanced Analyzer
• ✅ Template Editor
• ✅ Add-ons

Volgende stap: Kies één functie en probeer die nu uit.

Most people start with the Cookie & Tracker Scanner.

Het duurt minder dan vijf minuten.

Veelgestelde vragen

How much does Cookiebot cost per month?

Cookiebot has a free plan, and paid plans start at $10/mo for Premium Lite. From there, pricing is set by the number of subpages the scanner finds on each domain: Small is $20, Medium $43, Large $70 and Extra Large $120 per domain per month, in USD before VAT. Each domain and subdomain is billed separately, and your tier upgrades automatically when your page count grows past the limit.

Can I use Cookiebot for free?

Yes. The Free plan covers one domain with up to 50 subpages, with manual scans and a working consent banner. You won’t be able to use your own branding or logo, the banner runs in one language, and cookie blocking is manual rather than automatic. For a small brochure site that’s workable. For anything running ads or analytics at scale, the manual blocking is the limitation that pushes people to Premium Lite.

What is Cookiebot and what does it do?

Cookiebot is a consent management platform. It scans your site for cookies and trackers, displays a consent banner to your website visitors, blocks non-essential ones until consent is given, and publishes a cookie declaration. It also stores a log of each consent so you can prove compliance later.

Is Cookiebot necessary?

If your site uses analytics, advertising pixels, or any third-party tracking and serves visitors in the EU, UK, California, or other regulated markets, you need a consent management solution. So the vraag is which one. A basic banner with no enforcement behind it doesn’t satisfy GDPR, ePrivacy, or CCPA requirements. What regulators and plaintiffs check for is whether tracking scripts actually waited for consent before firing. Cookiebot by Usercentrics handles that automatically, which is why it’s worth using over a banner-only solution.

Does Cookiebot work with Google Analytics 4 and Google Ads?

Yes. Cookiebot is a Google-certified CMP and supports Consent Mode v2, which is what Google requires for EU traffic in Ads and GA4. Enable it under Add-ons and Google will receive consent signals for ad_storage, analytics_storage, ad_user_data and ad_personalization without any custom tagging.

Does Cookiebot slow down my website?

The script is small and loads asynchronously, so the invloed is minor. The one thing to avoid is loading it late: it has to be the first script in the head to block anything, so don’t defer it or move it to the footer in the name of speed.