Do I need a cookie banner if I only use Google Analytics?
This is one of the most common questions from small site owners, and the honest answer is yes, almost certainly. Google Analytics uses non-essential cookies, and in the UK and EU those need consent before they are set.
Why GA4 needs consent
GA4 sets cookies and processes identifiers to measure your visitors. Under PECR and GDPR, analytics cookies are not strictly necessary, so they require consent first. "I only use Analytics" does not exempt you; it is exactly the case the rules were written for.
What that means in practice
- You need a cookie banner that blocks GA4 until the visitor agrees.
- You need a way to record and respect their choice.
- You should disclose GA4 in a cookie policy.
But I will lose data
You will lose some, because everyone who declines cannot be fully measured, which is why analytics often drops after a banner goes live. The fix is not to skip the banner; it is to add Consent Mode so GA4 still sends privacy-safe, cookieless signals on a decline and Google models the gap. You stay compliant and keep most of your numbers.
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