What is the cmplz_marketing cookie?
cmplz_marketing is created by Complianz, a widely used consent management platform (CMP) plugin for WordPress. The cookie is set as soon as a visitor interacts with the plugin's cookie banner, whether they accept, reject, or customize their choices.
In effect, it's Complianz's internal "memory" for the marketing category: on every page load, it tells the site whether it's allowed to activate advertising and retargeting scripts.
What data it stores
The stored value is typically simple — something like allow or deny — reflecting the choice made for the "marketing" category in the banner. It doesn't contain identifiers, advertising IDs, or browsing behavior data.
The cookie is read only by the Complianz script on the site itself and is not sent to external servers or third parties; it stays local to the visitor's browser.
What it is used for
Its role is strictly functional: it lets the Complianz plugin automatically block or unblock marketing-category scripts (e.g. advertising pixels, retargeting tags) based on the visitor's earlier decision, without needing to re-display the banner on every page.
For the site owner, this cookie is what makes it technically possible to honor the visitor's choice consistently across the whole site.
Does it require consent?
Although it stores a marketing-related choice, cmplz_marketing itself is classified as strictly necessary, since its function is purely technical (remembering consent), not tracking the user. Under ePrivacy/Law 506/2004, strictly necessary cookies don't require prior consent, but they must be disclosed transparently in the cookie policy.
- The site owner must list this cookie in the cookie policy, with its actual purpose and duration.
- No separate consent toggle is required for it, but its role should be clearly explained to users.
How to block or delete cmplz_marketing
A visitor can delete or block cmplz_marketing at any time from browser settings (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari), under the site's cookie management section. Deleting it makes the consent banner reappear on the next visit.
For site owners using a CMP platform such as CookieFix, the actual marketing scripts (not Complianz's own memory cookie) are automatically blocked until the visitor gives consent, preventing tracking scripts from firing prematurely.
Frequently asked questions
No, it only stores the accept/reject choice for the marketing category; it contains no tracking identifiers and isn't used for profiling.
Because its function is technical — remembering consent — not tracking itself; cookies of this type are exempt from the prior consent requirement.
It typically lasts 1 year, after which it expires and the consent banner is shown again.
The site no longer knows the user's previous choice, so the cookie banner will appear again on the next visit.