7 examples of creative cookie banners that balance compliance and user experience

First impressions count, and your cookie banner is the first thing users see when they click on your website or app. 

‍

Aside from being a legal requirement if your organization collects and uses personal data, cookie banners (also called “consent banners”) can be an opportunity to showcase your brand identity (from design to tone of voice), transparently communicate your data privacy practices, and build relationships based on trust with your customers.

‍

In this article, we share seven creative examples of how Didomi customers do it on their website. 

‍

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we aim to provide accurate and up-to-date examples of cookie banners, each situation is unique. We strongly recommend consulting with a qualified Data Protection Officer (DPO) or legal professional to ensure compliance with applicable data protection laws and regulations.

‍

Cookie banners: a marketing opportunity, after all? 

The General Data Protection Regulation came into effect in May 2018, changing the rules surrounding data collection and protection in the European Union. Since then, companies that process users’ personal data need a banner on their website asking for user permission. 

‍

More specifically, you are expected to:

‍

• Share your cookie policy: Which cookies you drop, their categories (social media or advertising, for example), the purposes they are used for, and how users can manage their settings. There is even an industry standard for this, called the Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF);
• Allow users to provide and update their preferences. Only cookies that are technically necessary for the functioning of your service can be used without consent, but others should be subject to user permission. We advise our clients not to infer consent by scrolling or using pre-ticked boxes, which can be unlawful or considered dark patterns.

‍

That’s just a (very) quick overview of the rules surrounding consent under the GDPR, and you can learn more by browsing our country-specific privacy guides from Spain to Germany, Singapore, Japan, or even U.S. states. 

‍

Beyond compliance, a consent banner should be seen as a marketing opportunity and can be leveraged accordingly if you take the time to tailor it to your business and audience. Let’s look at some tangible benefits from taking the time to do so.

‍

What are the benefits of personalized cookie banners?

There are 3 main benefits to creating and maintaining a personalized consent banner:

‍

1. Improving the user experience: Your consent banner is the front door to your website or app and your first chance to show your user what your brand is all about. You spent countless hours discussing your website design - it makes sense to integrate your cookie banner in this process.
   
2. Boosting consent rates: Many companies fear a prominent, explanatory banner might deter users from consenting to data collection. It’s actually the opposite: if your messaging is thorough, transparent, and well thought-out, users will be more likely to provide their consent.
   
3. Generating revenue: If users have a clear choice and explanation and freely consent because they like your design or values, it indicates a good foundation of trust for your brand. In turn, they are more likely to share their data with you, interact with your ads, spend more time on your website, or pay attention to your offers.

‍

Ultimately, a clear, well-thought-out, and creative cookie banner will build trust and increase your return on marketing investment. But where to begin? After agreeing on the content of your banner (we strongly advise you to do so in collaboration with your legal team), you should consider the style of banner you are looking to implement. 

‍

Which style of cookie banner format should you pick?

Once you have agreed internally on the text to be included in your cookie banner, it’s time to decide how you will display it. There are a few common styles you might go for:

‍

• Pop-up cookie banner: Immediately visible to all your visitors, this format usually performs very well in terms of engagement because it interrupts navigation. It is heavily favored in Europe.
• Cookie banners in the footer: More discrete than a pop-up, a banner in the footer often does not interrupt the flow and remains present until the user accepts or refuses the prompt.
• Cookie banner in the header: This format is more prominent and will likely garner more attention and user engagement. However, it could be perceived as impacting your website experience by taking over prime real estate at the top of your page.

‍

Every year, we crunch the numbers and publish an exhaustive study on consent collection, including the most common banner format by position. In 2024, we observed that the pop-up format remained the most popular, followed by the footer and header positions:  

Performance will be heavily impacted by these choices, along with the style of your buttons, compliance approach (opt-in, opt-out, informational, etc), and more.

‍

To learn more about consent banner position, the difference between pop-in and sticky banners, the performance of subscription cookie walls, and access proprietary data we collected from the thousands of websites Didomi is implemented on, check out our data privacy consent benchmark:

‍

{{download-the-benchmark}}

‍

Seven examples of creative cookie banners by Didomi clients  

Hopefully, we’ve convinced you why we think a Consent Management Platform (CMP) is so important and why you should spend time and energy creating a unique, personalized consent banner. 

‍

Now, it’s time to look at some live examples from our clients!‍

‍

Giphy

The animated GIF database and search engine Giphy offers a footer banner in line with the brand’s playful color theme. Simple and non-evasive, the banner provides clear choices without interrupting navigation. Look at these GIFs!

La Redoute

One of the largest sellers of women's apparel in France, La Redoute communicates transparently about its data collection on the website’s consent banner, featuring the brand logo prominently and a “continue without agreeing” option that has been prominent in France since the French DPA’s recommendation in 2020. 

Florajet

Flower home delivery company Florajet embodies its brand image with a consent banner that fits the company identity, using a playful visual to accompany its informative text.

Euronews

Euronews is a leading television news network. With this cookie banner, the organization chose a straightforward approach matching the brand's visual identity.

Veolia

Veolia is a French company that has activities in water management, waste management, and energy services in various countries. Sporting sober colors and thorough text, the cookie banner adopted by the group showcases respect for data protection guidelines, with clear legal information and an emphasis on offering choices for users.

Wamiz

Wamiz is a unique website that provides information and tips to pet lovers on caring for their four-legged friends. The organization went all-in on branding, with a very friendly (we might even say adorable) cookie banner, from the text to the visuals.

Webedia

Webedia is a company specializing in online media, active in more than twenty countries in Europe and Latin America. The group opted for a branded consent banner offering detailed information and clear choices, including a laudable visual symmetry between the “Deny” and “Agree” options.

Didomi 

Last but not least, here's our own consent banner! We opted for a pop-in format and fully integrated our branding and design. The texts explain in clear and simple terms what exactly users consent to, and provide even more details in the second layer. 

How do I create my bespoke cookie banner? 

Feeling inspired? We’d love to discuss how we can help you create a bespoke cookie banner. Compliance with data privacy laws is the first step (check out our 10 examples of GDPR-compliant cookie banners), but creativity is the added value to set your brand apart. 

‍

In short, consent banners are worth your time. They're essential for boosting your digital marketing activities' effectiveness and improving your user experience. Transparency creates trust, which will significantly impact your brand image and revenue.

‍

To discuss your data privacy challenges and get started with a unique consent banner of your own, book a call with one of our team members: 

‍

{{talk-to-an-expert}}

‍

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What's the difference between pop-up, footer, and header cookie banners?

Pop-up banners appear in the center of the screen and are most common in Europe. Footer banners appear at the bottom without interrupting browsing, while header banners occupy the top of the page for higher visibility.

‍

Does cookie banner setup affect user consent rates?

Yes. Our consent rate benchmark and case studies with customers show that well-designed, transparent banners with clear messaging typically achieve higher consent rates. 

‍

Is it legal to use pre-ticked boxes in cookie banners?

No. Pre-ticked boxes or inferring consent through scrolling are considered unlawful under GDPR and can be considered as dark patterns.

‍

Can cookie banners be fully customized to match brand identity?

Yes, depending on the CMP you use. Our CMP allows you to customize colors, fonts, positions, buttons, and text while maintaining compliance requirements.

‍

What are the different types of cookie banners based on jurisdiction?

Consent banners can follow different models depending on applicable, including opt-in (users have to consent to data collection actively), opt-out (users are opted-in by default), a mix of the two, or simple informational banners. To learn more, check out our article on the different types of consent banner formats.