In today’s complex digital ecosystem, publishers face a balancing act: meeting global privacy regulations, protecting revenue streams, and delivering a seamless reader experience. A Consent Management Platform (CMP) is no longer optional — it’s essential.
OneTrust has long been a recognizable name in the CMP market. But increasingly, publishers are questioning whether it’s the right fit. Rising costs, complexity, and a lack of publisher-focused features have many looking for an alternative to OneTrust.
[OneTrust] “Hit us with massive price increases. Site crawl knocked us offline. Confusing UX.”
— Verified User, G2
Here’s a closer look at how OneTrust and Admiral compare, and when publishers should consider making the switch.
OneTrust is best known as an enterprise-scale privacy and compliance company. Their CMP is part of a much larger suite of governance, risk, and compliance tools. While this breadth works for global corporations, it doesn’t always align with the unique needs of publishers.
Here’s what we hear repeatedly from publishers and buyers on review sites like G2 and other industry sources:
Pricing Concerns at Renewal: Multiple customers report experiencing steep increases when contracts renew. Some call the pricing “opaque” and say they were surprised by changes tied to traffic volume or usage.
Complexity: Reviewers frequently mention that OneTrust is powerful, but complicated to set up and maintain without dedicated compliance staff.
Broad Focus, Narrow Utility for Publishers: Because OneTrust’s CMP is one of many enterprise tools, it isn’t purpose-built to address publisher challenges where revenue or audience engagement are impacted by consent management.
Customer support is non-existent – you're on your own. Implementation was tricky. Plus, you're required to view 4 hour-long videos just to get started, which is quite overwhelming.”
— Verified User in Information Technology and Services, G2
Admiral takes a different approach. Instead of offering a generic compliance product, Admiral’s CMP is built into a broader Visitor Relationship Management (VRM) platform designed specifically for publishers.
That means compliance isn’t the only goal — it’s the foundation for growing stronger relationships with visitors and unlocking new revenue.
Key advantages of Admiral’s CMP include:
Publisher-First Design: Admiral’s solutions were built for digital publishers from day one.
All-in-One Platform: CMP is integrated with modules for adblock recovery, subscriptions, registration walls, and email/social acquisition.
Cost-Conscious Options: Admiral’s pricing is designed to be accessible for publishers of all sizes, with fewer “surprise” jumps based on traffic volume.
Simple Setup & Management: A lightweight deployment and intuitive dashboard means you don’t need a team of compliance engineers.
Revenue-Positive Philosophy: Admiral treats consent not just as a legal requirement, but as an opportunity to connect with readers and drive revenue.
If you’re using OneTrust today, here are signs it may be time to explore Admiral:
You’ve Experienced Cost Pressures – If your renewal terms with OneTrust have increased beyond what your team expected (as reported by many reviewers), Admiral may offer more predictable, publisher-friendly pricing.
Your Team is Overwhelmed – If complexity is eating into your time and resources, Admiral offers a lighter, faster path to compliance.
You Want More Than Compliance – Admiral’s CMP ties directly into modules that drive audience growth and revenue.
You’re Looking to Consolidate Vendors – By combining CMP, adblock recovery, subscriptions, and identity growth, Admiral helps publishers simplify their tech stack.
1) Publisher-Focused Platform
OneTrust serves a broad enterprise audience, which means its CMP isn’t optimized for publisher workflows or revenue needs. Admiral, by contrast, was built specifically for publishers. Its CMP integrates directly with tools for adblock recovery, registration walls, subscriptions, and email/social acquisition—so compliance drives revenue, not just boxes checked.
2) Transparent, Predictable Pricing
Many publishers report on review sites like G2 that OneTrust pricing can feel opaque or increase at renewal. Admiral offers predictable, publisher-friendly pricing designed for teams of all sizes, helping avoid surprises and keeping budgets manageable.
3) Simplified Management & Deployment
Admiral’s CMP is lightweight and intuitive, enabling faster setup and easier ongoing management. Unlike OneTrust, which often requires dedicated compliance staff, Admiral allows publishers to maintain full control without adding operational overhead.
4) Data-Driven Revenue Opportunities
Admiral CMP is part of a broader Visitor Relationship Management platform that helps publishers turn consent into engagement. With features like audience segmentation, journey shaping, and integration with first-party data, publishers can optimize revenue, increase subscriptions, and grow email/social followings—all while staying fully compliant.
| Category | What Publishers Say About OneTrust | What Admiral Provides |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & Renewals | Customers on G2 and other review sites report steep increases at renewal and pricing that feels opaque or tied to traffic surges. | Transparent, publisher-friendly pricing options. Predictable costs, designed to work for publishers of all sizes. |
| Complexity | Frequently described as “powerful but complex.” Setup and ongoing management often require dedicated compliance staff. | Lightweight deployment, fast setup, and intuitive management. No compliance engineers required. |
| Focus | Part of a broad enterprise suite (GRC, privacy, risk tools). CMP isn’t built specifically for publisher revenue models. | 100% publisher-focused. CMP is integrated into a platform built for engagement, identity, and revenue growth. |
| Feature Breadth | Strong enterprise compliance features, but limited tie-ins to publisher needs like subscriptions, adblock recovery, or registrations. | CMP + Visitor Relationship Management (VRM) platform, including adblock recovery, registration walls, subscriptions, and email/social acquisition. |
| Customer Experience | Reviewers often mention frustrations with support responsiveness and learning curve. | High-touch publisher support and guided onboarding. Admiral’s team specializes in publisher success. |
| Revenue Impact | CMP alone does not directly generate revenue. | CMP is revenue-positive: enables identity capture, monetization of adblock users, and long-term visitor growth. |
For global enterprises with sprawling compliance needs, OneTrust remains an option. But for digital publishers — where margins are thin, teams are lean, and engagement is everything — Admiral offers a more focused, cost-conscious, and revenue-positive consent management alternative.
And while customer reviews suggest OneTrust can bring unexpected renewal costs and complexity, Admiral’s CMP is designed to reduce friction and unlock value.
If you’re a publisher feeling the pinch from compliance tools that weren’t built with you in mind, Admiral’s CMP is worth a closer look.
