Consent Management Platforms (CMPs) are used to create cookie pop-ups, manage cookies on websites, and collect and store user consent. However, CMPs differ in several key areas, including compliance, customization, customer support, ease-of-use, and pricing.

Axeptio and CookieScript are reliable consent management tools for websites and applications. Both platforms offer comprehensive tools for managing user content and staying compliant with global privacy regulations such as GDPR (EU), CPRA (California), or PIPEDA (Canada). However, there are some differences between these CMPs.

Looking for an alternative to Axeptio CMP? Let’s compare Axeptio CMP with its alternative, CookieScript. In this comparison, we’ll explore the key features, strengths, and drawbacks of Axeptio vs CookieScript to help you to choose the right CMP best suited to your needs.

Also, read the article on how to compare consent management platforms. 

Note that in 2025, CookieScript received the fourth badge in a row as the leader on G2, a peer review site, and became the best CMP on the market for a whole year! 

What is Axeptio?

Axeptio is a Consent Management Platform (CMP) that helps businesses to comply with global privacy regulations such as GDPR (EU), CPRA (California), and other privacy laws. It is used to deliver cookie banners, manage cookies, and collect user consent.

Axeptio is known for its regulatory compliance, user-friendly setup, and broad integration with popular CMS platforms like Shopify, WordPress, or Webflow.

However, Axeptio has some limitations, so users look for an alternative to this CMP.

Drawbacks of the Axeptio CMP

What are the drawbacks of Axeptio? Let’s delve deeper into the major disadvantages of the Axeptio CMP, as reported in user reviews on peer-reviewed sites.

Pricing and lack of cost transparency

Axeptio’s pricing could be too expensive, especially for small businesses. Even its cheapest plan costs €29/month/domain, while Axeptio’s alternative CookieScript offers a Lite plan for beginners just for €8/month/domain.

The Small pricing plan of Axeptio includes just basic functionalities and a limited number of pageviews per month. When there are more users, businesses need to upgrade their plans up to €129/month/domain for a large pricing plan. That could be too costly for smaller businesses.

Users are frustrated by the expensive price changes and lack of communication from Axeptio regarding their plans. Some users report extra price changes, sometimes even without prior warning.

Limited free tier

Axeptio offers a free pricing plan. However, the free plan only includes up to 200 new visitors per month, functioning basically like a trial with very limited functionalities. Going beyond that requires upgrading to a paid plan.

The free tier of Axeptio does not always save user preferences properly. In addition, it can be intrusive, with persistent pop-ups reminding users to upgrade.

Complex setup and configuration

While generally user-friendly, more advanced customization or backend configuration can be challenging, especially for less technical users. Some users find the platform’s setup and configuration to be a bit complex with a steep learning curve. Users would like to have simpler and more intuitive interface of Axeptio, particularly at setup.  

Limited customization

Although it offers some design flexibility, users report limitations in customization, especially when adding multiple languages or adapting for deeper functionality.

Users find a lack of guidance for beginners in Axeptio, so the initial setup of the platform could be challenging.

Limited integrations

Axeptio might not offer as many pre-built integrations with third-party tools compared to other CMPs.

Branding Fit

Axeptio uses playful, cartoon-style Cookie Consent banners. Such UI may not suit more formal or serious brands, used in legal services, healthcare, finance, etc.

Scan your website for free with a CookieScript Cookie Scanner to find all cookies and other web trackers in use:

Advantages of CookieScript vs Axeptio

CookieScript, an alternative to Axeptio, does not have the above-mentioned limitations and also offers additional handy features.

CookieScript CMP provides compliance with the following data privacy laws:

• GDPR and eprivacy Directive (EU Cookie Law)
• PIPL (China)
• PIPEDA (Canada)
• POPIA (South Africa)
• LGPD (Brasil)
• KVKK (Turkey) 
• PDPL (Vietnam)
• CTDPA (Connecticut, USA) 
• NDPA (Nebraska)
• CCPA (California)
• TDPSA (Texas), and many others.

Basic features and automation

CookieScript provides essential features for Cookie Consent management such as:

• Cookie banner
• Cookie policy
• Cookie Scanner
• Cookie banner customization
• Consent recordings
• GTM template
• Language support
• Third-party cookie blocking, and others.  

CookieScript CMP also offers many automation solutions and integrations, including:

• Integrations with CMS platforms like WordPress, Shopify, PrestaShop, Joomla, etc.
• Google Consent Mode v2 integration
• IAB TCF v2.2 integration
• Google Tag Manager integration
• Certification by Google
• CookieScript API

Note, that CookieScript is a Google-certified CMP Partner with Gold Status, reflecting their high standards in Cookie Consent management. CookieScript was one of the first Google CMP Partners to receive the golden tier in a new Google tiering system.

CookieScript also offers many features that other CMPs are missing, including:

• Geo-targeting 
  geo-targeting ensures that the right consent banner appears based on the user’s location and applicable regulations, ensuring compliance with many privacy laws. This is a valuable feature for websites that have users from many countries with different jurisdictions. CookieScript geo-targeting feature is available for 250 countries and 50 US states.
• Local storage and session storage 
  Besides cookies, CookieScript also scans for local storage and session storage and blocks them until users provide consent. CMPs need to scan for local storage and session storage to fully comply with the GDPR. However, not all CMPs are able to detect them. CookieScript Cookie Scanner scans for local storage and session storage and list them on the cookie declaration report.
• Self-hosted code 
  CookieScript, differently from other CMPs, offers the self-hosted code of your Cookie Banner. You can download your generated JavaScript files, edit them, and host them on your servers. For some websites, it could be faster to store JavaScript files on their own server.
• Cookie banner sharing 
  CookieScript allows you to share your banners with multiple users, providing flexibility and collaboration options. It is a requested functionality for web agencies that have many customers. Web agencies can select between read-only vs full-access Cookie Banner sharing, Moreover, it is possible to share a banner with any user, even if the one does not have an account at CookieScript.
• Cross-domain cookie consent sharing 
  CookieScript enables both sub-domain and cross-domain Cookie Consent sharing. Cross-domain consent allows website owners to store Cookie Consent settings from a single user across multiple domains. Website visitors will only see a Cookie Banner on their first visit to a website and will not see the banner on subsequent visits to that site or other linked sites.
• CookieScript API
  The CookieScript API allows you to customize the behavior of cookie banners, manage cookie consent and scans, retrieve and update cookie declarations, and control individual cookies automatically.

Pricing Comparison of CookieScript vs Axeptio

CookieScript pricing plans start with as little as €8/month/domain for the entry-level (Lite Plan). The Plus pricing plan, including all features, costs just €19/month/domain.

CookieScript also has a FREE pricing plan and a free trial of the Plus plan.

In addition, it offers one extra domain for free.

The Axeptio pricing plans are much more expensive. The Large pricing plan of Axeptio, covering all features, costs €129/month/ domain.

Comparison of CookieScript vs Axeptio pricing plans.

An Overview of Feature Comparison of Usercentrics vs CookieScript

Is CookieScript a Good Alternative to Axeptio?

Axeptio and CookieScript CMPs offer customizable cookie consent solutions, helping businesses comply with privacy regulations. Both CMPs provide user-friendly consent banners, consent tracking, and reporting features.

However, the CookieScript CMP is a better alternative to Axeptio in several aspects.

CookieScript does not have the drawbacks that Axeptio has, such as expensive pricing, a limited free tier, complex setup and configuration, and limited customization, integration, and branding options.   

CookieScript has valuable extra features, including the self-hosted code of your cookie banner, cookie banner sharing, cross-domain cookie consent sharing, and the ability to scan local storage and session storage.

CookieScript also offers a full compliance solution, a simple setup, and many integration with Google products and CMS platforms.

Ultimately, CookieScript offers one of the best pricing plans on the market, starting with just €8 /month/domain for the entry-level (Lite Plan). The Plus pricing plan includes all features and costs €19 /month/domain. It is best suited for small and medium-sized companies.

CookieScript also has a FREE pricing plan and a free trial of the Plus plan. 

CookieScript CMP is evaluated by users on peer-review sites better. In 2024, CookieScript CMP was ranked by users on G2 as the best CMP for small and medium-sized companies.

In conclusion, CookieScript is a strong alternative to Axeptio for cookie consent management.

How to Switch Your Cookie Banner from Axeptio to CookieScript? 

You can easily migrate from Axeptio to CookieScript CMP by following these steps:

1. Register for free at CookieScript.
2. Create a new banner. 
3. Remove Axeptio scripts from your website.
4. Install the CookieScript cookie banner on your website. 

For more information, refer to CookieScript detailed set-up guide.

Done! Now you can enjoy all the benefits of CookieScript CMP!

You can also get a 14-day free trial.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best alternative to Axeptio?

CookieScript could be a good alternative to Axeptio. CookieScript does not have the limitations of Axeptio and offers more advanced features such as geo-targeting, auto-blocking of third-party scripts, self-hosted code, cookie banner sharing, cross-domain cookie consent sharing, and local storage and session storage detection. CookieScript also offers better integration, robust API integration, and better pricing than Axeptio. In 2024, users ranked CookieScript CMP on G2 as the best CMP.

What are the advantages of CookieScript over Axeptio?

CookieScript has an easier setup and configuration, a free trial for two weeks, an unlimited free plan, and instant support via chat or email. CookieScript offers more advanced features such asgeo-targeting, auto-blocking of third-party scripts, self-hosted code, cookie banner sharing, cross-domain cookie consent sharing, and local storage and session storage detection. It also offers better customization options and better integration with CMS platforms. Lastly, CookieScript offers better pricing than Axeptio.

How much does Axeptio cost?

The most advanced Axeptio pricing plan (Large), covering all features, costs 129 €/per month/domain. CookieScript, an alternative to Axeptio, offers more advanced features and better integration, and costs just 19 €/per month/domain with the Plus pricing plan.

What are Axeptio alternatives’ pricing?

CookieScript, one of the best alternatives to Axeptio, offers a free pricing plan with basic features for small websites. The CookieScript Plus pricing plan with a full set of features costs just 19 €/per month/domain, while the Axeptio pricing plan, covering all features, costs 129 €/per month/domain. CookieScript also offers a 14-day free trial of a Plus pricing plan, which includes all CMP functionalities.

How to install Axeptio?

Like other consent management platforms, Axeptio could be installed by adding its script to your website's code. However, for some CMS, you need to install them manually. CookieScript, an alternative to Axeptio, offers a wide range of automated CMS integrations that allow compliance with major privacy laws. CookieScript also offers better pricing plans than Axeptio.

Does Axeptio have a free CMP version?

Axeptio offers a free pricing plan with just a limited set of options, which only includes up to 200 new visitors per month, functioning basically like a trial with limited functionalities. For full features and compliance, you’ll need a paid version. The Large pricing plan of Axeptio with all features costs 129€/per month/domain. Axeptio’s alternative CookieScript offers a Plus pricing plan for just €19/month/domain, which includes all features for full compliance.