TLDR: Iubenda excels at attorney-drafted legal policies. GetCookies excels at consent performance and developer experience. Many teams use both: Iubenda for policies, GetCookies for consent.
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Iubenda and GetCookies solve different problems. Iubenda is a legal document platform with consent features. GetCookies is a consent platform with performance focus. This comparison helps you understand when to use which—or both.
Summary by Claude AI
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 | ~1.6 KB 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:
- Privacy Policy Generator - Attorney-drafted, jurisdiction-specific
- Cookie Policy Generator - Detailed, regulation-compliant
- Terms and Conditions - Customizable templates
- 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:
- ~1.6 KB loader
- Automatic Consent Mode v2 - Zero configuration
- Third-party pixel integration - Built-in for all major platforms
- Modern developer API - Clean, event-driven
- 5-minute setup - Minimal time investment
If you care about performance and developer experience, GetCookies delivers.
Bundle Size: The Hidden Trade-off
GetCookies
Loader: ~1.6 KB (synchronous)
Widget: ~20 KB (async, after render)
Total blocking JavaScript: ~1.6 KB
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
<!-- Automatic, no configuration needed -->
<script src="https://getcookies.co/api/v1/widget/loader.js"
data-domain-id="YOUR_DOMAIN_ID"
async></script>
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
<script src="https://getcookies.co/api/v1/widget/loader.js"
data-domain-id="YOUR_DOMAIN_ID"
async></script>
Sign up. Add domain. Paste script. Done.
Time: 5 minutes.
Iubenda (Full Suite)
- Generate privacy policy
- Embed privacy policy
- Generate cookie policy
- Configure cookie solution
- Customize banner appearance
- Set up scanning
- Configure consent mode
- Embed cookie solution
- Test
Time: 30-60 minutes.
More comprehensive, but more steps.
Developer API
GetCookies
// Modern, event-driven
window.GetCookies.hasConsent('marketing')
window.GetCookies.showPreferences()
window.addEventListener('getcookies:consent', (e) => {
const { analytics, marketing } = e.detail;
handleConsentChange({ analytics, marketing });
});
Iubenda
// 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
- Generate privacy policy with Iubenda (their strength)
- Generate cookie policy with Iubenda
- Use GetCookies for the consent banner (better performance)
You get:
- Attorney-drafted, jurisdiction-specific policies
- ~1.6 KB 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:
<!-- Remove Iubenda cookie solution -->
<!-- Keep Iubenda policy embeds -->
<!-- Add GetCookies for consent -->
<script src="https://getcookies.co/api/v1/widget/loader.js"
data-domain-id="YOUR_DOMAIN_ID"
async></script>
From Iubenda to GetCookies (consent only)
If you're switching consent tools:
<!-- Remove Iubenda cookie solution script -->
<!-- Add GetCookies -->
<script src="https://getcookies.co/api/v1/widget/loader.js"
data-domain-id="YOUR_DOMAIN_ID"
async></script>
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?