The four consent categories explained
By OptinStack Team - Jun 28, 2026 - 2 min read
OptinStack uses four fixed consent toggles. Trackers in your inventory map into these categories (plus unclassified in the inventory UI, which is not a fifth visitor toggle).
Necessary
Always allowed. Essential for security and core site function. Visitors cannot turn this off. Never classify marketing or analytics scripts as necessary.
Analytics
Measurement and performance tools. Defaults depend on banner mode (denied in opt-in, allowed in opt-out until the visitor changes them).
Marketing
Advertising, retargeting, and similar commercial tracking. Maps to Google Consent Mode ad signals when Consent Mode is active.
Preferences
Functionality and personalization that is not strictly necessary. Maps to functionality_storage and personalization_storage in Consent Mode v2.
Unclassified trackers appear in inventory until you assign a category. They are not a separate banner toggle—classify them before relying on enforcement.
Defaults and GPC
Defaults come from the active mode. A Global Privacy Control signal typically forces optional categories to false until the visitor chooses otherwise (with plan-level customization on Business and Enterprise).
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Map OptinStack's four consent categories onto Google Consent Mode v2 and keep them in sync as visitors choose.
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