How to Implement Cookie Consent Mode for GDPR Compliance in WordPress

In today’s digital landscape, respecting user privacy isn’t just good practice—it’s a legal requirement. If your WordPress website is visited by users from the European Union (or other regions with strict privacy laws), you need to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). One of the key requirements? Proper cookie consent.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to implement Cookie Consent Mode in WordPress to stay GDPR-compliant—without breaking your site’s functionality or user experience.

What is Cookie Consent Mode?

Cookie Consent Mode allows you to delay the use of certain cookies—especially for tracking and marketing—until users have actively given consent. Tools like Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics support Consent Mode, helping you:

• Avoid collecting data before consent.

• Respect user choices about cookies.

• Still collect anonymized data when consent isn't given (optional).

Step-by-Step Guide to Implement Cookie Consent Mode in WordPress

1. Choose a GDPR Cookie Plugin

There are several WordPress plugins that handle cookie consent and integrate with Consent Mode:

• Complianz – GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent

• CookieYes | GDPR Cookie Consent

• See The Full List of CMPs

• WP Consent API + Tag Manager Integration (advanced users)

Let’s go with Complianz for this guide—it’s one of the most robust and beginner-friendly options.

2. Install and Configure Complianz

1. Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress admin.

2. Search for “Complianz – GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent”.

3. Click Install Now and then Activate.

4. Use the Setup Wizard to:

   • Select your region (e.g., EU).

   • Scan your site for cookies.

   • Categorize cookies (e.g., functional, analytics, marketing).

   • Customize the cookie banner’s appearance and behavior.

💡 Tip: Complianz auto-detects cookies and integrates with services like Google Tag Manager.

3. Enable Google Consent Mode

If you’re using Google Analytics, Google Ads, or Google Tag Manager, enable Consent Mode.

With Complianz:

• Go to Complianz > Integrations > Google Consent Mode.

• Toggle Enable Google Consent Mode to ON.

• Ensure you’ve correctly integrated your Google Tags using GTM or via header scripts.

This ensures tags only fire when the user consents.

4. Set Up Consent in Google Tag Manager (Optional but Recommended)

To fine-tune control, you can configure Consent Settings in Google Tag Manager:

1. In GTM, go to Tags.

2. Edit your Google Analytics or Ads tag.

3. Under Consent Settings, enable “Require additional consent for tag to fire”.

4. Set the required consent types: analytics_storage, ad_storage, etc.

5. Save and publish.

5. Test Your Cookie Consent Banner

After setup, test the banner:

• Clear your browser cookies.

• Visit your site in an incognito window.

• Verify the banner appears.

• Check that cookies aren’t set until after consent is given. This is important, if a tag fires before default consent initialization it can seriously mess up your attribution modelling in GA4 & Google Ads

You can also use tools like Cookiebot, Tag Assistant, or browser dev tools to inspect which cookies are being dropped.

Bonus Tips

• Multilingual site? Complianz works with WPML, Polylang, and other translation plugins.

• CCPA/UK-GDPR compliance: Complianz lets you enable multiple regions with different consent rules.

• Record keeping: Some plugins log consent for audit purposes—helpful if you’re asked for proof.

• IAB TCF: This is only needed for sites that publish/display advertising on their site in the EU but is being quickly rolled out across the industry. Most CMPs are adopting this framework as an option. Normally it is a single click toggle to enable.

My Final Thoughts

Implementing Cookie Consent Mode is crucial for GDPR compliance—but it doesn’t have to be a headache. With plugins like Complianz and tools like Google Tag Manager, you can strike the right balance between data privacy and site functionality.

Still unsure? Consider a privacy audit or consult with a legal expert on your obligations. But for most WordPress users, a proper plugin setup will take care of 90% of the work.