GetCookies vs Iubenda: Detailed Comparison

## A Legal Suite vs. A Consent Tool Iubenda's origin story: attorneys building jurisdiction-compliant legal documents. GetCookies' origin story: developers wanting consent that doesn't tank Lighthouse scores. Different starting points lead to different strengths. ## The Quick Comparison | Feature | GetCookies | Iubenda | |---------|------------|---------| | **Primary Focus** | Consent management | Legal compliance suite | | **Bundle Size** | 1KB loader | ~40-60KB | | **Policy Generator** | No | Yes (core feature) | | **Attorney-Drafted** | N/A | Yes | | **Free Tier** | Unlimited pages | Very limited | | **Consent Mode v2** | Automatic | Requires configuration | | **Setup Complexity** | Minimal | Moderate | ## Where Iubenda Shines: Legal Documents Iubenda's strength is bulletproof legal documents: 1. **Privacy Policy Generator** - Attorney-drafted, jurisdiction-specific 2. **Cookie Policy Generator** - Detailed, regulation-compliant 3. **Terms and Conditions** - Customizable templates 4. **Internal Privacy Management** - For teams with privacy officers If you need legal documents that will hold up to scrutiny, Iubenda delivers. ## Where GetCookies Shines: Consent UX GetCookies focuses on the consent experience itself: 1. **1KB loader** - Smallest in the industry 2. **Automatic Consent Mode v2** - Zero configuration 3. **Third-party pixel integration** - Built-in for all major platforms 4. **Modern developer API** - Clean, event-driven 5. **5-minute setup** - Minimal time investment If you care about performance and developer experience, GetCookies delivers. ## Bundle Size: The Hidden Trade-off ### GetCookies ``` Loader: 1KB (synchronous) Widget: ~15KB (async, after render) Total blocking JavaScript: 1KB ``` Impact on Core Web Vitals: Negligible. ### Iubenda Cookie Solution ``` Cookie Solution: 40-60KB Varies by configuration Most loads synchronously ``` Impact on Core Web Vitals: Noticeable, especially on mobile. For sites where SEO performance matters, that 40-60KB difference affects rankings. ## Pricing Comparison ### GetCookies | Plan | Monthly | Domains | Features | |------|---------|---------|----------| | Free | $0 | 1 | All core features | | Starter | $9 | 3 | All features | | Professional | $29 | 10 | All features | | Agency | $79 | Unlimited | All features | ### Iubenda | Plan | Monthly | Features | |------|---------|----------| | Free | $0 | Very limited | | Basic | ~$7 | Privacy policy only | | Pro | ~$27 | Cookie solution + policy | | Ultra | ~$100+ | Full suite | Iubenda gets expensive when you add cookie consent to policies. The Pro plan at $27/month is comparable to GetCookies Professional at $29/month, but GetCookies includes 10 domains vs Iubenda's 1. ## Google Consent Mode v2 ### GetCookies ```html ``` Developer ID registered. All four v2 signals set correctly. Updates automatically on consent. ### Iubenda - Available with configuration - Requires proper setup in dashboard - Additional steps for GTM integration - Works when configured correctly ## Setup Experience ### GetCookies ```html ``` Sign up. Add domain. Paste script. Done. Time: 5 minutes. ### Iubenda (Full Suite) 1. Generate privacy policy 2. Embed privacy policy 3. Generate cookie policy 4. Configure cookie solution 5. Customize banner appearance 6. Set up scanning 7. Configure consent mode 8. Embed cookie solution 9. Test Time: 30-60 minutes. More comprehensive, but more steps. ## Developer API ### GetCookies ```javascript // Modern, event-driven window.GetCookies.hasConsent('marketing') window.GetCookies.showPreferences() window.addEventListener('getcookies:consent', (e) => { const { analytics, marketing } = e.detail; handleConsentChange({ analytics, marketing }); }); ``` ### Iubenda ```javascript // Callback-based _iub.cs.api.consent.hasConsent('analytics') _iub.cs.api.openPreferences() _iub.cs.callback = function() { // Handle consent }; ``` Both work. Different styles for different developer preferences. ## The Hybrid Approach Here's what many teams do: **Iubenda for policies + GetCookies for consent** 1. Generate privacy policy with Iubenda (their strength) 2. Generate cookie policy with Iubenda 3. Use GetCookies for the consent banner (better performance) You get: - Attorney-drafted, jurisdiction-specific policies - 1KB consent loader - Automatic Consent Mode v2 - Best of both platforms This isn't "cheating" - it's using each tool for what it does best. ## When to Choose Iubenda Choose Iubenda if: - You need attorney-drafted policies - Your legal team requires specific policy features - You want all-in-one legal compliance - Enterprise-grade documentation is required - You're willing to trade performance for convenience ## When to Choose GetCookies Choose GetCookies if: - Performance is a priority - You already have legal policies - You want zero-config Consent Mode v2 - Developer experience matters - You're an indie hacker, startup, or small team ## When to Use Both Use both if: - You need bulletproof legal policies (Iubenda) - You also want best-in-class consent performance (GetCookies) - You're willing to pay for two tools to get the best of each ## Migration Paths ### Adding GetCookies to existing Iubenda policies Keep your Iubenda policies. Remove Iubenda cookie solution. Add GetCookies: ```html ``` ### From Iubenda to GetCookies (consent only) If you're switching consent tools: ```html ``` ## The Verdict **Iubenda** is a comprehensive legal compliance platform. Their attorney-drafted policies are excellent. Their cookie solution is capable but heavier. **GetCookies** is a focused consent management tool. Best-in-class performance. Automatic Consent Mode v2. Developer-friendly. Different tools for different needs. Sometimes the answer is both. --- **Ready for performance-focused consent management?** [Get started with GetCookies](https://getcookies.co)