Borlabs Cookie plugin WordPress

Borlabs Cookie: Tutorial for the Cookie Banner WordPress Plugin

Although GDPR has been around for a long time, many people still find it difficult to implement it. And the e-privacy regulation based on it makes the situation even worse. For WordPress, there are some very useful plugins that help you comply. One of them - the WordPress plugin Borlabs Cookie - I present to you in more detail.

On July 29, 2019, the European Court of Justice declared cookie opt-ins to be a legally enforceable obligation. As the operator of a website, you should therefore no longer ask yourself whether you use a cookie banner, but how you implement it in order to be on the safe side in terms of data protection law site. Further information on the ECJ ruling is available from lawyer Dr. Thomas Schwenke in the Data Protection Generator blog.

The plugin Borlabs Cookie is an opt-in solution for WordPress that helps you to implement the requirements of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as well as the upcoming e-privacy regulation. With this tool you have the possibility to easily control first and third party cookies and have them confirmed via a so-called "cookie box" (also called "cookie banner") by the visitors of your website.

Exclusive Offer for Customers of Raidboxes

Our customers get an exclusive discount on Borlabs Cookie licenses. To do so, log in to your Raidboxes account. Then go to Raidboxes Dashboard and click on the menu item "Offers".

Borlabs Cookie statistics
Borlabs Cookie Statistics

The statistics on the dashboard provide you with some particularly interesting information. Here you can see in detail how often users have consented to your cookie settings. 

Essential: Cookies enable the basic functioning of the website

Statistics: e.g. Google Analytics

Marketing: e.g. Facebook Pixel

External media: e.g. Google Maps

Under the statistics, you'll find a quick start guide to help you get familiar with the plugin. In addition, the system status is displayed on the dashboard where you can check at any time whether the plugin is working smoothly. 

General Settings

In the General Settings, the Borlabs Cookie Plugin can be activated, among other things, and some other settings can be made at the time of cookie activation.  

Borlabs Cookie settings
Borlabs Cookie Settings

On this site you also have the option to make settings for the so-called "cross domain cookies". This means that all cookie settings that are made via a certain path are transferred to all other specified domains at the same time. This is particularly interesting if you operate several websites in the form of subdomains, for example, and at the same time do not want users to have to make new cookie settings each time.

General Settings

With the help of the general settings for the cookie box, you can determine whether it's displayed on your website or not, in which form it should be integrated (HTML/JavaScript) and whether content should be blocked until the cookie settings have been accepted. 

Cookie Box

This is also where you define the privacy and legal notice pages to be displayed in the Cookie Box. 

Borlabs Cookie data privacy

Layout, animation, presentation & logo

In the Cookie Box settings, you can also make settings or changes to the layout, animation, display or even the logo. Here you can determine individually in which layout and which color accents the Box is displayed, in which form it is animated and which logo should be displayed.

Borlabs Cookie layout settings

Using Borlabs Cookie in a privacy compliant way

The latest ruling by the German Federal Court of Justice states that cookies may only be set if visitors of your website has actively consented to them. You can read which settings Borlabs Cookie recommends for this in this article: https://de.borlabs.io/neues-bgh-urteil-bestaetigt-eugh-aktive-einwilligung-fuer-cookies-notwendig.

Buttons & Texts

This menu can, of course, be used to customize the output of the buttons and the texts within the cookie box. At the very bottom of the settings, you have the option to make changes using CSS. 

Borlabs Cookie button settings
Borlabs Cookie button settings
Borlabs Cookie text settings
Borlabs Cookie Text Settings

The so-called cookie groups are individual groupings into which all the cookies you use are divided. By default, Borlabs Cookie Groups are "Essential", "External Media", "Marketing" and "Statistics". 

Borlabs Cookie cookie groups
Cookie Group Settings

These groups include, for example, the Facebook Pixel, Google Analytics, Google Maps, Vimeo, Google AdSense and many more. I will show you exactly what this looks like under the "Cookies" menu. This is where you define the individual cookies and their grouping. 

Among other things, you can edit the individual cookie groups, determine their position in the cookie box and activate or deactivate them. Of course, you can also add new groups at any time.

Cookies

As already mentioned under the menu item "Cookie groups", the cookies you use can be clearly divided into groups. Users then have the option of fully accepting cookies from a particular group later on as they are also displayed in the cookie box. 

Under the menu item "Cookies", you'll find all the groups you have used. 

Borlabs Cookie - cookie settings

You can add a new cookie to any of these groups by clicking the "Add New" button. 

Step 1: Select a Service

Borlabs Cookie settings

Step 2: Setting up the Service

In the service settings, you define all the information for the cookie. The Borlabs Cookie plugin already provides you with the most important information and you can, in theory, just adopt it one for one. 

Nevertheless, you can change the ID, the status or the cookie information here. The respective tracking ID, pixel ID or URL must of course be stored individually for each service so it can be controlled via the Borlabs Cookie plugin. 

Borlabs Cookie settings

One great thing here is that you also have lines of code available for additional HTML or JavaScript. 

Borlabs Cookie HTML & JavaScript

Content Blocker

With so-called content blockers, iFrames within videos or embedded content can be blocked. You can adjust the display of the block message individually. 

Borlabs Cookie content blocker

The standard content that is blocked from the start by Borlabs Cookie includes: 

  • Facebook
  • Google Maps
  • Instagram
  • OpenStreetMap
  • Standard (All external content)
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

Of course, you can adjust or edit each of the content blockers already stored here, e.g. by setting the status to "on" or "off". You can also add new content blockers.

In the settings, you can make changes to, among other things, the name, the URL for the privacy policy and the host(s). 

Borlabs content blocker settings

In the settings you'll find a short code to block content from the provider within your website. Under additional settings you can also define appropriate API keys if required. 

Of course you can also add your own HTML, JavaScript or CSS code:

Borlabs Cookie blocked content

Example: Live view of the Content Blocker

Google Maps / Open Street Map

Borlabs Cookie Google Maps

YouTube / Vimeo

Borlabs Cookie YouTube Vimeo

Facebook / Instagram

Borlabs Cookie Facebook Instagram

Content Blocker: General Settings

Here you can, for example, create a host allow list in which the content blockers should not be active. 

Borlabs Cookie host allow list

Appearance

You can also change the appearance of the block here. This means setting a font and its size, determining the colors for text, buttons or links and much more. 

Borlabs Cookie appearance settings

Script Blocker

With the help of the integrated Script Blocker in Borlabs Cookie, individual JavaScripts can be blocked and executed. This is particularly beneficial if, for example, you're using a third-party plugin that sets cookies which require consent according to the GDPR.

Borlabs Cookie script blocker

The Script Blocker thus enables you to block the cookies of third-party plugins or the corresponding scripts and only allow them after consent (opt-in) has been obtained. 

Borlabs script blocker settings

Import & Export

The import and export function allows you to easily import and export general settings, cookie settings and content blockers. 

Borlabs Cookie import export settings

To use the function, you just need to copy the settings from the respective export box and paste them, for example, into the respective import box on a different WordPress installation. 

Borlabs Cookie export

License

In the license settings, you can view your current license information at any time. This information includes the current license status, license type and also the date until which you will continue to receive support and updates. 

Borlabs Cookie licence

You can delete your license from the domain you're currently using in these settings, for example if you want to use it on another domain. 

You can also use the plugin here within a test environment without needing a license.

Test Borlabs Cookie

Useful shortcodes for your privacy policy

Borlabs Cookie offers you the possibility to add shortcodes to your privacy policy, which will allow your visitors to see which cookies they have accepted at any time. 

First of all, there's a so-called cookie list where all the accepted cookies are listed: 

Borlabs Cookie list

Furthermore, there's a button that allows users to change their consent to the individual cookie groups:

Borlabs Cookie change cookie selection

Other Useful Functions

CMP in IAB Europe's Transparency and Consent Framework

Since 2020, Borlabs Cookie has supported the official framework of the IAB, originally introduced in 2018. With the help of this framework (TCF), consumers have a choice as to which data may and may not be processed by large advertizing networks. 

The aim of IAB Europe's TCF (Transparency and Consent Framework) is to create a uniform standard for a GDPR-compliant solution in digital advertizing. Borlabs provides a fully functional beta version for download when you purchase a license.

Accessibility

All options in the cookie box can be accessed by visually impaired or blind people via the keyboard. 

Prioritize Mode

Opt-in codes can be executed directly in the head, i.e. prioritized, if required. You can easily set this in each cookie itself. 

Multilingualism

Borlabs Cookie can be used in several languages without any problems. If you want to implement a multilingual website using a plugin, Borlabs Cookie recommends WPML and Polylang in particular: Read more on multilingualism in their article. Borlabs Cookie can, however, also be used with other plugins like Multilingual Press or Weglot.

Google Tag Manager

If you use the Google Tag Manager for your tracking tools like Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, etc., you can also use them in a GDPR-compliant way with the relevant settings in Borlabs Cookie. More in this article

In the following overview, I'd like to introduce you to two credible alternatives to Borlabs Cookie, both of which are convincing in their functionality. 

Borlabs Cookie Alternative: WP GDPR Tools

WP GDPR  Tools (legalweb.io)

The WP DSGVO Tools (GDPR) plugin from legalweb.io is also a consent tool for WordPress. It has a paid premium version which equally offers an integrated privacy and legal notice generator. Just like Borlabs Cookie, it includes embedding for YouTube, Vimeo, Google Maps or Instagram, for example. The range of functions is very similar to Borlabs Cookie and differs only in a few points.

Borlabs Cookie Alternative: Pixelmate

Pixelmate

Pixelmate was one of the first GDPR plugins available for WordPress. At the beginning, the plugin's functions were limited exclusively to the Facebook Pixel and Google Analytics. In the meantime, Pixelmate – just like the other premium consent Tools – offers numerous other integrations for e.g. YouTube, Vimeo, Google Maps and many more. 

Moreover, the WordPress plugin also has a script blocker – just like Borlabs Cookie. If desired, scripts can therefore be blocked until consent is given.

Borlabs and Alternatives in Comparison

Borlabs CookieWP GDPR ToolsPixelmate
EmbeddingsYouTube, Vimeo, Google Maps, Instagram & dynamic detection of iFrames + Script BlockerYouTube, Vimeo, Google Maps, Instagram & dynamic detection of iFramesYouTube, Vimeo, Google Maps, Instagram & dynamic detection of iFrames + Script Blocker
Tag managerGoogle Tag Manager, Matomo Tag ManagerGoogle Tag Manager, Matomo Tag ManagerX
Cookie scannerXX
Google FontsX
Layouts / designs
Multilingualism
AccessibilityX
LanguagesFR, DE, EN, IT, NL, PL, ESAT, DE, EN, ES, IT, FR, HUDE, EN
Privacy / legal notice generatorXX
Opt-in & opt-out
Compatible CMSWordPressWordPress, Drupal, Typo3, MagentoWordPress
Test phaseXX
Price from39,00 € 132,00 €39,00 €

Final Thoughts on Borlabs Cookie

I myself already use the Borlabs Cookie plugin on several projects and I'm completely satisfied with it. For me, it's one of the best GDPR and e-privacy solutions currently available on the market. 

The plugin is only available in a premium version but the wide range of functions and the clear backend make it a worthwhile investment. 

In summary, Borlabs Cookie gives you a wealth of options to comply with all the current GDPR requirements and the upcoming ePrivacy Regulation. 

Your Questions about Borlabs Cookie

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A Comment on "Borlabs Cookie: Instructions for the Cookie Banner WordPress plugin"

  1. Hallo Elke,

    ja, wenn überhaupt keine Cookies zum Einsatz kommen, auch nicht durch eingebundene Dienste, das CMS etc., kann das der Fall sein. Das sollte man aber sehr sorgfältig überprüfen (in manchen Fällen schlagen die Online-Prüftools nicht an, oder einzelne Cookies sind nur auf bestimmten Unterseiten eingebunden) und sich ggf. noch einmal bestätigen lassen.

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