Osano vs. Zest
Osano is a US privacy platform founded in 2018 that bundles cookie consent with policy templates, data mapping, and an AI assistant. Zest is an open-source consent toolkit: one 16KB script, no account, no subscription.
Head to head
| Osano | Zest | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free tier, then paid plans and custom enterprise pricing | Free forever |
| Open source | No | Yes, MIT |
| Pageview limit | Depends on plan | None, ever |
| Compliance coverage | GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, 95+ laws in 50+ countries, IAB frameworks | GDPR, UK GDPR, 19 US state laws, LGPD, PIPEDA, PIPL and more via the geo gateway, Google Consent Mode v2, GPC |
| Setup | Account, dashboard, platform management | Paste one script in your <head> |
| Weight | osano.js + platform | 16KB, self-hostable |
| Dependency | Osano platform and subscription | None, you own the code |
| Consent records | Stored server-side on Osano | On the visitor’s device, nothing leaves your site |
| Languages | 42+ | 12, auto-detected |
| Cookie scanning | Automatic | Manual: you list your trackers |
Where Osano wins
- You must comply with many privacy laws at once and want one vendor certifying them all.
- You need IAB TCF frameworks for programmatic advertising.
- You want one platform for policies, data mapping, and vendor management.
- Enterprise support with implementation experts is part of the deal.
Where Zest wins
- Zero cost, unlimited sites, domains, and traffic.
- No platform dependency: the banner cannot be switched off by a vendor.
- 16KB and no phone-home, on a privacy tool.
- Full control: open source, self-hostable, no dashboard required.
Pick Osano if
You are a large multi-jurisdiction site with a compliance team that needs audit-grade records and IAB coverage.
Pick Zest if
You want consent tooling that is free forever, installs in minutes, and belongs to you. Configure your banner in the playground and paste one line.
FAQ
Is Zest a real alternative to Osano for GDPR? Yes for the consent banner itself: banner, category blocking, Consent Mode v2, GPC, geo rules. Zest does not do policy generation on a platform level, server-side consent logs, or IAB TCF. Our free policy generator drafts the policy page.
Can I use both? Some teams run a compliance suite for policies and audits and a lightweight banner for consent. Zest does not conflict with other tools’ policy pages.
Is Osano free? Osano has a free cookie consent option with limits; paid plans unlock the wider platform. Zest is free with no limits or account.
* Pricing and plan details for third-party products change often. This page reflects what we could verify on September 30, 2026 — check the vendor's current pricing before you decide.