Comparison

Cookiebot consent management and runtime testing

Cookiebot helps present consent choices and publish a cookie declaration. CertScore.ai records what cookies and requests appeared in a particular public browser visit, including their timing around a choice when evidence is available.

By CertScore.ai · Updated September 27, 2026

Run a free website behavior scan

Scan cookies, trackers, CMPs, consent, privacy policy, GDPR, CCPA, TLS, accessibility, and other public-web risk signals.

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What each tool answers

Cookiebot provides a consent banner, cookie scanning, and a declaration that can list each cookie's name, provider, purpose, and expiration. Those are useful for informing visitors and managing choices.

CertScore.ai answers a narrower measurement question: which cookies, storage entries, and third-party requests appeared during this visit, and when relative to the recorded consent state? It does not operate the consent banner.

Primary sources:Cookiebot's cookie scripts and declaration

A practical declaration check

If a team updates a tag manager or adds an embed, open a fresh scan from the relevant region. Compare the retained pre-choice cookie names and request destinations with the site's current Cookiebot declaration and configured categories.

A difference is a question for the site owner to investigate. One automated visit cannot prove that a declaration is complete or that a legal requirement was breached.

Read the action evidence separately

On eligible scans, Accept and Reject use separate sessions. A completed click, confirmed choice, and after-action activity are distinct facts. Accept is an ordinary score-neutral comparison; limited coverage is not a clean result.

For a confirmed refusal, inspect any qualifying later requests alongside timing and attribution limits. Separately verified tracking after a completed Reject click can be a review signal even when registration was not confirmed.

Sample JSON

Sample finding JSON from scans

Supporting JSON examples for the finding types discussed on this page. Each example identifies its source; examples do not describe the website you are reviewing.

Non-essential analytics initiated before a recorded affirmative choice

pre_consent_tracking_detected

Illustrative public evidence sample

{
  "example_type": "positive",
  "domain": "example.com",
  "requested_url": "https://example.com/",
  "final_url": "https://example.com/",
  "created_at": "2026-05-18T18:20:10.442Z",
  "scanned_at": "2026-05-18T18:20:18.912Z",
  "finding_id": "pre_consent_tracking_detected",
  "finding_label": "Non-essential analytics initiated before a recorded affirmative choice",
  "section": "Privacy & Tracking",
  "evidenceConfidence": "strong",
  "directVsInferred": "direct_observation",
  "evidence": {
    "counts": {
      "firstRequestMs": 1137,
      "firstThirdPartyRequestMs": 3405,
      "firstCookieSeenMs": 3468,
      "total_cookie_count": 3,
      "total_vendor_count": 2,
      "total_request_count": 12,
      "total_tracker_count": 1,
      "third_party_cookie_count": 0,
      "third_party_request_count": 2,
      "preConsentTrackingRequestCount": 1,
      "preConsentTrackingSignalCount": 2
    },
    "evidence_snippets": [
      "Example Tag Manager",
      "Example Analytics",
      "tagmanager.example",
      "analytics.example",
      "script_host:tagmanager.example",
      "request:https://analytics.example/g/collect [query_redacted=true]",
      "cookie:_ga [value_redacted=true]"
    ],
    "vendors": [
      "Example Tag Manager",
      "Example Analytics"
    ],
    "request_domains": [
      "tagmanager.example",
      "analytics.example"
    ],
    "request_samples": [
      {
        "artifactRef": "req_001",
        "role": "supporting_context_only",
        "origin": "https://tagmanager.example",
        "path": "/gtm.js",
        "queryRedacted": true,
        "timestampMs": 1137
      },
      {
        "artifactRef": "req_002",
        "role": "finding_supporting_artifact",
        "origin": "https://analytics.example",
        "path": "/g/collect",
        "queryRedacted": true,
        "timestampMs": 3405,
        "essentiality": "non_essential",
        "purposeCategory": "analytics_measurement"
      }
    ],
    "cookie_samples": [
      {
        "artifactRef": "storage_001",
        "role": "finding_supporting_artifact",
        "name": "_ga",
        "valueRedacted": true,
        "timestampMs": 3468,
        "essentiality": "non_essential",
        "purposeCategory": "analytics_identifier"
      }
    ],
    "consent_summary": {
      "cmp_vendor": "Example CMP",
      "preconsent_tracking_detected": true,
      "banner_present": true,
      "consent_state_observed": "no_choice_observed",
      "consent_action_observed_before_first_signal": false,
      "observed_prior_consent_state_for_purpose": false
    },
    "fingerprinting_or_device_signals": {
      "fingerprinting_vendor_detected": false,
      "device_signal_vendor_detected": null
    },
    "runtime_anchors": [
      "req_002:https://analytics.example/g/collect [query_redacted=true]",
      "storage_001:_ga [value_redacted=true]"
    ]
  },
  "coverage_flags": [],
  "known_limitations": [
    "Illustrative public sample with redacted query strings and cookie values.",
    "Review consent state, vendor purpose, regional configuration, and exemptions before taking action."
  ],
  "selection_reason": "Illustrative public sample with consent timeline, classified non-essential runtime anchors, and usable coverage.",
  "evidenceVersion": "2.0",
  "scanContext": {
    "domain": "example.com",
    "requestedUrl": "https://example.com/",
    "finalUrl": "https://example.com/",
    "publicWebObservation": true,
    "legalConclusion": false
  },
  "artifacts": {
    "runtimeAnchors": [
      "req_002:https://analytics.example/g/collect [query_redacted=true]",
      "storage_001:_ga [value_redacted=true]"
    ],
    "requestSamples": [
      {
        "artifactRef": "req_001",
        "role": "supporting_context_only",
        "origin": "https://tagmanager.example",
        "path": "/gtm.js",
        "queryRedacted": true,
        "timestampMs": 1137
      },
      {
        "artifactRef": "req_002",
        "role": "finding_supporting_artifact",
        "origin": "https://analytics.example",
        "path": "/g/collect",
        "queryRedacted": true,
        "timestampMs": 3405,
        "essentiality": "non_essential",
        "purposeCategory": "analytics_measurement"
      }
    ],
    "cookieOrStorageSamples": [
      {
        "artifactRef": "storage_001",
        "role": "finding_supporting_artifact",
        "name": "_ga",
        "valueRedacted": true,
        "timestampMs": 3468,
        "essentiality": "non_essential",
        "purposeCategory": "analytics_identifier"
      }
    ],
    "policyAnchors": [],
    "rawValuesRetained": false
  },
  "classification": {
    "section": "Privacy & Tracking",
    "criticality": "review",
    "evidenceConfidence": "strong",
    "directVsInferred": "direct_observation",
    "legalStatusDetermined": false
  },
  "coverage": {
    "coverageFlags": [],
    "coverageReliableForTopRanking": true,
    "notDetectedMeans": "not_observed_in_scan_scope",
    "manualReviewNeeded": true
  },
  "topFindingCalibration": {
    "minimumToSurface": [
      "Classified non-essential request/storage before observed consent."
    ],
    "highConfidenceRequires": [
      "Usable coverage.",
      "Purpose classification.",
      "Runtime anchor."
    ],
    "criticalOrTopRankingRequires": [
      "Advertising/replay/identifier-sync or sensitive-surface context."
    ],
    "demoteOrSuppressWhen": [
      "Tag manager only.",
      "Strict necessity.",
      "Blocked scan.",
      "Unreliable timing."
    ]
  },
  "automationLimits": [
    "Automated public-web observations do not determine legal status, compliance status, proof that a law was breached, proof of data capture, or tracking lawfulness.",
    "Manual review is needed to confirm purpose, necessity, jurisdiction, configuration, exemptions, and remediation quality."
  ],
  "redaction": {
    "rawIdentifiersRetained": false,
    "storageValueContentsRetained": false,
    "completeQueryStringsRetained": false,
    "requestBodiesRetained": false,
    "renderedPageImagesRetained": false,
    "sourceMarkupRetained": false,
    "userEnteredValuesRetained": false
  },
  "selectionReason": "Illustrative public sample with consent timeline, classified non-essential runtime anchors, and usable coverage.",
  "consentTimeline": {
    "firstRequestMs": 1137,
    "firstThirdPartyRequestMs": 3405,
    "firstCookieSeenMs": 3468,
    "consentActionObservedBeforeFirstSignal": false,
    "consentStateBasis": "observed_scan_scope",
    "manualReviewNeeded": true
  },
  "networkEvidence": {
    "artifactRefs": [
      {
        "artifactRef": "req_001",
        "role": "supporting_context_only",
        "origin": "https://tagmanager.example",
        "path": "/gtm.js",
        "queryRedacted": true,
        "timestampMs": 1137
      },
      {
        "artifactRef": "req_002",
        "role": "finding_supporting_artifact",
        "origin": "https://analytics.example",
        "path": "/g/collect",
        "queryRedacted": true,
        "timestampMs": 3405,
        "essentiality": "non_essential",
        "purposeCategory": "analytics_measurement"
      }
    ],
    "cookieOrStorageArtifacts": [
      {
        "artifactRef": "storage_001",
        "role": "finding_supporting_artifact",
        "name": "_ga",
        "valueRedacted": true,
        "timestampMs": 3468,
        "essentiality": "non_essential",
        "purposeCategory": "analytics_identifier"
      }
    ],
    "vendorCategory": "Example Tag Manager",
    "queryStringsRedacted": true,
    "valuesRedacted": true,
    "manualReviewNeeded": true
  }
}

Non-essential tracking continued after reject

reject_tracking_persists_after_reject

Illustrative public evidence sample

{
  "finding_id": "reject_tracking_persists_after_reject",
  "finding_label": "Non-essential tracking continued after reject",
  "category": "Consent / tracking",
  "criticality": "high",
  "evidenceConfidence": "good",
  "directVsInferred": "direct_observation",
  "observed": "Retained runtime evidence confirmed a refusal-state transition followed by classified non-essential request or storage activity in the observed scan scope.",
  "evidence": {
    "summary": "Retained runtime evidence confirmed a refusal-state transition followed by classified non-essential request or storage activity in the observed scan scope.",
    "examples": [
      {
        "title": "Post-reject runtime artifact",
        "lines": [
          "artifact=req_002",
          "role=finding_supporting_artifact",
          "url=https://example.com/",
          "reject_action_timestamp_ms=2600",
          "reject_action_observed=true",
          "post_reject_request_timestamp_ms=4120",
          "request_origin=https://analytics.example",
          "request_path=/collect [query_redacted=true]",
          "vendor_category=analytics",
          "essentiality=non_essential",
          "review_caveat=manual review should confirm reject success, queued-beacon timing, purpose, necessity, and CMP/vendor configuration"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "automationLimits": [
      "Automated evidence may not fully determine reject success, queued beacons, vendor responsibility, consent validity, or legal status.",
      "Manual review is needed to confirm timing, purpose, CMP propagation, and remediation quality."
    ]
  },
  "evidenceVersion": "2.0",
  "scanContext": {
    "domain": "example.com",
    "requestedUrl": "https://example.com/",
    "finalUrl": "https://example.com/",
    "publicWebObservation": true,
    "legalConclusion": false
  },
  "artifacts": {
    "runtimeAnchors": [],
    "requestSamples": [],
    "cookieOrStorageSamples": [],
    "policyAnchors": [],
    "rawValuesRetained": false
  },
  "classification": {
    "section": "Review signal",
    "criticality": "high",
    "evidenceConfidence": "good",
    "directVsInferred": "direct_observation",
    "legalStatusDetermined": false
  },
  "coverage": {
    "coverageFlags": [],
    "coverageReliableForTopRanking": true,
    "notDetectedMeans": "not_observed_in_scan_scope",
    "manualReviewNeeded": true
  },
  "topFindingCalibration": {
    "minimumToSurface": [
      "Reject interaction plus post-reject classified non-essential request/storage."
    ],
    "highConfidenceRequires": [
      "Reject success.",
      "Pre/post sequence.",
      "Artifact classification."
    ],
    "criticalOrTopRankingRequires": [
      "Post-reject advertising/replay/identifier sync or repeated post-reject artifacts."
    ],
    "demoteOrSuppressWhen": [
      "Reject button present but not clicked.",
      "Unknown essentiality.",
      "Queued pre-reject beacon likely."
    ]
  },
  "automationLimits": [
    "Automated public-web observations do not determine legal status, compliance status, proof that a law was breached, proof of data capture, or tracking lawfulness.",
    "Manual review is needed to confirm purpose, necessity, jurisdiction, configuration, exemptions, and remediation quality."
  ],
  "redaction": {
    "rawIdentifiersRetained": false,
    "storageValueContentsRetained": false,
    "completeQueryStringsRetained": false,
    "requestBodiesRetained": false,
    "renderedPageImagesRetained": false,
    "sourceMarkupRetained": false,
    "userEnteredValuesRetained": false
  },
  "selectionReason": "Illustrative public sample selected to show retained evidence, directness, limits, and top-finding calibration.",
  "consentTimeline": {
    "firstRequestMs": null,
    "firstThirdPartyRequestMs": null,
    "firstCookieSeenMs": null,
    "consentActionObservedBeforeFirstSignal": false,
    "consentStateBasis": "observed_scan_scope",
    "manualReviewNeeded": true
  },
  "networkEvidence": {
    "artifactRefs": [],
    "cookieOrStorageArtifacts": [],
    "vendorCategory": "manual_review_recommended",
    "queryStringsRedacted": true,
    "valuesRedacted": true,
    "manualReviewNeeded": true
  }
}

Third-party cookie or storage observed before consent

third_party_cookie_pre_consent

Illustrative public evidence sample

{
  "finding_id": "third_party_cookie_pre_consent",
  "finding_label": "Third-party cookie or storage observed before consent",
  "category": "Cookies",
  "criticality": "high",
  "evidenceConfidence": "review_signal",
  "directVsInferred": "direct_observation",
  "observed": "Retained runtime evidence showed a third-party cookie or storage artifact observed before CertScore.ai recorded a consent action or a prior consent state associated with that purpose.",
  "evidence": {
    "summary": "Retained runtime evidence showed a third-party cookie or storage artifact observed before CertScore.ai recorded a consent action or a prior consent state associated with that purpose.",
    "examples": [
      {
        "title": "Third-party cookie timing example",
        "lines": [
          "artifact=storage_001",
          "role=finding_supporting_artifact",
          "url=https://example.com/",
          "type=cookie_observed",
          "cookie_name=example_id",
          "value_redacted=true",
          "cookie_domain=.ads.example",
          "cookie_scope=third_party",
          "first_seen_ms=1840",
          "consent_action_observed_before_first_seen=false",
          "prior_consent_state_for_purpose=false",
          "purpose_category=advertising_or_measurement [manual_review_recommended]"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "automationLimits": [
      "Automated storage evidence may not determine purpose, necessity, exemption status, or legal status.",
      "Manual review is needed to confirm cookie purpose, consent state, regional configuration, and remediation quality."
    ]
  },
  "evidenceVersion": "2.0",
  "scanContext": {
    "domain": "example.com",
    "requestedUrl": "https://example.com/",
    "finalUrl": "https://example.com/",
    "publicWebObservation": true,
    "legalConclusion": false
  },
  "artifacts": {
    "runtimeAnchors": [],
    "requestSamples": [],
    "cookieOrStorageSamples": [],
    "policyAnchors": [],
    "rawValuesRetained": false
  },
  "classification": {
    "section": "Review signal",
    "criticality": "high",
    "evidenceConfidence": "review_signal",
    "directVsInferred": "direct_observation",
    "legalStatusDetermined": false
  },
  "coverage": {
    "coverageFlags": [],
    "coverageReliableForTopRanking": true,
    "notDetectedMeans": "not_observed_in_scan_scope",
    "manualReviewNeeded": true
  },
  "topFindingCalibration": {
    "minimumToSurface": [
      "Third-party cookie/storage artifact before consent."
    ],
    "highConfidenceRequires": [
      "Domain/scope/timing plus purpose or vendor classification."
    ],
    "criticalOrTopRankingRequires": [
      "Advertising/identity/sync persistent storage or repeated pages."
    ],
    "demoteOrSuppressWhen": [
      "Request only.",
      "Cookie name only.",
      "Unknown timing.",
      "Blocked scan."
    ]
  },
  "automationLimits": [
    "Automated public-web observations do not determine legal status, compliance status, proof that a law was breached, proof of data capture, or tracking lawfulness.",
    "Manual review is needed to confirm purpose, necessity, jurisdiction, configuration, exemptions, and remediation quality."
  ],
  "redaction": {
    "rawIdentifiersRetained": false,
    "storageValueContentsRetained": false,
    "completeQueryStringsRetained": false,
    "requestBodiesRetained": false,
    "renderedPageImagesRetained": false,
    "sourceMarkupRetained": false,
    "userEnteredValuesRetained": false
  },
  "selectionReason": "Illustrative public sample selected to show retained evidence, directness, limits, and top-finding calibration.",
  "consentTimeline": {
    "firstRequestMs": null,
    "firstThirdPartyRequestMs": null,
    "firstCookieSeenMs": null,
    "consentActionObservedBeforeFirstSignal": false,
    "consentStateBasis": "observed_scan_scope",
    "manualReviewNeeded": true
  },
  "networkEvidence": {
    "artifactRefs": [],
    "cookieOrStorageArtifacts": [],
    "vendorCategory": "manual_review_recommended",
    "queryStringsRedacted": true,
    "valuesRedacted": true,
    "manualReviewNeeded": true
  }
}

Related CertScore.ai pages

CMP vs runtime scanner CMP verification Third-party cookie checker Pre-consent tracking detection Annotated retained report

Run a free website behavior scan

Scan cookies, trackers, CMPs, consent, privacy policy, GDPR, CCPA, TLS, accessibility, and other public-web risk signals.

Run a scan

CertScore.ai automated findings may contain errors. Always review the underlying evidence. CertScore.ai does not provide legal advice, certification, or compliance determinations.