How we test compliance software
Every tool we cover is installed on a real test site and evaluated against the same checklist. This page describes exactly what we check, so you can weigh our verdicts against your own priorities.
What we check
Setup and time-to-live
We create a new account on each tool and measure the time from signup to a fully working, published consent banner on a test site.
Script-blocking accuracy
We inspect network requests to confirm analytics and advertising scripts are actually blocked pre-consent, not just visually hidden behind the banner.
Regulation coverage
We check behavior against GDPR/ePrivacy (opt-in, equal reject), UK PECR, and CCPA/CPRA (opt-out signal handling) using region-simulated traffic.
Design and customization
We test how much control we have over banner placement, copy, and branding without needing custom code.
Pricing at real-world scale
We evaluate pricing at the tier a small or mid-size business would actually use, not just the cheapest listed price.
Support responsiveness
We file at least one real support request per tool and record response time and quality.
What we don't do
- We don't accept payment in exchange for a favorable review or a higher ranking.
- We don't publish a verdict on a tool we haven't personally installed and tested.
- We don't treat vendor-provided marketing claims as test results.
Retesting
Compliance tools update frequently. We re-test our top picks on a rolling basis and update the "last updated" date on each review when we do. If you find something out of date,let us know.
Limits of our testing
We are not a law firm, and passing our tests is not a legal compliance guarantee. Our scores reflect product behavior under our specific test conditions, not a legal opinion on your business's obligations.