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Is Your Website GDPR Compliant? Free Test (2026 Guide)
Is Your Website GDPR Compliant? Run This Free Test (2026 Guide)
Most website owners believe their site is GDPR compliant — but the reality is often different. Even sites with cookie banners, privacy policies, and consent tools can still violate GDPR silently. This guide explains why most sites fail, gives you a quick compliance checklist, and points you to a free test that runs in under a minute.
- GDPR compliance test
- A check that your site does not run non-essential tracking before consent, discloses processing clearly, and behaves in line with your policy. Real tests use runtime auditing (what actually runs in the browser), not only policy text.
- Runtime audit
- Testing that runs your site in a real browser and observes what loads and when — scripts, cookies, and network requests. Only runtime audits can detect trackers that load before consent or bypass the banner.
- Free GDPR scan
- An automated runtime scan (e.g. SecureSpells) that reports compliance risks such as tracking before consent and hidden third-party requests. No installation; results in under a minute.
GDPR compliance depends on what your site does, not only what it shows. Common hidden violations include cookies or trackers loading before consent, Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel firing without permission, and third-party data collection that the owner never sees. Manual checking rarely catches these because they happen in the background. This article explains why most sites fail, gives a short self-check checklist, and recommends a free runtime test. For product and pricing, see SecureSpells and pricing.
This article is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For compliance decisions, consult a qualified legal or privacy professional.
Why many websites fail GDPR compliance
GDPR compliance is not about what your website shows (e.g. a banner or policy) — it’s about what your website does. Common hidden violations include:
- Cookies loading before consent — Non-essential cookies set on first load.
- Google Analytics tracking users immediately — GA firing before the user has accepted.
- Facebook Pixel or other pixels firing without permission — Ad or analytics scripts running on first visit.
- Third-party trackers collecting data silently — Requests to external domains before or without consent.
These create real legal risk. Having a banner or policy is not enough if tracking still runs before consent.
Learn more: Hidden GDPR risks most sites have and Top cookie consent mistakes.
GDPR compliance test checklist
Here’s a quick self-check. If you answer no to any of these, your website may not be compliant.
1. Do cookies wait for consent?
Many sites set non-essential cookies immediately on first visit. Under GDPR (and ePrivacy), that is a violation: cookies that are not strictly necessary should wait until the user has consented.
2. Do trackers load before consent?
Google Analytics and similar tools often load automatically on every page. If they run before the user has accepted cookies, you have a compliance risk. Learn more: Google Analytics GDPR guide.
3. Does your consent banner actually block scripts?
Many banners are visual only — they do not prevent scripts from loading or firing. Compliance requires that non-essential tracking is technically blocked until consent. If your banner only hides a notice but does not gate tags, you are likely non-compliant.
4. Does your privacy policy match real behaviour?
Policies that are outdated or that omit trackers you actually use create additional risk. Your policy should accurately describe what data you collect and which tools (e.g. Analytics, pixels) are used.
Why manual checking doesn’t work
Most violations are invisible during a normal visit: they happen in the background, in scripts, and in network requests. Unless you systematically inspect network traffic and script execution without accepting cookies, you will miss pre-consent tracking. You need automated runtime testing — a tool that runs your site in a real browser and reports what actually loads and when.
Free GDPR compliance test (recommended)
SecureSpells runs a real browser audit of your website. It detects:
- Trackers firing before consent — Analytics, ads, or other non-essential scripts on first load.
- Hidden third-party data transfers — Requests to external domains before or without consent.
- Other compliance violations — Summarised so you can prioritise fixes.
The scan often completes quickly (typically under a minute for standard sites). No installation required in typical setups.
Run your free GDPR compliance test: Enter your domain below. You’ll get a compliance score, risk report, and specific issues to fix.
Run free test: SecureSpells.
Example: real compliance failure
A typical scan reveals Google Analytics (or similar) loading immediately — before consent — even though a cookie banner exists. The banner does not actually block the script, so tracking starts on first visit. That is a GDPR violation, and many owners are unaware until they run a runtime test.
Who should run this test?
This test is useful for website owners, startups, agencies, developers, and e‑commerce stores — anyone whose site has visitors from the EU or who wants to reduce compliance risk. If you have EU visitors, you must comply with GDPR; testing is the first step to knowing where you stand.
What happens after the scan?
You receive a compliance score, a risk report, and specific issues detected (e.g. “Google Analytics before consent”, “third-party request to X”). You also get guidance on what to fix: block trackers until consent, update your banner or tag configuration, and align your privacy policy with actual behaviour.
GDPR fines are increasing
Even small companies receive fines for consent and disclosure failures. Prevention is easier than dealing with a complaint or enforcement later. Learn more: Recent GDPR fines explained.
How long does the test take?
Often under a minute for standard sites. No installation required in typical setups. Test your website now: SecureSpells.
Fact basis
- EDPB Cookie Banner Taskforce report: https://www.edpb.europa.eu/our-work-tools/our-documents/other/report-work-undertaken-cookie-banner-taskforce_en
- CNIL enforcement summaries: https://www.cnil.fr/en/sanctions-and-corrective-measures-cnils-actions-2024 and https://www.cnil.fr/en/sanctions-and-corrective-measures-cnils-actions-2025
- Google consent audit guidance: https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/16724512
Final takeaway
Many websites believe they are compliant; many are not. The most reliable way to know is to test — and that means a runtime audit that sees what actually runs before consent. Run your free GDPR compliance test, review the report, and fix the issues. That is how you move from assumption to evidence-based compliance.
Test your website now: Run free GDPR compliance test — results in under a minute.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test if my website is GDPR compliant?
Use a runtime compliance scan: a tool that loads your site in a real browser and reports whether trackers run before consent, what third-party requests are made, and whether your setup matches GDPR expectations. SecureSpells offers a free test: Run free scan.
Why do many websites fail GDPR compliance?
Because compliance depends on behaviour, not only on having a banner or policy. Many sites load analytics, ads, or other trackers before the user has consented — or the consent banner does not actually block scripts. Those violations are often invisible until you run a runtime test.
Is the SecureSpells GDPR test free?
Yes. You can run a free GDPR compliance scan at securespells.com. You get a compliance score, risk report, and list of issues. No installation; results in under a minute. For ongoing monitoring and agency use, see pricing.
How long does a GDPR compliance test take?
A runtime scan with SecureSpells typically completes in under 60 seconds. You enter your domain, the tool runs your site in a real browser, and you receive a report with detected issues and guidance.
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