Frequently Asked Questions

What is PureDevs GDPR Compliance?

PureDevs GDPR Compliance is a free WordPress plugin that helps website owners meet GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) requirements by managing cookie consent and user data handling. It displays cookie consent banners, manages user preferences, and provides tools for data requests.

Is this plugin really free?

Yes! PureDevs GDPR Compliance is completely free and available on WordPress.org. It includes all features with no paid upgrades or premium versions. You get the full functionality at no cost.

Does this plugin guarantee GDPR compliance?

No. While this plugin facilitates GDPR compliance requirements, it does not guarantee legal compliance. Website owners remain responsible for meeting all applicable regulations. The plugin is a tool to help you comply, but you should:

• Properly configure the plugin settings
• Create appropriate privacy policy
• Implement proper cookie handling
• Consider consulting legal professionals

Who needs this plugin?

This plugin is essential for WordPress sites that:

• Use cookies (analytics, tracking, advertising)
• Have visitors from EU countries
• Collect user data through forms
• Run e-commerce stores
• Use third-party services (Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, etc.)
• Want to demonstrate privacy compliance

What does GDPR stand for?

GDPR stands for General Data Protection Regulation. It’s a comprehensive privacy law enacted by the European Union in 2018 that regulates how personal data of EU citizens is collected, processed, and stored. It applies to any website with EU visitors, regardless of where the website is located.

What features does the plugin include?

Key features include:

• Customizable cookie consent banner (popup, top, or bottom)
• Cookie category management (strictly necessary, additional, third-party, required)
• Geo-location targeting (show banner to specific countries)
• Granular cookie controls for users
• Floating button for changing preferences
• Full customization (colors, text, styling)
• Export/import settings
• Consent logging
• Privacy policy integration
• Multiple banner display styles

Does it support Google Analytics?

Yes. The plugin can work with Google Analytics and other tracking services. However, you need to implement proper cookie consent checking in your tracking code to only load analytics after users give consent. This can be done through:

• Plugin hooks and filters
• Google Tag Manager consent mode
• Conditional script loading

See the developer documentation for implementation details.

Can users change their cookie preferences?

Yes! GDPR requires that users can withdraw consent as easily as they gave it. The plugin provides:

• Floating button that’s always accessible
• Option to add footer link
• Shortcodes for adding preference links anywhere
• Easy-to-use preference panel

Does it block cookies before consent?

The plugin shows the cookie consent banner, but you must implement cookie blocking in your code. This means:

• The plugin manages consent collection and storage
• You need to check consent status before loading tracking scripts
• Use provided hooks/filters to conditionally load scripts
• Or use Google Tag Manager with consent mode

See the developer documentation for implementation examples.

Can I customize the banner appearance?

Absolutely! The plugin offers extensive customization:

• Banner position (top, bottom, popup)
• Colors (background, text, buttons)
• Text content and messaging
• Button labels and colors
• Font sizes and styles
• Opacity and transparency
• Animation effects
• Custom CSS for advanced styling

What are the system requirements?

• WordPress: Version 3.5 or higher
• PHP: Version 5.6 or higher (7.4+ recommended)
• MySQL: Version 5.6 or higher
• HTTPS: SSL certificate recommended

The plugin has been tested up to WordPress 6.8.3.

Is it compatible with my theme?

Yes. The plugin works with any properly coded WordPress theme. It uses standard WordPress hooks and outputs clean HTML/CSS/JS. If you experience theme-specific issues:

• Test with a default WordPress theme first
• Contact theme developer about compatibility
• Report conflicts on support forum

Will it slow down my website?

No. The plugin is designed to be lightweight:

• Minimal JavaScript and CSS
• Efficient database queries
• No external API calls (except optional geo-location)
• Loads only on pages where needed
• Compatible with caching plugins

The performance impact is negligible for most websites.

Does it work with page builders?

Yes. The plugin works with popular page builders:

• Elementor
• Beaver Builder
• Divi Builder
• WPBakery Page Builder
• Gutenberg (Block Editor)

If you experience issues with a specific page builder, report it on the support forum.

Is it compatible with WooCommerce?

Yes! The plugin works perfectly with WooCommerce. It’s especially important for e-commerce sites that:

• Use tracking pixels (Facebook, Google Ads)
• Collect customer data
• Store shopping cart cookies
• Use analytics for conversion tracking

Does it support multisite?

Yes. The plugin is fully compatible with WordPress Multisite installations. You can:

• Network activate for all sites
• Or activate individually per site
• Each subsite has independent settings
• Use export/import to standardize across network

How long does setup take?

Basic setup takes about 5 minutes:

1. Install and activate plugin (2 minutes)
2. Enable cookie consent (30 seconds)
3. Customize banner text (1 minute)
4. Link privacy policy (30 seconds)
5. Test functionality (1 minute)

Advanced customization (colors, categories, geo-targeting) can take 15-30 additional minutes.

Do I need to configure every setting?

No. The plugin comes with sensible defaults. Minimum configuration:

• Enable cookie consent
• Review banner message
• Add privacy policy link

Everything else is optional and can be customized as needed.

Can I use it for non-EU visitors?

Yes! While GDPR is an EU regulation, many websites show cookie banners globally for:

• Consistent user experience
• Compliance with other privacy laws (CCPA, LGPD, PIPEDA)
• Best practice privacy transparency

You can also use geo-targeting to show banner only to EU visitors if preferred.

How do I know which cookies to list?

To identify cookies your site uses:

1. Open browser Developer Tools (F12)
2. Go to Application/Storage → Cookies
3. View all cookies for your domain
4. Check documentation for plugins/services you use
5. Use online cookie scanner tools

Categorize based on purpose: essential, analytics, marketing, etc.

Does using this plugin make my site GDPR compliant?

The plugin helps with compliance but doesn’t guarantee it. For full GDPR compliance, you also need:

• Comprehensive privacy policy
• Proper data handling procedures
• Data processing agreements with vendors
• Security measures for data protection
• Processes for data subject requests
• Legal review of compliance measures

Consider consulting privacy lawyers or compliance experts.

What privacy laws does this cover?

The plugin helps with multiple privacy regulations:

• GDPR: EU General Data Protection Regulation
• ePrivacy: EU Cookie Law
• UK GDPR: Post-Brexit UK data protection
• CCPA: California Consumer Privacy Act (partial)
• LGPD: Brazil’s data protection law (partial)
• PIPEDA: Canada’s privacy law (partial)

Specific requirements vary by jurisdiction.

Do I need a privacy policy?

Yes! GDPR requires a privacy policy that:

• Explains what data you collect
• States how you use the data
• Lists third parties you share with
• Describes user rights
• Provides contact information

WordPress includes a privacy policy generator under Settings → Privacy.

What happens if users decline cookies?

Users who decline should:

• Still have access to your content (don’t block access)
• Not have tracking cookies set
• Have their preference respected
• Be able to change their mind later

Your site must function without non-essential cookies.

Can I use pre-ticked boxes?

No! Under GDPR:

• Consent must be freely given
• Checkboxes must default to unchecked
• Users must actively opt-in
• Silence/inactivity is not consent

The plugin defaults all optional cookies to unchecked, which is GDPR-compliant.

How does geo-location targeting work?

The plugin can detect visitor location based on IP address and show the cookie banner only to visitors from selected countries. This uses:

• IP geolocation databases (MaxMind, IP2Location)
• Country-level accuracy (~99%)
• Server-side detection

Configure in the Geo Location settings tab.

Can I show banner only to EU visitors?

Yes! This is a common use case. You can:

• Select all EU/EEA countries
• Choose “Include Mode” to show only to selected countries
• Set fallback behavior for unknown locations

This reduces banner fatigue for non-EU visitors while maintaining compliance.

How accurate is geo-location?

IP-based geolocation is:

• 95-99% accurate for country detection
• Less accurate for specific cities/regions
• Can be affected by VPNs, proxies, mobile networks

Recommend setting fallback to “show banner” if location uncertain, to err on side of compliance.

Can I translate the banner to other languages?

Yes! You can:

• Manually enter text in any language
• Use translation plugins (WPML, Polylang)
• Create separate settings per language
• Auto-detect browser language (with translation plugin)

Can I add custom CSS?

Yes. For advanced styling:

• Use WordPress Customizer Additional CSS
• Or add to your theme’s stylesheet
• Target banner with specific CSS classes
• Override default styles as needed

Can I use it without the floating button?

Yes, but not recommended. GDPR requires easy consent withdrawal. Alternatives:

• Add footer link to privacy settings
• Use shortcode to embed link anywhere
• Add to navigation menu

Must provide some way for users to change preferences.

Where can I get support?

Support is available through:

• WordPress.org support forum (free community support)
• This documentation site
• PureDevs website

How often is the plugin updated?

The plugin is actively maintained with:

• Compatibility updates for new WordPress versions
• Bug fixes as needed
• Feature enhancements
• Security patches when required

Check the WordPress.org plugin page for latest updates and changelog.

Can I request new features?

Absolutely! Feature requests are welcome on the WordPress.org support forum. PureDevs reviews all suggestions and considers them for future releases.

How do I report bugs?

Report bugs on the support forum. Include:

• WordPress version
• Plugin version
• PHP version
• Steps to reproduce
• Screenshots if applicable
• Any error messages

Does the plugin collect any data?

The plugin itself does not send data to external servers. It:

• Stores user consent choices locally in browser cookies
• Optionally logs consent to your WordPress database
• Does not transmit data to PureDevs or third parties
• Optional geo-location uses server-side detection only

What does consent logging store?

If consent logging is enabled, the plugin stores:

• Timestamp of consent
• IP address (hashed)
• Consent choice (accept/decline/customize)
• Browser and device information
• Cookie categories accepted

This data should be mentioned in your privacy policy.

Is consent logging required?

Not strictly required by GDPR, but recommended for:

• Proof of compliance in case of audit
• Demonstrating due diligence
• Analytics on consent rates
• Legal protection

Can be enabled/disabled in settings.