---
title: "Tracking modes: cookieless or full tracking | Otus Analytics"
description: "Choose per site: cookieless mode with no cookie banner for analytics, or full tracking with returning visitors and attribution across visits for visitors who say yes."
canonical_url: "https://otusanalytics.com/features/tracking-modes"
meta:
  "og:description": "Choose per site: cookieless mode with no cookie banner for analytics, or full tracking with returning visitors and attribution across visits for visitors who say yes."
  "og:title": "Tracking modes: cookieless or full tracking | Otus Analytics"
---

> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://otusanalytics.com/llms.txt)

# Cookieless or full tracking, your choice.

Otus gives you two ways to measure each site. Cookieless mode stores nothing in your visitors' browsers, so in most EU countries you don't need a cookie banner for analytics. Full tracking mode adds returning visitors and attribution across visits for everyone who says yes to cookies, and keeps counting everyone who doesn't.

[**Start free trial **](https://app.otusanalytics.com/register) [** Try the demo **](https://app.otusanalytics.com/login?demo=true)

Visual: cookieless mode and full tracking mode side by side

**Cookieless mode**

## Accurate data without cookies or a banner.

### **Nothing stored**

No cookies and no local storage, nothing in your visitors' browsers. Each visitor gets an anonymous identifier that changes every day and is different on every site.

### **No cookie banner for analytics**

Because nothing is stored on the device, in most EU countries you don't need a cookie banner for analytics in this mode.

### **Every visitor counted**

Nobody has to click accept, so you see all of your traffic, not just the visitors who said yes.

A visit ends after 30 minutes without activity, and the anonymous identifier resets every day. That's what keeps this mode private, and it's also why it can't recognise returning visitors.

**Full tracking mode**

## Full attribution, once visitors say yes.

### **Returning visitors**

Recognise visitors who come back, so you can see retention and loyalty over time.

### **Attribution across visits**

Follow the path from a first visit to a sign-up or purchase days later, and credit the campaign that started it.

### **Visitors who say no still count**

Anyone who declines is counted anonymously, the same way as in cookieless mode. Rather not? Only load Otus after a yes.

Full tracking mode only stores a first-party cookie and a visitor ID in the browser after a visitor says yes, and only on your own domain. No third-party cookies and no tracking across sites. This mode needs a consent banner. Otus doesn't include one, but works with any consent banner that supports Google Consent Mode.

**Compare the modes**

## Which mode fits your site?

The choice mostly comes down to one question: do you need to recognise visitors who come back, or follow them across visits to a sale? If you do, choose full tracking. If not, cookieless mode gives you everything else without a cookie banner.

| Feature | **Cookieless** | **Full tracking** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Stored in the browser** | Nothing | A first-party cookie and a visitor ID, after a yes |
| **Cookie banner for analytics** | Not needed in most EU countries | Needed |
| **Visitors counted** | Everyone | Everyone; those who say no are counted anonymously |
| **Returning visitors** | No | Yes, for visitors who said yes |
| **Attribution across visits** | Within one visit | Across visits, for visitors who said yes |
| **Conversion forwarding** | Within the same visit | Within each ad platform's conversion window |

[**Read more: Cookieless vs cookie-based analytics **](https://otusanalytics.com/blog/cookieless-vs-cookie-based-analytics)

**FAQ**

## Questions about tracking modes.

Can't find your answer? Reach us at [info@otusanalytics.com](mailto:info@otusanalytics.com).

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**Free 14-day trial**

## See what your new analyst finds.

Add Otus to your site in under five minutes and get your first weekly summary within a week.

[**Start free trial **](https://app.otusanalytics.com/register) [** Try the demo **](https://app.otusanalytics.com/login?demo=true)

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## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](https://otusanalytics.com/sitemap.md) for all pages.