Cookies vs Sessions. Why Your Shopify Store’s Consent Duration Could Be a GDPR Risk (And How to Fix It)

As a website owner or Shopify merchant, terms like cookies, sessions, and cache might sound like technical jargon you can skip over.

But what if ignoring them could cost you sales, land fines, or hurt customer trust?

Here’s the reality: these tools aren’t just backend tech - they’re tightly connected to compliance with EU laws like the GDPR and ePrivacy Directive.

While Shopify handles core functionalities like cart sessions seamlessly behind the scenes, your responsibility lies in transparently managing cookies, explaining data practices, and respecting user consent under regulations like GDPR. 

Do users understand what data you collect? Are consent settings correct? How long is your consent duration?

In this guide, we’ll explain how cookies, sessions and cache shape your store’s performance, why compliance matters even on a Shopify-powered site, and how to turn technical words into practical compliance steps.

Cookie vs Session: How websites and Shopify stores actually remember your visitors

While cookie and session might be used interchangeably, these technologies serve fundamentally different purposes on your store or website.

Understanding their technical differences isn't just developer knowledge - it's crucial for:

• Legal compliance and consent management

• Optimizing customer experience

• Troubleshooting common store issues

Let's break down exactly how each one functions in Shopify's environment and why getting this right impacts your bottom line.

Cookie

Cookies are kind of like online sticky notes - they help your store remember who’s visiting and what they like. A cookie is a small text file saved on the user's browser that stores info like login details, preferences, or previous browsing activity. This file is sent back to your server with every visit, which helps personalize the experience. They come with expiration dates too, so they’ll eventually clear out on their own.

Session

Think of a session like your store’s short-term memory. It keeps track of what someone’s doing while they’re browsing—like what’s in their cart or whether they’re logged in. The actual data is stored on your server, not the user’s browser. The browser only keeps a little session ID to identify the user. Once they leave or close the browser, the session ends and everything resets.

Cache

...So where does cache fit in? Cache isn’t about user info - it’s more about speed. It also stores parts of your website (like images) locally in the browser so pages load faster the next time someone visits. It doesn’t track users like cookies or sessions, but it helps make your site feel more smooth.

Key Differences

Cookie vs Session

• Both store user information, but cookies store data client-side (in the user's browser), while sessions store data server-side.
• Cookies expire after a set duration; sessions usually end upon browser closure.
• Cookies are limited to about 4KB in size, whereas sessions have no size limitation.

Cookie vs Cache

• Cache speeds up web page loads by temporarily storing data such as files, images, and videos.
• Cookies track user activities and preferences, storing information directly related to user interactions.

Example scenario

Imagine you're shopping online:

• You visit an e-commerce store again and notice it loads faster—that’s because the cache stored some page data from your previous visit.
• The login form already has your details filled in—this convenience comes from cookies, storing your login credentials in your browser.
• As you shop and add products to your cart, your selections are maintained across different pages thanks to your session. Once you close your browser, the session data disappears.

Why it matters for Shopify merchants

Managing cookie durations, user consent lifespans, and session data directly affects your compliance status and user experience.

Proper handling of these components makes sure your store is not at risk if an audit occurs and all GDPR requirements are met.

If you are not sure you can do it on your own, of course you can trust a built for Shopify app like Consentmo, but more on this below.

Compliance advice: What GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive say about duration

If you're running a Shopify store in the EU (or have customers from the EU), GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive both play a major role in how you can use cookies and sessions - especially when it comes to how long you keep them.

So, how long does consent last?

GDPR doesn’t set specific time limits for cookies or consent duration. Instead, it requires that any personal data collected must be kept only for as long as necessary.

That means you need a good reason (and a legal basis) to store cookies, and you can’t just keep them around forever.

The ePrivacy Directive, on the other hand, is more cookie-focused. It says that storing or accessing information (like cookies) on a user’s device is only allowed if:

• the user has given consent, and
• the storage is limited to what's necessary for the service they requested (like logging in or adding to cart).

So, if you're using tracking cookies or anything beyond essential functionality, you need to get clear consent- and that consent should have an expiration period.

When it comes to sessions, since the data is stored server-side and usually ends with the browser session, it’s considered less risky. Still, if session data includes personal information (like email or login status), GDPR rules apply, and you need to manage it with care.

In short: cookies and session data can’t live forever.

As a merchant, you need to:

• Be transparent about how long cookies are kept
  How: Make sure your cookie information table clearly lists each cookie, what it does, and how long it stays on the user's device. This info should be easy to find—usually in your cookie policy or the preferences popup—so visitors can see exactly what’s being used and for how long.
• Let users manage or withdraw consent at any time
  How: Add a visible and easy-to-use "cookie preferences" link or button to your site footer or privacy settings. This allows visitors to change their choices or withdraw consent anytime—not just during their first visit. You can also set a Privacy widget which users can click on at any time and change their consent preferences. Most Shopify GDPR apps (like Consentmo) offer this functionality out of the box.
• Regularly clean up expired or unused session data
  Note: The default session expiration time in Shopify is 30 minutes of inactivity, but this can be customised through your store’s settings.

Alright, now let’s break down the practical side of this with some best practices.

Best Practice 1: Session Cookies - inform users that your store has them

Session cookies are considered "strictly necessary"—which means you don’t need user consent to use them. That’s great news for Shopify merchants who rely on them to manage things like carts, logins, and user flows.

But just because they’re allowed by default doesn’t mean you should ignore them. You need to let users know you’re using them (via your cookie policy, privacy policy, or banner), and to keep their use minimal and essential.

You’re not required to ask for consent for session cookies, but being transparent about them builds trust—and helps users understand that these cookies are there to make their browsing smoother, not to track them.

Note: The default session expiration time in Shopify is 30 minutes of inactivity, but this can be customized through your store’s settings.

Session cookies and the GDPR

Transparency: If your store uses session cookies (and it probably does), make sure your cookie policy explains this in detail. Let visitors know what these cookies do, how long they last, and why they’re needed.

Usage limit: Websites can only use session cookies for their stated purpose, such as enabling secure logins or maintaining a shopping cart. Using them for tracking purposes without consent violates GDPR rules.

Shopify-specific tip: Even though Shopify sets many of these session cookies automatically, you're still responsible for explaining them to your visitors. GDPR doesn’t make exceptions based on the platform you’re using, so your policy needs to include these cookies—even if you didn’t set them up manually.

Best Practice 2: Set an appropriate expiration for cookies that require consent

When it comes to GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive, the length of time a cookie remains active matters.

For any cookie that collects personal data and isn’t considered strictly necessary (like analytics, advertising, or personalization cookies), user consent is required, and that consent should not last forever! If your store uses cookies that stay active longer than that without refreshing consent, it could lead to compliance risks.

What do regulators recommend?

• CNIL (France): Recommends that consent be refreshed at least every 6 months. Users must be given a way to modify or withdraw their choices at any time.
  
  
• Datatilsynet (Denmark): Suggests that consent should not be stored for more than 12 months, and emphasizes ongoing user control over cookie settings.
  
  
• BfDI and local DPAs (Germany): Advocate for granular consent, and stress that cookie duration must be proportionate to its purpose. Long-term tracking without re-consent is discouraged.
  
  
• Garante (Italy): Consent should expire after 6 months, unless renewed by clear user interaction. Transparency around cookie lifespans and consent options is also required.
  
  
• *For the US: CCPA/CPRA ≠ GDPR when it comes to consent. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and its amendment, the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), don’t require prior consent for setting cookies in the same way the GDPR and ePrivacy Directive do.

While there is no single EU-wide standard, the general best practice is to renew consent every 6 to 12 months depending on the type of cookies in use and the user's engagement with your store.

How Shopify merchants can manage consent duration

• Set the consent validity period per your choice (e.g., 6 months).
• Automatically retrigger the Cookie banner once consent expires.
• Offer users a way to update or revoke consent at any time.
• State how long each cookie lasts and how long user consent is valid for.

This kind of transparency is not only encouraged but expected by regulators during compliance checks.

Best Practice 3: Use a GDPR-compliant app to automate consent and cookie duration settings

Managing consent duration, cookie expiry, and user preferences manually can get complicated—especially when running an active Shopify store. 

The default Customer privacy settings from Shopify are not enough to fulfill the varios GDPR requirements when it comes to cookies. 

Choose a trusted GDPR compliance app like Consentmo which provides you options to:

• Automate consent renewal

Let’s say you’ve chosen a 6-month consent duration, as recommended by CNIL and other regulators. Your app should automatically show the Cookie banner again for new user consent when that time is up - without you having to manually track each visitor.

• Explain cookie duration

For example, essential cookies might remain active as long as needed, while marketing or analytics cookies expire in 6–12 months. Apps like Consentmo allow you to configure cookie categories with individual durations and explain them in your cookie information table.

• Provide a way for users to change their consent

A privacy widget is the easiest way to allow users to view, change, or revoke their consent. It is a little add-on bubble to your storefront which visitors can click on at any time for easy consent access. Consent management overall is required under GDPR and expected by most EU regulators.

• Document consent

Log consent events, which can help you demonstrate compliance in the event of an audit. While not mandatory in all regions, this feature adds an extra layer of protection.

As for Shopify merchants - Shopify does not provide tools to manage cookie consent or durations for you - it is up to the merchant to find a way. 

A "Built for Shopify" GDPR app provides everything needed to meet compliance requirements without slowing down your store.

Even if you’re not a legal expert, the right app can take care of the technical and legal side, so you can focus on running your business.

Conclusion

By using cookies to personalize experiences, sessions to maintain seamless interactions, and cache to boost speed, you create a store that feels intuitive and reliable. 

But beyond user satisfaction, GDPR and ePrivacy Directive compliance requires your business to use them in a transparent way.

Remember: regularly audit cookie durations, prioritize consent management, and automate compliance with tools like Consentmo to turn legal obligations into something requiring minimal effort. 

Unsure where to start? Start by reviewing your cookie policy today, and double check those consent logs.

And if you are an EU Shopify merchant - you most likely need to get yourself familiar with Google Consent Mode if you haven’t already.