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Civic Cookie Control

By Tasos Fel

Security & Privacy / GDPR & Privacy Compliance

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

Civic Cookie Control Review - In-Depth Analysis

This plugin helps you comply with UK and EU cookie laws. It provides an elegant user interface for cookie consent management.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.47/10

User Rating

3.9/5 (based on 7+ reviews)

Active Installations

2,000+

Update Frequency

Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

5 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

This WordPress plugin simplifies the implementation and customization process of Cookie Control by Civic UK.

With an elegant user interface that does not hurt the look and feel of your site, Cookie Control is a mechanism for controlling user consent for the use of cookies on their computer.

There are several license types available, including Community edition, which provides all of the core functionality of Cookie Control and is GDPR compliant. You can use it to test Cookie Control or if you do not require any of its pro features.

The Pro edition includes all of the pro features for use on a single website, priority support, and updates during your subscription. The Multisite Pro Edition offers all of the pro features for use on up to ten websites, priority support, and updates during your subscription.

Pro edition and Multisite Pro Edition support IAB (TCF v2.2).

To find out more about Cookie Control, please visit Civic's Cookie Control home page.

Please note that you will need to obtain an API KEY from Civic UK in order to use this plugin. Cookie Control is simply a mechanism to enable you to comply with UK and EU law on cookies. You need to determine which elements of your website are using cookies and ensure they are connected to Cookie Control.

Important Note: Plugin updated to support both version 8 and version 9 API keys. Read more.

Comparing to Alternatives

Civic Cookie Control is one of several cookie consent plugins available, offering a comprehensive solution with some unique strengths but also notable weaknesses compared to its peers.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Comprehensive cookie control with support for blocking cookies based on user choices.
Trusted by reputable organizations such as the Information Commissioner's Office and NHS Inform of Scotland.
Quick and professional support response times noted by several users.
Free version includes essential features suitable for personal and commercial websites.
Easy to configure and integrates with some advertising platforms like adRoll.

Weaknesses

Reported bugs and stability issues by some users.
Support has been described as dismissive or rude in negative reviews.
Does not fully support IAB standards according to some user feedback.
Has a known medium-risk security vulnerability that was fixed in version 1.54.

User Sentiment Analysis

The plugin holds a 3.9 out of 5 rating based on 7 reviews, with a majority of positive 5-star ratings but a significant minority of 1-star reviews highlighting issues.

Positive highlights

'A comprehensive solution' with quick support response - Mickeydblv
'Excellent response time for support and quickly solved my issue' - seanfod
'A Cookie Plugin that actually works' and offers prompt support - bsthp
'A trusted solution that works' and is simple to configure - Chise Hachiroku

Common complaints

Plugin does not work properly on some sites and lacks proper IAB support.
Buggy behavior reported by users leading to frustration.
Support has been described as rude and dismissive of bug reports.

Weaknesses

Stability and bug issues affect reliability.
Support quality is inconsistent and sometimes unhelpful.
Incomplete compliance with IAB standards may limit use cases.
Security vulnerability history impacts trust.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a comprehensive and trusted cookie consent solution with essential features included in the free version and who value responsive support.

Not ideal for

Users requiring full IAB compliance or those who prioritize flawless stability and highly responsive, accommodating support may find this plugin less suitable.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers essential cookie control features sufficient for most personal and commercial websites, including blocking cookies based on user consent.

Pro version

The pro version likely includes advanced features and enhanced support options, although specific premium features are not detailed in the briefing.

Final Verdict

Civic Cookie Control is a solid choice for users needing a comprehensive cookie consent plugin with a trusted reputation and responsive support. Its free version is feature-rich and suitable for many websites, making it a practical option for GDPR compliance.

However, users should be aware of some stability issues, occasional poor support experiences, and a past security vulnerability. Those requiring strict IAB compliance or flawless reliability might consider exploring alternative plugins.