Darwin Digital

<p><strong>Darwin Cookie Consent</strong> shows visitors a clear cookie banner, lets them choose what to accept, and sends those choices to your analytics and marketing tools through Google Consent Mode v2. No tracking runs until consent is given.</p>
<p>The plugin includes admin controls for legal links, appearance, integrations, localized frontend messaging, and privacy-safe reporting.</p>
<h4>Key Features</h4>
<ul>
<li>GDPR cookie consent banner and settings modal</li>
<li>Google Consent Mode v2 support</li>
<li>Editable localized content for English, French, German, and Spanish</li>
<li>Automatic content selection by WordPress site locale</li>
<li>WordPress editor support for the banner message and modal intro</li>
<li>Configurable legal page links for privacy, terms, and cookie policy</li>
<li>Integration controls for Google Tag Manager, GA4, Matomo, Facebook Pixel, LinkedIn Insight Tag, and Pardot</li>
<li>Separate Ad Personalization consent handling</li>
<li>Required Strictly Necessary Cookies row always enabled in the popup</li>
<li>Aggregate admin metrics for recent banner views and accepts</li>
<li>Resettable metrics counters with no personal data stored in the metrics table</li>
</ul>
<h4>Consent Categories</h4>
<ul>
<li><strong>Strictly Necessary Cookies</strong>: always required and always enabled</li>
<li><strong>Analytics</strong>: used for analytics tools such as Google Analytics and Matomo</li>
<li><strong>Marketing</strong>: used for marketing-related tracking integrations</li>
<li><strong>Ad Personalization</strong>: handled separately from general marketing consent</li>
</ul>
<h4>Privacy and Data Handling</h4>
<ul>
<li>Localized content is stored in WordPress options</li>
<li>Consent metrics store aggregate daily counts only — no personal identifiers are stored in the metrics table</li>
<li>The consent log table stores a SHA-256 hash of the visitor IP address and the browser user agent alongside the encoded consent payload; no plain-text IP addresses are stored</li>
<li>Consent Mode signals are updated based on saved user choices</li>
<li>No data is transmitted to the plugin author or any third-party service by this plugin itself</li>
</ul>
<h3>External Services</h3>
<p>This plugin can load scripts from third-party services when those integrations are configured in the plugin settings. No external requests are made unless the corresponding integration is enabled by the site administrator.</p>
<h4>Google Tag Manager</h4>
<p>When a GTM container ID is provided, this plugin loads the Google Tag Manager script from <code>googletagmanager.com</code>. Google Consent Mode defaults are applied before GTM loads so that no tracking occurs without user consent.</p>
<ul>
<li>Data sent: page URL and GTM container ID as part of the script request.</li>
<li>When: on every frontend page load, only if a GTM container ID is configured.</li>
<li>Service provider: Google LLC — <a href="https://marketingplatform.google.com/about/analytics/terms/us/" rel="nofollow ugc">Terms of Service</a> | <a href="https://policies.google.com/privacy" rel="nofollow ugc">Privacy Policy</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>Google Analytics (GA4)</h4>
<p>When a GA4 measurement ID is provided and GTM is not in use, this plugin loads the gtag.js script from <code>googletagmanager.com</code>. The script only fires after measurement consent is granted.</p>
<ul>
<li>Data sent: page URL and measurement ID as part of the script request.</li>
<li>When: on every frontend page load after measurement consent is granted, only if a GA4 ID is configured.</li>
<li>Service provider: Google LLC — <a href="https://marketingplatform.google.com/about/analytics/terms/us/" rel="nofollow ugc">Terms of Service</a> | <a href="https://policies.google.com/privacy" rel="nofollow ugc">Privacy Policy</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>Google Fonts</h4>
<p>When the default plugin font is selected, this plugin loads the Roboto typeface from Google Fonts. The stylesheet is fetched from <code>fonts.googleapis.com</code> and the font files are served from <code>fonts.gstatic.com</code>. A preconnect resource hint is also added for both domains.</p>
<ul>
<li>Data sent: browser and referrer information as part of the font request (standard browser HTTP headers).</li>
<li>When: on every frontend page load when the default font option is active.</li>
<li>Service provider: Google LLC — <a href="https://fonts.google.com/about" rel="nofollow ugc">Terms of Service</a> | <a href="https://policies.google.com/privacy" rel="nofollow ugc">Privacy Policy</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>Facebook Pixel</h4>
<p>When a Facebook Pixel ID is provided, this plugin loads the Facebook Pixel script from <code>connect.facebook.net</code>. The script only fires after marketing consent is granted.</p>
<ul>
<li>Data sent: page URL and pixel ID as part of the script request.</li>
<li>When: on every frontend page load after marketing consent is granted, only if a Pixel ID is configured.</li>
<li>Service provider: Meta Platforms, Inc. — <a href="https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms" rel="nofollow ugc">Terms of Service</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/" rel="nofollow ugc">Privacy Policy</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>LinkedIn Insight Tag</h4>
<p>When a LinkedIn Partner ID is provided, this plugin loads the LinkedIn Insight Tag from <code>snap.licdn.com</code>. The script only fires after marketing consent is granted.</p>
<ul>
<li>Data sent: page URL and partner ID as part of the script request.</li>
<li>When: on every frontend page load after marketing consent is granted, only if a Partner ID is configured.</li>
<li>Service provider: LinkedIn Corporation — <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/legal/user-agreement" rel="nofollow ugc">Terms of Service</a> | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy" rel="nofollow ugc">Privacy Policy</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>Salesforce Pardot</h4>
<p>When Pardot account and campaign IDs are provided, this plugin loads the Pardot tracking script from <code>pi.pardot.com</code>. The script only fires after marketing consent is granted.</p>
<ul>
<li>Data sent: page URL and account/campaign IDs as part of the script request.</li>
<li>When: on every frontend page load after marketing consent is granted, only if Pardot IDs are configured.</li>
<li>Service provider: Salesforce, Inc. — <a href="https://www.salesforce.com/company/legal/" rel="nofollow ugc">Terms of Service</a> | <a href="https://www.salesforce.com/company/legal/privacy/" rel="nofollow ugc">Privacy Policy</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>Matomo</h4>
<p>When a Matomo URL and site ID are provided, this plugin loads the Matomo tracking script from the configured Matomo instance. The script only fires after measurement consent is granted.</p>
<ul>
<li>Data sent: page URL and site ID to the configured Matomo instance.</li>
<li>When: on every frontend page load after measurement consent is granted, only if Matomo is configured.</li>
<li>Service provider: InnoCraft Ltd — <a href="https://matomo.org/website-terms/" rel="nofollow ugc">Terms of Service</a> | <a href="https://matomo.org/privacy-policy/" rel="nofollow ugc">Privacy Policy</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Privacy Policy</h3>
<p>This plugin stores data locally in your WordPress database only. No data is transmitted to the plugin author or any third-party service by this plugin itself.</p>
<h4>Data stored locally</h4>
<ul>
<li><strong>Consent log table</strong> (<code>{prefix}darwin_gdpr_consent_log</code>): When a visitor saves their consent choices, the plugin records a SHA-256 hash of the visitor’s IP address, the browser user-agent string, and the encoded consent payload. No plain-text IP addresses are stored. Entries are automatically deleted after the configured retention period (default: 180 days).</li>
<li><strong>Aggregate metrics table</strong> (<code>{prefix}darwin_gdpr_metrics</code>): Stores daily totals of banner views and consent accepts as integer counts. No visitor identifiers of any kind are stored in this table.</li>
<li><strong>Plugin options</strong>: Localized content strings and appearance settings are stored in the WordPress options table. These contain no visitor data.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Third-party service data</h4>
<p>When optional integrations are configured by the site administrator, scripts from third-party services are loaded in the visitor’s browser. Those services may collect data as described in their respective privacy policies, which are linked in the External Services section above. No data is sent to those services until the visitor grants the relevant consent category.</p>
<p>Site administrators should ensure their own privacy policy reflects the data practices described above, particularly the storage of hashed IP addresses and user-agent strings in the consent log.</p>


Darwin Cookie Consent

Cookie banner for Google Consent Mode v2, GDPR & FADP. Includes four built-in languages, privacy-safe metrics, and appearance controls.

mariastellatech

<p>Stella Cookies is a WordPress cookie consent plugin for managing a cookie banner, consent categories, and third-party content controls for analytics, marketing, and embedded services.</p>
<p>The plugin includes support for Google Consent Mode v2, configurable consent categories, script blocking patterns, iframe blocking, cookie policy content, and a built-in shortcode for displaying your cookie policy and cookie declaration page.</p>
<p>It is built for site owners who need a configurable cookie banner and for developers who need flexible controls for consent-based script loading.</p>
<h4>Free Features 🚀</h4>
<ul>
<li>Enable or disable the cookie banner from one settings screen.</li>
<li>Support for Google Consent Mode v2 workflows.</li>
<li>Block analytics and marketing scripts until consent.</li>
<li>Optional strict prior blocking for uncategorized third-party scripts.</li>
<li>Configure statistics and marketing script patterns.</li>
<li>Configure allowlist patterns for trusted scripts.</li>
<li>Optional iframe blocking for embedded third-party content.</li>
<li>Consent version control for resetting consent after policy changes.</li>
<li>Cookie Policy content editor.</li>
<li>Cookie declaration list for transparency pages.</li>
<li><code>[stella_cookies_policy]</code> shortcode for policy and consent reset display.</li>
<li>Banner design templates and custom styling controls.</li>
<li>Button text, color, and font size customization.</li>
<li>Preference manager with necessary, statistics, and marketing controls.</li>
<li>Floating badge option to reopen consent controls.</li>
<li>Live admin preview for banner design changes.</li>
<li>In-admin help guide and system status summary.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Who It Is For</h4>
<ul>
<li>Website owners who need a configurable consent banner.</li>
<li>Agencies managing privacy compliance across client sites.</li>
<li>Developers who need finer control over script loading behavior.</li>
<li>Businesses that want a clean free plugin and an upgrade path to advanced compliance workflows.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Upgrade to Pro⚡</h4>
<p>Stella Cookies Pro extends the free plugin with advanced compliance tools including cookie scanning, staged scan review, scan history, email alerts, consent logs, analytics reporting, geo targeting, Global Privacy Control support, GTM sync, and additional banner branding controls.</p>
<h3>External services</h3>
<p>This plugin does not make direct HTTP requests to any external service or API on its own.</p>
<p>However, the plugin includes built-in script-blocking pattern lists that reference well-known third-party domain strings. These strings are used <strong>locally</strong> to match and block scripts loaded by your own site before consent is granted. No data is sent to these domains by the plugin itself.</p>
<p>The following third-party domains are referenced in the built-in blocking pattern defaults:</p>
<h4>Google Tag Manager / Google Analytics</h4>
<p>Pattern used: <code>googletagmanager.com/gtag</code>, <code>google-analytics.com</code></p>
<p>These patterns allow the plugin to identify and block Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager scripts until the visitor consents to the Statistics category.</p>
<p>If your site loads Google tags, those tags will connect to Google’s servers. Please refer to Google’s own terms and privacy policy:<br />
* Terms of Service: https://marketingplatform.google.com/about/analytics/terms/us/<br />
* Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy</p>
<h4>Meta (Facebook) Pixel</h4>
<p>Pattern used: <code>connect.facebook.net</code></p>
<p>This pattern allows the plugin to identify and block Facebook/Meta Pixel scripts until the visitor consents to the Marketing category.</p>
<p>If your site loads the Meta Pixel, it will connect to Meta’s servers. Please refer to Meta’s own terms and privacy policy:<br />
* Terms of Service: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/businesstools<br />
* Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/</p>
<h4>Other built-in patterns</h4>
<p>The plugin also includes built-in blocking patterns for other common analytics and advertising services including <code>clarity.ms</code> (Microsoft Clarity), <code>hotjar.com</code>, <code>doubleclick.net</code> (Google Ads), <code>googleadservices.com</code>, <code>googlesyndication.com</code>, <code>ads-twitter.com</code>, <code>platform.twitter.com</code>, <code>tiktok.com</code>, <code>snap.licdn.com</code>, <code>ct.pinterest.com</code>, <code>matomo</code>, <code>plausible.io</code>.</p>
<p>All of these patterns are used solely to match and block third-party scripts on your own site. The plugin itself does not transmit any data to these services. Data transmission to these services only occurs after the visitor grants consent, or if the scripts are loaded by other means outside the plugin’s control.</p>
<h3>Developer API (Hardcoded Scripts)</h3>
<p>The safest and most WordPress-native way to load scripts is using <code>wp_enqueue_script()</code>. Stella Cookies will automatically detect and block these enqueued scripts based on your consent settings.</p>
<p><strong>Please do not paste raw <code><script></code> tags directly into your theme templates (<code>header.php</code>, <code>footer.php</code>, etc.).</strong> Hardcoded raw scripts cannot be reliably blocked without causing conflicts with other plugins.</p>
<p>If you are a developer and absolutely must output a script manually, please use the provided helper functions. These functions will automatically enforce the user’s consent choice without rewriting the whole page.</p>
<p><strong>For external scripts:</strong><br />
    stella_cookies_script( ‘https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js’, ‘marketing’ );</p>
<p><strong>For inline scripts:</strong><br />
    <code>php<br />
stella_cookies_inline_script( "<br />
    window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];<br />
    function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}<br />
    gtag('js', new Date());<br />
    gtag('config', 'G-XXXXXXXXXX');<br />
", 'statistics' );</code></p>


Stella Cookies

Cookie banner plugin for GDPR and CCPA with Consent Mode v2, script blocking, iframe blocking, cookie policy shortcode, and banner design controls.

Darwin Cookie Consent vs Stella Cookies