Is your WordPress DSGVO compliant? Complete manual + checklist

I have helped WordPress site owners to navigate the GDPR compliance since the regulation became effective in 2018. It feels good to know that your website is protected and your visitor’s data is treated correctly.

After implementing GDPR solutions on WordPress website for years, I found that most website owners approach compliance with compliance.

Many think it’s just about adding a biscuit banner and calling it a day.

In addition, you are probably asking yourself: “Is the GDPR applies to my little WordPress site?” Trust me, I wrestled exactly with this frustration.

The reality is that 73% of the websites are still not fully compliant, which costs visitor trust and possibly massive fines.

That is why I tested every large GDPR plugin that examined the legal requirements in detail and created compliance systems for everything, from personal blogs to companies WooCommerce stores.

The results were eye openings. The proper GDPR compliance improves the user experience and builds confidence.

But that is important to them: Compliance does not have to be overwhelming or expensive.

In this guide, I will share my proven framework, which makes the WordPress DSGVO unconditional compliance, even if you are not a legal expert.

You will finally calmly know that your website protects the privacy of the users, meets legal requirements and builds up the trust that visitor converts into loyal customers.

Do you just need the checklist?

Use this link to skip the WordPress compliance checklist

Please note: While I share practical steps from my experience, this guide does not replace legal advice. With regard to specific compliance concerns regarding your WordPress website, please contact a qualified lawyer who specializes in the data protection law.

What you will learn in this guide

• Which GDPR means for your WordPress site?
• Simple steps to make your website compliant
• The best plugins that work
• A complete checklist that you can follow today
• Real answers to common questions

How I checked the WordPress -DSGVO compliance and tools

As already mentioned, I am not a legal expert. What I am is an experienced SEO and WordPress expert. So I supported my specialist knowledge to check and test WordPress compliance and tools from my point of view.

As a result, I test every popular GDPR tool for real WordPress websites to see what they contain, what they don’t and why. This was a good starting point to understand the legal side of things.

Therefore not only demo website, but also actual client website with real traffic and data.

My test process is pretty easy. First of all, I install every plugin on every WordPress site and find out whether it is easy to use and delivers as promised.

Then I carry out every setup through different scenarios with which my customers are confronted every day.

Here is, according to which I search for GDPR -plugins:

I also always test with real EU visitors. To do this, I use VPN connections from different European countries to see exactly what their visitors experience.

In addition, I test whether the tools stop collecting data when someone says no. Some plugins claim to do this, but it’s all a trick.

After all, I also test how every tool deals with WordPress comments, contact forms and analyzes. Why? These are the largest GDPR pain points for most websites.

As you can see, the leaders and tools recommended have passed all of these tests. You work reliably and will not break your website.

Let us go into it. I divided this article into different sections to navigate them quickly. If you want to read something special, just press one of the following links.

Understand the basics of the website compliance

Before we immerse yourself in these guidelines for compliance with WordPress and the GDPR, it is important to get the basics on the way. The best way to do this is to understand the different terms in the room.

What is the compliance on the website?

The term “compliance on the website” is defined. The rules follow the regulations for the collection of visitor data. Imagine like traffic laws for websites.

Like all traffic laws, they must be exposed to them or punishments. What are these rules of regulations for the website?

You treat how you collect, save and use visitor data, regardless of whether you are created via contact forms, cookies, server protocols or tools such as Google Analytics.

The rules exist to protect people’s privacy and to give them control over their data. At the same time, these rules ensure that companies treat the data responsibly.

“For WordPress -Site owner, compliance means above all what is transparent with regard to data acquisition.”

Syed Balkhi, founder of WPBEBERNER

In short, you have to ask for permission before you collect personal information and have the people delete your data if you want.

What is the GDPR?

The General Data Protection Ordinance (GDPR) is the data protection law of Europe that came into force on May 25th^TH2018.

It is the law to comply with website that collects and uses personal data in Europe.

The GDPR covers all the information that a person can identify. This includes names, e -mail addresses, IP addresses, location data and online browser patterns of your visitors.

This compliance law for website has seven important principles that every website has to follow:

• legality – You need a legal reason to collect data
• fairness – Be honest how you use the data
• transparency – Tell the people you collect the data
• Constraint – Use only data for specified reasons
• Data minimization – just collect what you need
• accuracy – keep the data correctly and up to date
• Memory restriction – Do not keep the data longer than necessary

Apart from that, the GDPR gives people specific rights. For example, you can ask you to look at your data, correct errors, to delete everything or to postpone your data to another service.

Here is that Link to the official PDF of the GDPR For a deeper dive.

What is the CCPA?

The California Consumer Privacy Act Is the version of the data protection protection of this state. It started in January 2020 and affects companies worldwide.

CCPA is similar to the GDPR, but has some differences. For example, it focuses on giving the Californian control over your personal information by let people know what companies collect about them.

The main difference between CCPA and GDPR is how CCPA defines personal information.

CCPA contains data such as purchase history, Internet browser behavior and degrees on data analysis.

CCPA gives consumers four main rights:

• Right to know which personal data is collected
• Right to delete personal information
• Right to divide data sales
• Right to non -discrimination for the exercise of these rights

Although these two regulatory laws are different, your WordPress website needs the same basic protection.

You have to be clear about the data you collect and give the selection options for the use of visitors. After knowing the different terms in relation to the laws for the protection of personal data, let us see how you affect your website.

How does the GDPR affect WordPress sites?

Your WordPress site constantly collects visitor data, even without special settings.

Each installation automatically tracks IP addresses via server protocols, while plugins and topics often add their own data acquisition methods.

The following collects data on your WordPress site:

Kern -WordPress functions:

Common plugins and tools:

• Social media plugins and parts of buttons
• Caching plugins save visitor behavior
• WordPress Security Plugins Protocol User activities
• Contact forms collect personal information
• Analytics tools follow browser patterns

Services of third -party providers:

Requirements of the GDPR conformity according to function:

• Contact forms and e -mail collection: Forms require consent control boxes, data protection guidelines and explanations for data use. Newsletter registrations require a double opt-in check with simple one-click de-registration options.
• Analytics and tracking tools: Google Analytics, Facebook pixels and similar WordPress statistics tools need explicit consent before charging. Also implement consent management systems that control scripts.
• Social media and embedded content: YouTube videos, Twitter feeds and social sharing buttons set cookies and transmit user data. All require approval before they are loaded on their pages.
• E -Commerce functions: Shopping carts, payment processing and customer accounts will collect extensive personal data. This includes addresses, payment information and purchase history. Each element therefore needs a specific declaration of consent and clear explanations for data handling.
• Cookies and memory: Essential cookies for location functionality are permitted. Analytics, marketing and social media cookies, however, require an explicit user permit. You have to categorize cookies and provide systems for users to control your selection options.

In the meantime, they may have discovered a trend. Almost everything you do, tools that you install, and functions that you add to your website in one way or another collect data.

Does the GDPR apply to my WordPress website?

Yes, as you have seen above, the GDPR applies to your WordPress website regardless of your business location or its size.

The regulation concerns every website that receives visitors from European countries and require practically all WordPress website.

The GDPR applies to your WordPress site if you:

• Have visitors from European countries (even just one)
• Collect e -mail addresses using forms
• Use Google Analytics or similar tracking tools
• Do you have an activated comment system
• Use cookies for every purpose

Many WordPress -Site owners wrongly believe that the GDPR only affects large European companies.

The reality is that it is almost impossible to control or predict where your visitors come from. If someone from Germany discovers your website on Google, you need compliance.

Why do WordPress sites need special GDPR attention?

Due to its complex, plug-based architecture, which creates several data acquisition points on your website, WordPress websites require special attention to compliance with the GDPR.

WordPress sites face the most important challenges:

• Plugin ecosystem complexity: Dozens of plugins are carried out on a typical WordPress site, with different visitor information being collected. Each plugin treats the GDPR differently. Some implement proper data protection controls, while others completely ignore compliance.
• Subject -based tracking: Your WordPress topic can automatically add tracking codes without your knowledge. This creates hidden data acquisition that many site owners never discover.
• Coordination problems: You are responsible for ensuring that all plugins and topics work together and at the same time respect the selection of visitors to privacy. There is no central system that manages the associated tools associated with it.
• Automatic updates: Many plugins automatically update and change the way you can handle data without notification. What was compliant yesterday could violate the GDPR today without noticing it.
• Installation lightness: WordPress makes it easy to install plugins and forget them. Over time, you may lose track of which data collects each tool and how it processes visitor information.
• No universal solution: In contrast to individual websites, WordPress websites cannot rely on a GDPR plugin to process everything. You need a comprehensive approach that gives the protection of data protection on your entire website ecosystem.

This complexity means that WordPress site owner must follow a more systematic approach for compliance than other website platforms are required.

What is required of website owner under the GDPR?

At the GDPR, the WordPress site owners have to implement several important protective measures that go far beyond the simple addition of a cookie banner.

Understanding these requirements helps you to create a really conforming website instead of just checking the check box.

• Lawful basis for the processing: You must have a legal reason to collect personal data, usually through active consent of the users and not through the fields not checked in advance.
• Transparent data acquisition: Your data protection guideline must use a simple language to explain which data you collect, why you collect it and with whom you share it.
• Consultation management: Users need simple options to give and withdraw approval, and you have to respect your selection options on your entire website.
• Implementation of user rights: Give visitors simple methods available to access, correct, delete or export all personal data.
• Data protection through design: From the beginning, create the protection of data protection on your website by selecting data protection-friendly plugins and minimal data acquisition settings.
• Breach notification: Report data injuries to the authorities within 72 hours and notify the users concerned if the risks are high.

These requirements work together to create comprehensive protection of data protection that builds up user trust and at the same time fulfills legal obligations.

What happens if my WordPress website does not correspond to the GDPR?

In the meantime, you have to think that compliance with the website is quite scary. However, the consequences of ignoring the GDPR can be quite devastating for WordPress site.

• Financial penalties: Finnats can reach € 20 million or 4% of their annual sales – and yes, they actually force these punishments.
• Operative shutdown: The supervisory authorities can literally tell you that you should no longer collect personal data, i.e. no contact forms, no e -mail applications and no analyzes.
• Legal headache: Your visitors can sue you for data protection violations and trust me that the costs for the legal defense costs will quickly sum up, even if you win.
• Trust problems: If people do not trust their data protection practices, do not register for your newsletter, fill out your forms or buy them from you.
• Marketing locking up: Google ads, Facebook advertising and important affiliate networks require compliance with the GDPR -they lose this and they are cut off from huge sources of income.

The following really hurt: While you strive to fix compliance problems, your competitors record your potential customers with adequate data protection setups and build loyalty.

But here is the flip page. The proper GDPR conformity actually helps your company to build trust that makes visitor to customers.

The conclusion is simple: the conformity is much cheaper than the alternatives.

How to make your WordPress site GDPR compliant

If you make your WordPress site compliant GDPR, it does not have to be overwhelming. I broke it into a logical sequence that builds up in every step.

Step 1: Check your current data acquisition

First understand what you are already collecting. Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to yours Plugins »installed plugins.

Check every active plugin here to see which data it collects, check your theme settings for the persecution of codes and document all third -party services you use.

Step 2: Install a plugin for cookie declaration

Choose a WordPress entrance plugin that actually works! One who gives permission to persecute the persecution to the visitors. Many free plugins look good, but do not stop the data acquisition properly until the consent is submitted.

Make sure you test it with a fresh browser to confirm that it works with all your plugins and services of third -party providers.

Step 3: Update your right pages

WordPress has an integrated data protection guideline generator, but must be adapted for your specific setup.

Create clear, simple explanations of your data practices and add a cookie directive to explain what every cookie does.

Step 4: Configure contact forms for compliance

Add to any form in which personal data is collected, which have not been checked. Above all, use clear language about how to use the information without legal jargon.

Step 5: Set up the data access and extinguishing procedures

WordPress contains basic tools for processing data inquiries. You may need additional plugins for complete coverage.

Against this background, create a simple process for visitors to request or delete your data.

Step 6: Configure the data protection controls for analyzes

Activate IP anonymization in Google Analytics and set up systems to respect the opt-out selection options for visitors.

Step 7: Check integrations of third -party providers

Make sure that all external services you use have proper data processing agreements and respect the data protection selection of your visitors.

Step 8: Document and monitor

Keep the records of your compliance efforts for potential audits and set up regular reviews to check new plugins before installation.

The key is one step after the other. Perfect Compliance is less important than real efforts to protect the privacy of visitors.

Finally, implement ongoing surveillance and maintenance. Compliance with the GDPR is not a unique task. You have to check new plugins before installing them and regularly check your data acquisition procedures.

That’s it! You can now comply with your website and comply with the GDPR laws.

The key is one step after the other. Don’t try to repair everything at once. Also remember that the perfect compliance is less important than real efforts to protect the privacy of visitors.

Best 5 WordPress plugins for compliance with the GDPR

As you can see, it can be complicated to keep your website compliant. Fortunately, the right plugins for your WordPress site can facilitate GDPR compliance.

After testing dozens of compliance plugins, the following passed my real tests. They protect the privacy of the visitors and help them to stay conformed to.

In addition, they are all beginners -friendly and will not break their existing setup.

1. WPConsent

WPConsent is the best plugin for privacy compliance because it is easy to use and is the different approach to compliance with the GDPR.

Instead of managing the consent yourself, it creates a standard that other plugins can follow.

This plugin looks like a traffic controller for the data protection tools of your website. When a visitor gives the consent, WPCONENENT reports that it is okay to start persecution.

In addition, it signals that the declaration of consent is being pursued more if someone withdraws.

The nice thing about this GDPR tool is that it works with many existing plugins. You don’t have to replace tools that you already use.

And the best thing about it? More plugin developers add WPConsent Support every month.

I found that this approach works better than trying to manage everything with a massive plugin. You can also get more flexibility when choosing your data protection tools.

Take a look at my detailed WPConsent rating here.

Start with WPConsent here.

Pricing: Free compliance plugin available. Starts at $ 49.50 per year.

2. Wpforms

Wpforms Completes the GDPR conformity for contact forms better than most dedicated data protection plugins. It includes integrated functions for consent management and data protection.

The Formuls plugin automatically adds GDPR conformity options to each form you create. Apart from that, you can agree to the check boxes for data acquisition.

In addition, visitors can request their data or ask for deletion directly via the forms.

Wpforms also contains intelligent conditional logic for consent. As a result, you can display different data protection options based on the visitor location.

I like how it is seamlessly integrated into popular e -mail marketing services and at the same time maintains compliance.

Apart from that, WPFORMS saves all the data and offers simple export options for data inquiries.

Take a look at my updated Wpforms evaluation.

Start with Wpforms today!

Pricing: Free plugin available. Starts at $ 49.50 per year.

3. Cookieyes (formerly GDPR Cookie consent)

Cookies is one of the most reliable plugins for the declaration of consent that I tested. Books blocked before visitors give authorization, which many plugins do not do properly.

The plugin automatically scans your website for cookies and categorizes them correctly.

The necessary cookies, analytics cookies and marketing cookies are also identified separately. It also updates this list automatically when you add new tools.

Cookieyes works with popular WordPress plugins directly from the box. As a result, it properly blocks Google Analytics, Facebook pixels and other tracking tools until the consent is submitted.

In addition, it treats the consent of the withdrawal smoothly.

The free version covers the most small corporate requirements, while the Premium version adds extended functions such as geolocation targeting and custom styling options.

Start with cookieyes here.

Pricing: Offers a free version. The Pro plan begins at 10 USD per month per domain.

4. Biscuit

Biscuit Offers a simpler approach to the conformity of cookie. It is perfect for WordPress websites that do not need a complex declaration of consent but still want to remain compliant.

This GDPR/CCPA plugin creates a Clean Conssigs Banner that appears to all visitors. It blocks the persecution of cookies until people accept them. It also contains options for compliance with the GDPR and CCPA.

Cookie Notice integrates well into Google Analytics and other popular tracking tools. The Setup process only takes a few minutes.

In addition, your website does not slow down like some heavier plugins.

The plugin also contains a generator for data protection guidelines and other simple tools for dealing with data access requirements from visitors.

Start with Cookie Notice today!

Pricing: Free GDPR/CCPA plugin.

5. Monster Intights

Monster Intights Processes the GDPR-compliant Google Analytics better than any other WordPress plugin. It includes integrated data protection properties, most site owners don’t even know.

The analytics plugin automatically anonymizes IP addresses and excludes personal data from analysis reports. It also offers simple options to completely deactivate the persecution.

It also integrates into plugins for the population administration.

As a result, it simply makes monster inight easier to respect the selection of visitors privacy without additional settings.

Apart from that, Monster Intights contains functions for deleting data. If someone decides to persecute, the plugin no longer immediately sends their data to Google Analytics.

Take a look at my monster insight.

Start with monster insights today!

Pricing: Free plugin available. Starts at $ 99.60 per year.

Congratulations! About everything about everything that the GDPR, CCPA and compliance with site has informed about this guide.

To make it easy to follow everything in this detailed article, read the following checklist.

WordPress GDPR Compliance Checklist

Use this checklist to ensure that your WordPress site meets the GDPR requirements. I just kept every article so that you can get it up quickly.

Print out this list or put a bookmark on this page. Then systematically go through every point. You can also use it all year round for regular compliance reviews.

☐ Check your data acquisition

Check all plugins, forms and tracking tools on your website. Document which personal data everyone collects and why you need it.

☐ Install

Set up a plugin that blocks biscuits before visitors give permission. Test it work with all your tracking tools and analysis.

☐ Update your data protection guideline

Create a clear data protection guideline in which it is explained which data you collect, how you can use you and how visitors can control you.

☐ Add the consent to contact forms

Add not checked consent box in all forms that collect personal information. Use a clear language about data use.

☐ Configure the analyzes for privacy

Set up the IP -anonymization in Google Analytics. Activate data protection controls and respect the opt-out selection of visitors.

Check the settings for the collection of WordPress Comment Collection. Remember the consent to save commentator information.

☐ Set up the data access procedures

Create an easy way for visitors to request your stored data. WordPress has integrated tools for this.

☐ Activate the options for data deletion

Give visitors clear methods to delete your personal data. Test that the process works properly.

☐ Document your legal basis

Write down why you collect any kind of data. Keep documentary for compliance reviews and audits.

☐ Check integrations of third -party providers

Check all the external services connected to your website. Make sure you have adequate data processing agreements.

☐ Consulting test removal

Make sure visitors can easily withdraw the consent. Make sure that all data recording stops immediately.

☐ Create a surveillance plan

Set up regular reviews of your compliance status. Check new plugins and services before adding them.

Apart from that, remember to keep records about when you have completed each article. Check this checklist if you add new plugins or services to your WordPress site.

If something is unclear, read the frequently asked questions below to get clarity.

FAQs: Ultimate Guide for WordPress and GDPR compliance

Last judgment: Should I make sure that my WordPress site GDPR/CCPA -A -compliant is?

Yes, especially the compliance with GDPR/CCPA for WordPress websites is easier than most people think. You do not have to hire expensive lawyers or rebuild your website.

Most technical work can do the right plugin and the right information for you.

The key is a systematic approach. Start with the checklist specified above and work through each element methodically.

Then set up simple procedures for processing data inquiries. Remember that the perfect compliance is less important than real efforts to protect the privacy of visitors.

It’s from me today. If you want to build up compliance with compliance with the best PCI -compliant web hosting companies from scratch.

Additional resources to comply with locations

Apart from that, there are other articles in which you might be interested in reading.

In addition to compliance with the GDPR conformity, the establishment of a trustworthy WordPress site requires proper data protection guidelines and reliable tools to manage visitor data.

These resources help you to create comprehensive data protection protection that goes beyond the basic regulatory requirements.