Cookie compliance sounds complicated, but for most WordPress sites, it really doesn’t have to be.

If you’re running a blog, job board, content site, or small business website, your goal isn’t legal perfection. Your goal is reasonable transparency, a clean user experience, and compliance that won’t break analytics or ads.

This guide walks you through a start-to-finish setup using a free plugin, with the exact settings you should choose, and which ones to avoid.

No legal background required.

What “Cookie Compliance” Actually Means (In Plain English)

For most websites, cookie compliance comes down to three things:

  1. Tell users you use cookies
  2. Explain what they’re used for
  3. Give users a visible notice

That’s it.

You are not required to:

  • Block all cookies
  • Show consent walls
  • Force users through popups
  • Break Google Analytics or ads

Unless you’re running heavy tracking or marketing pixels, simple disclosure is enough.

The Free Tool We’ll Use

There are dozens of cookie plugins, but most are either outdated or overly complex.

For this tutorial, we’ll use:

Complianz – GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent (Free)

Why this one?

  • Free
  • Actively maintained
  • AdSense-friendly
  • Doesn’t force strict opt-in
  • Beginner-safe defaults
  • Amazing reviews on WordPress

Step 1: Install Complianz

  1. In WordPress, go to Plugins → Add New
  2. Search for Complianz – GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent
  3. Install and activate it
  4. Click “Start Wizard”

The wizard is where most people get confused, so let’s go step-by-step.

Step 2: Wizard Settings (Exactly What to Choose)

Do you use cookies?

Yes

WordPress itself uses cookies. This is always “Yes.”

Which privacy laws apply?

European Union (GDPR)

Even if you’re not located in the European Union, GDPR is the safest choice:

  • It’s the strictest framework
  • It covers international visitors
  • Google prefers global compliance
  • You won’t be penalized for being more compliant than required.

Do you collect visitor statistics?

Yes

Even if you haven’t installed analytics yet, this is still the correct answer.

What statistics tool do you use?

Choose one:

  • Google Analytics (if you plan to use GA4)
  • Other (if you want flexibility)

Either is fine.

Do you anonymize IP addresses?

Yes

This is privacy-friendly and has no downside.

Do you want consent before collecting statistics?

No

This is important.

You are using a cookie notice, not strict opt-in consent. Blocking analytics is:

  • Not required for AdSense
  • Bad for UX
  • Unnecessary for most sites

Step 3: Google-Specific Checkboxes

You may see these two options:

1. “I have accepted the Google Data Processing Amendment”

Yes — check this

This is standard and expected if you use Google Analytics or AdSense.

2. “Google is not allowed to use this data for other Google services”

No — leave unchecked

This restriction:

  • Is not required
  • Can break reporting
  • Adds complexity with no benefit

Step 4: Advanced Questions (Keep It Simple)

Here’s where most people accidentally overcomplicate things.

Consent per service?

No

This is advanced, granular consent. You don’t need it.

Does your site use third-party services?

Yes

Hosting, email, analytics, and plugins all count.

Embedded social media (YouTube videos, timelines, pixels)?

No (unless you actually embed them)

Links don’t count — only embedded scripts.

Advertising scripts?

No (unless ads are already installed)

If you haven’t added AdSense yet, this is No.

WordPress comments?

No (unless you actively use them)

Many modern sites don't use them, but if you have, say, a blog, you might enable comments.

Step 5: Final Screen (This Matters)

On the last screen, you’ll see two options.

Show Consent Banner

Yes

This enables the cookie notice.

Enable cookie and script blocker

No

This is the biggest mistake people make.

Script blocking:

  • Is not required
  • Breaks analytics and ads
  • Creates unnecessary problems

You want disclosure, not restriction.

Step 6: Finish & Test

Click Finish, then:

  1. Open your site in an incognito window
  2. Confirm the cookie banner appears
  3. Click “Accept”
  4. Refresh the page
  5. The banner should stay gone

If that works, you’re done.

What Pages Complianz Creates Automatically

Complianz will generate:

  • A Cookie Policy
  • Links inside the banner

You should also make sure your site has:

  • A Privacy Policy
  • A Contact page

These are important trust signals, especially for ads.

Do I Need to Show My Home Address?

No.

If the plugin asks for an address:

  • Use a business mailing address
  • Virtual mailboxes are perfectly acceptable
  • Do not publish your home address if you don’t want to

Google does not require a physical office location.

What You Don’t Need (Ignore These Myths)

You do not need:

  • A consent wall
  • Strict opt-in popups
  • Legal disclaimers everywhere
  • Paid cookie tools
  • To block Google Analytics
  • To block AdSense cookies

Simple, transparent disclosure is enough for most sites.

Final Thoughts

Cookie compliance doesn’t have to be scary or technical.

If you:

  • Use a clean cookie notice
  • Explain what cookies do
  • Don’t over-restrict scripts
  • Maintain a professional site

You’re doing it right.

This setup is:

  • User-friendly
  • Google-friendly
  • AdSense-friendly
  • Future-proof

You can always tighten things later, but this tutorial should help you get the basics of compliance down for free on your WordPress site.

author avatar
Justin Bryant
I'm an entrepreneur, fitness freak, artist, car enthusiast, sports fan and self improvement addict. My goal is to help people be their best and create incredible businesses that change the world.
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