{"id":5795,"date":"2026-07-01T05:19:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T12:19:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clone.surecookie.com\/docs\/consent-models-explained-opt-in-vs-opt-out\/"},"modified":"2026-07-09T23:56:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T06:56:50","slug":"consent-models-explained-opt-in-vs-opt-out","status":"publish","type":"docs","link":"https:\/\/clone.surecookie.com\/de\/docs\/consent-models-explained-opt-in-vs-opt-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Consent Models Explained (Opt-in vs Opt-out)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Privacy laws take two broad approaches to cookie consent: <strong>opt-in<\/strong> and <strong>opt-out<\/strong>. The model you use decides one important thing: whether non-essential cookies are allowed to run <em>before<\/em> a visitor makes a choice. It also shapes what your banner asks people to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In short, opt-in means &#8220;ask first, load nothing extra until they agree,&#8221; and opt-out means &#8220;load by default, but give people a clear way to say no.&#8221; This article explains both, which laws map to each, how they change your banner, and how SureCookie applies them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"opt-in-gdpr\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Opt-in (GDPR)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Opt-in is the stricter model, required by the EU and EEA&#8217;s <strong>GDPR<\/strong> and by the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Non-essential cookies (analytics, marketing, and similar) stay <strong>blocked until the visitor explicitly agrees<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>On a first visit, nothing non-essential runs until the visitor chooses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The banner gives full control: <strong>Accept All<\/strong>, <strong>Only Essential<\/strong>, <strong>Preferences<\/strong> (granular, per-category choices), and <strong>Decline<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Declining means only essential cookies run.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is SureCookie&#8217;s default model, and it&#8217;s a safe baseline anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"opt-in-gdpr\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Opt-out (CCPA\/CPRA)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Opt-out is used by laws such as California&#8217;s <strong>CCPA\/CPRA<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Non-essential cookies may <strong>run by default<\/strong>, and the visitor can opt out at any time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The banner focuses on giving people a clear way to say no, with <strong>Accept<\/strong> and <strong>Decline<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Because nothing is blocked up front, there&#8217;s no need for a granular preferences step, so the banner doesn&#8217;t show the Preferences modal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"opt-in-gdpr\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How the Banner Differs by Model<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Behavior<\/th><th>Opt-in (GDPR)<\/th><th>Opt-out (CCPA\/CPRA)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Non-essential cookies before a choice<\/td><td>Blocked<\/td><td>Allowed<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Banner buttons<\/td><td>Accept All, Only Essential, Preferences, Decline<\/td><td>Accept, Decline<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Granular preferences modal<\/td><td>Shown<\/td><td>Not shown<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Typically required for<\/td><td>EU, EEA, UK<\/td><td>California, and similar US states<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-surecookie-applies-a-consent-model\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How SureCookie Applies a Consent Model<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By default, SureCookie uses the <strong>opt-in<\/strong> model for every visitor, the safest, GDPR-aligned choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To serve different regions differently, use <strong>Geographic Targeting<\/strong>, a <strong>SureCookie Pro<\/strong> feature. It lets you show the banner and apply the right consent experience based on each visitor&#8217;s location, for example opt-in for EU visitors and opt-out for California visitors. Location is detected using GeoLite2 data from MaxMind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to <strong>SureCookie \u2192 Settings \u2192 Compliance \u2192 Geographic Targeting<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep <strong>Show to all visitors worldwide<\/strong> to apply one experience everywhere (the free option).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose <strong>Show only where required by law<\/strong> to target specific regions with tailored consent experiences (Pro).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure data-spectra-id=\"spectra-mr21z38p-9ey9v0\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"648\" src=\"https:\/\/clone.surecookie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/consent-models-geographic-targeting-rules-1024x648.png\" alt=\"Geographic targeting settings in WordPress\" class=\"wp-image-5798\" title=\"Consent Models Explained (Opt-in vs Opt-out)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clone.surecookie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/consent-models-geographic-targeting-rules-1024x648.png 1024w, https:\/\/clone.surecookie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/consent-models-geographic-targeting-rules-300x190.png 300w, https:\/\/clone.surecookie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/consent-models-geographic-targeting-rules-768x486.png 768w, https:\/\/clone.surecookie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/consent-models-geographic-targeting-rules-1536x972.png 1536w, https:\/\/clone.surecookie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/consent-models-geographic-targeting-rules-2048x1296.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SureCookie also reports the active model to the WordPress Consent API, so other consent-aware plugins on your site behave consistently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"which-model-should-you-use\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which Model Should You Use?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Serving EU, EEA, or UK visitors?<\/strong> Use opt-in. It&#8217;s the default and the strictest, safest baseline.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Audience mainly in opt-out regions<\/strong> like California? An opt-out model can fit, though opt-in is always acceptable as the stricter choice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Serving both?<\/strong> Use Geographic Targeting (Pro) to apply each region&#8217;s model automatically, so every visitor sees the model their law expects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Important:<\/strong> The right model depends on where your visitors are and which laws apply to you. SureCookie provides the technical controls; confirm your legal obligations with a qualified professional before deciding.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"which-model-should-you-use\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Next Steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To adjust the banner text and buttons visitors see, see <em><a href=\"https:\/\/clone.surecookie.com\/de\/docs\/customizing-banner-content\/\" data-type=\"docs\" data-id=\"3795\">Customizing Banner Content<\/a><\/em>. To pass consent signals to Google, see <a href=\"https:\/\/clone.surecookie.com\/de\/docs\/setting-up-google-consent-mode-v2\/\" data-type=\"docs\" data-id=\"5741\"><em>Setting Up Google Consent Mode v2<\/em>.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Opt-in and opt-out are the two ways privacy laws handle cookie consent. 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