=== Real Cookie Banner: GDPR & ePrivacy Cookie Consent ===
Contributors: devowl, mguenter, jankarres
Tags: cookie banner, cookie plugin, cookie consent, gdpr, eprivacy
Stable tag: trunk
Requires at least: 5.9
Requires PHP: 7.4.0
Tested up to: 6.9
License: GPLv3 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html

Obtain GDPR (DSGVO/RGPD) and ePrivacy Directive (TDDDG/TTDSG, LOPD-GDD, DTA) compliant consents in your cookie banner. More than just a cookie notice!

== Description ==
**Cookie Banner and Consent Management for your WordPress website – easy to be legally compliant**

Obtain GDPR (also known as DSGVO, RGPD, RODO, AVG) and ePrivacy Directive (implemented in national law as TDDDG/TTDSG, LOPD-GDD, DTA, TLA, LEK, E-com Act) compliant consents. **Find services, cookies etc. and fill all legal information in your cookie banner.** More than just a cookie notice! Cookie plugin designed specifically for WordPress websites to simplify setup.

Real Cookie Banner is a cookie and consent management plugin. **Obtain consent to load services and set cookies for your visitors in accordance with the GDPR and ePrivacy Directive.** In addition, content blockers help you to be compliant even if your theme, plugin or content loads styles, scripts or iframes that would transfer personal data. **Start now with our guided-configuration and avoid legal risks!**

➤ **Scan your website** and discover services that require consent!

_Whether the use of the plugin leads to legally compliant data processing largely depends on whether the plugin is configured correctly for your use case. You yourself are responsible for a correct configuration._

=== Free Sandbox ===

You want to try Real Cookie Banner before installing? **Take a free sandbox** and play around!

[**Create a free sandbox**](https://try.devowl.io/?product=RCB)

=== Features of the cookie plugin ===

**Consent Management:** You can use Real Cookie Banner to store all technical and legal information about services and cookies to obtain informed consents. You can use 160+ service templates and 130+ content blocker templates to quickly and securely provide all the information you need.

**Content Blocker:** Themes, plugins and co. usually load scripts, styles and content that transfer personal data and set cookies before you have the consent of your visitors. You usually cannot control this by yourself. Content blockers make sure that these features are only executed after you have obtained consent.

**Customize design:** You can design the cookie banner according to your wishes. 20+ design templates and 200+ options give you the flexibility to customize the cookie banner perfectly to your needs. From colors and effects to texts, you can unleash your creativity! All changes are displayed in a live preview.

**Guided configuration:** After installation, the checklist will guide you through all steps to be able to set up Real Cookie Banner in a legally compliant manner. We also explain the legalities of features and the legal consequences if you change settings. So, you can quickly and safely set up your cookie banner!

**Documentation of consents:** According to the GDPR, you have to prove that a visitor has consented to cookies and processing of personal data if he or she doubts this. We document consent completely and make it possible to trace the origin of the consent afterwards. You are on the safe side even in the worst case!

**Native in WordPress:** Real Cookie Banner is a cookie plugin specially designed for WordPress. It is fully installed in your WordPress as a native plugin. All consents are processed and stored on your server. Nothing is downloaded from a cloud in your visitor's browser, which avoids further legal issues.

You want a list of all features? [_Check it out on our website!_](https://devowl.io/wordpress-real-cookie-banner/#all-features)

=== Supported Languages ===

Real Cookie Banner is **localized in all 17 languages that are most commonly spoken in the EU.**

The plugin has been translated by humans into English, German (informal and formal), French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Dutch (informal and formal), Czech, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian Bokmål, Finnish, Greek, Romanian, Hungarian, Slovak, Slovenian and Croatian. Texts in service templates and content blockers templates are partly machine-translated and will be revised by humans in the future.

=== All Features of Real Cookie Banner ===

_Some of the features listed below are only available in the [PRO version of Real Cookie Banner](https://devowl.io/go/real-cookie-banner?source=wordpress-org-description). They are marked with an asterisk._

**Beginner-friendly** _// solution for the cookie hassle – for everyone_
Experience effortless setup with guided configurations, extensive localizations and translations, comprehensive website scanning, a free version with essential features, easy-to-follow compliance checklists, and dedicated human support for all your cookie management needs.

**Consent Management** _// we take care of compliant consents_
Be able to obtain consents in compliance with GDPR and ePrivacy Directive through robust consent handling, detailed technical specifications, youth protection features, proactive notifications as soon as new consent must be obtained, privacy-compliant CDN usage, 160+ service templates*, execution of opt-in and opt-out scripts per service, consent to data processing in insecure third countries, automatic cookie policy generation*, organized service groups, accessible legal links, and respectful handling of "Do Not Track" header.

**Documentation** _// truly fully documented consents_
Keep proper documentation of consent obtained, stored efficiently in your WordPress database, insightful consent statistics, and automatic compliance with the obligation to provide evidence in accordance with the GDPR.

**Content Blocker** _// load services only with consent_
Blocking scripts and content with precision until consent has been given, including fonts and URLs, providing visual content replacements, enabling smart URL and style blocking, with custom element blocking automating video playback post-consent, supporting lazy loading for faster pages. Each content blocker is associated with one or more services. With it, content is automatically unblocked when consent is given in the cookie banner.

**Design** _// always fits perfectly into your website_
Customize your cookie banner effortlessly with over 200 design options*, enjoy a preview of design and text changes, and choose from more than 20 stylish design presets* to ensure your banner matches perfectly your website’s design.

**Accessibility** _// accessible for everyone on your website_
Provide an inclusive user experience by complying with the European Accessibility Act and WCAG 2.2 Level AA standards, supported by an accessibility score feature to ensure all design settings meet legal and user-friendly requirements.

**Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF)** _// obtain standardized consents_
Obtain standardized consent collection with full TCF compatibility*, user-friendly configuration interfaces, and Google-certified compliance, ensuring seamless integration with AdSense and compliance to the latest industry standards.

**Google Consent Mode** _// obtain consents according to Digital Market Act_
Comply with the Digital Market Act by integrating Google Consent Mode*, offering explicit consent options, and ensuring smooth integration with Google Tag Manager for efficient consent-based tag management.

**Special Features** _// made for professional users_
Optimize user experience with geo-restriction for targeted cookie banners*, support for popular Google Tag Manager and Matomo Tag Manager*, and streamlined consent forwarding across multiple websites*, making it ideal for professional and international use.

**Technical** _// perfection in detail – for WordPress_
Benefit from advanced technical features including multilingual support for WPML, Polylang, TranslatePress and Weglot, automatic deletion of 1st-party cookies, easy import/export of settings, native WordPress integration, automatic cache flushing for many page caching plugins/systems, WordPress multisite compatibility, Anti-Ad-Blocker mechanisms, and a comprehensive API for developers to extend functionality.

[**You find a list of all features with comprehensive details on our website!**](https://devowl.io/wordpress-real-cookie-banner/#all-features)

=== Templates & Compatibility ===

**Real Cookie Banner can be used to collect consent for almost any tools, plugins and services in your WordPress website.** You can easily store the necessary legal and technical information for informed consent in a service and content blocker of the consent management.

We have verified that major Google and Facebook services, YouTube, Vimeo or Matomo as well as popular WordPress plugins like Elementor, Jetpack, WooCommerce, Wordfence or Contact Form 7 and many more are compatible.

**The PRO Version of Real Cookie Banner comes with 160+ service templates and 130+ content blocker templates.** These templates save you a lot of time by giving you all the relevant legal and technical information for a service to use it in accordance with the ePrivacy Directive and GDPR. Check out the [complete list of all services with templates](https://devowl.io/go/real-cookie-banner?source=wordpress-org-description#templates) on our website.

=== Developer Friendly ===

You are a developer and want to write an add-on for Real Cookie Banner or make your plugin compatible with our cookie plugin? We are happy to help you!

**WordPress actions & filters and REST API**

Have a look at the [API documentation](https://devowl.io/wordpress-real-cookie-banner/developer-api/) on our website to learn more about how to write code that uses functions of Real Cookie Banner. 

**Free Support**

We like to work with other WordPress developers. If you need assistants to use our product for your code projects or make your WordPress plugin compatible with Real Cookie Banner, just [open a support ticket](https://devowl.io/support/).

=== Get the PRO version of Real Cookie Banner ===

You will download the free version of this plugin, which contains **all core functions that allow you to load services and set cookies according to the GDPR and ePrivacy Directive.**

Our PRO version offers even more useful features and many service and content blocker templates, which not only make the cookie banner more flexible, but also save you a lot of time to set up the cookie banner in compliance with the law. [**Learn more about the PRO version.**](https://devowl.io/go/real-cookie-banner?source=wordpress-org-description)

== Installation ==

1. Go to your WordPress backend
2. Navigate to "Plugins" > "Add New"
3. Search for "Real Cookie Banner"
4. Install and activate the plugin
5. Go to "Cookies" in the left sidebar and start the setup of your cookie banner

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Where can I find documentation or support for the plugin? =
We offer a [knowledge base and fast support](https://devowl.io/support/) on our website. **Please feel free to open a support ticket if you have questions, issues or feedback about the plugin.** We love to make Real Cookie Banner better!

= Does Real Cookie Banner find all cookies on my website automatically? =
Yes, Real Cookie Banner has a scanner that checks your website for used services. It recommends you from service templates and content blocker templates suitable configuration. It will also alert you to unknown services on your website that may require consent. For more information on how our service scanner works, [see our knowledge base](https://devowl.io/knowledge-base/real-cookie-banner-service-scanner/).

However, the service scanner is not a cookie scanner. A cookie scanner could, if at all, only find cookies, but not legally assess the processing of personal data. Moreover, it is highly complex to find all cookies and most so-called cookie scanners do not find all cookies. We have explained [in detail why this is so in our knowledge base](https://devowl.io/knowledge-base/real-cookie-banner-cookie-scanner-finds-cookies-automatically/
).

= Is Real Cookie Banner free? =
**Yes, all core features of Real Cookie Banner are free** and you are able to create unlimited services (cookies) and content blockers. But most of the service templates and content blocker templates that will save you many hours of research work are included only in the PRO version. [**Learn more about the PRO version.**](https://devowl.io/go/real-cookie-banner?source=wordpress-org-description)

= What is the difference between Real Cookie Banner and Real Cookie Banner PRO? =
The PRO Version offers you many additional features like consent to data processing in unsafe third countries, statistics about consents, advanced visual content blockers, cookie banner design presets, TCF support, geo-restriction, Google Tag Manager and Matomo Tag Manager support, consent forwarding or many service templates and content blocker templates. [**Learn more about the PRO version.**](https://devowl.io/go/real-cookie-banner?source=wordpress-org-description)

= What is the GDPR (also known as DSGVO, RGPD, RODO, AVG)? =

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), also referred to as GDPR, RGPD, RODO, or AVG in different regions, is a comprehensive data protection law enacted by the European Union in 2018. It aims to standardize data protection laws across all EU member states, safeguarding EU citizens' personal data while regulating how data is processed by organizations. The GDPR enhances individuals' control over their personal data, granting rights like access to data, correction, deletion, and the option to object to data processing under certain circumstances. It mandates transparency, consent, and accountability from organizations, making them responsible for ensuring data privacy and security.

Although the GDPR significantly impacts how cookies are used on websites, it does not directly regulate the use of cookies. The regulation of cookies falls under the ePrivacy Directive, often referred to as the "Cookie Law", which requires user consent for the storage of and access to cookies on their devices. However, since cookies can store personal data such as user preferences or behavior tracking information, the GDPR's consent and transparency principles come into play. In essence, while the ePrivacy Directive governs the use of cookies, the GDPR sets the broader framework for the protection of personal data, which indirectly influences how cookies are handled when they process personal data.

= What is the ePrivacy Directive (implemented in national law as TDDDG/TTDSG, LOPD-GDD, DTA, TLA, LEK, E-com Act)? =

The ePrivacy Directive, also known as the "Cookie Directive", is an EU directive focused on the protection of personal data in electronic communications. It requires companies and website operators within the EU to obtain users' consent before storing or accessing information on their devices, such as through cookies. It is the reason why most website in the EU have cookie plugins, also known as cookie consent dialogs or cookie banners. Member states have transposed the directive into their national laws, leading to various names for the legislation in different countries, like TDDDG (former TTDSG) in Germany, LOPD-GDD in Spain, DTA in Netherlands, TLA in Poland, LEK in Sweden, and the E-com Act in Norway.

= Inspection of plugin source files =

Most plugin files (PHP, templates, assets) are in the ZIP in human-friendly, unprocessed form (soure files).

The plugin’s JavaScript/TypeScript is bundled (e.g. by Webpack) from plugin-specific packages and third-party open source to produce build files. Each build ends with `//# sourceMappingURL=…` to source maps with the original, human-readable code; these maps are public and the included source code can be inspected by anyone directly in your browser, if you have installed the plugin.

To conveniently view the complete codebase of the consumed script in e.g. Chromium/Google Chrome, open *⋮ > More tools > Developer tools > ⋮ (in DevTools) > Settings > Preferences > Sources* and enable "JavaScript source maps", "CSS source maps", and "Allow DevTools to load resources, such as source maps, from remote file paths". Reload, then open *DevTools > Sources > "devowl-local-files"* to inspect all readable sources.

Source maps are hosted outside the ZIP to keep size manageable; otherwise the plugin could exceed limits of web hosts and become non-installable.

The repository with all source files can be do be inspected by anyone at [assets.devowl.io/wordpress-plugins-source-code.zip](https://assets.devowl.io/wordpress-plugins-source-code.zip). Please check out the `README.md` in the repository to learn how to get started!

For details on the data procession of our servers, please read [devowl.io/privacy-policy](https://devowl.io/privacy-policy/).

== Screenshots ==

1. Cookie & Consent Management
2. Content Blocker
3. Customize design
4. Guided configuration
5. Documentation of consents
6. Native solution in WordPress

== Changelog ==

= Changelog =

You can see what’s new in the [**changelog on our website**](https://devowl.io/wordpress-real-cookie-banner/changelog/)!

= Security notices =

* Real Cookie Banner 2.18.1 or older had an XSS vulnerability. It could be exploited by logged in WordPress users with permissions to manage options (mostly administrators). We strongly recommend to install updates to 2.18.2 or newer!

== Upgrade Notice ==

### 5.0 ###

🎉  Sticky legal links, obtaining consent without a cookie banner (banner-less), automatically generated cookie policy, safeguards to ensure secure and GDPR-compliant data processing in third countries, legally compliant use of content delivery networks (CDNs) with automatic detection in the scanner, translations in 17 languages (including localizations to country laws) and much more is waiting for you (part only available in PRO version).

### 4.0 ###

🎉 Translations in 12 languages and legal adaptations for more EU countries, accessibility (WCAG 2.2 level AA compliant), data processsing in unsafe countries and more new features. As of now v4.0 you need PHP 7.4 or newer and WordPress 5.9 newer.