Add age verification popup to your website (templates and best practices)

You can create an age verification popup with Getsitecontrol, and add it to your website for free, adjusting the text and appearance to your needs. It works on all platforms, including Shopify, WordPress, Squarespace, and others — no coding is required.

When a new visitor enters your website, the age gate will pop up, covering the webpage content. If a visitor confirms they are of the required age, the popup will close automatically; if they state they’re underage, they’ll be redirected to a page of your choice.

You need an age verification if your website falls under the following categories:

• Adult entertainment websites
• Alcohol brands and online stores
• Cannabis/CBD product distributors
• Vaping and tobacco product retailers
• Online gambling and betting platforms

Age verification popup best practices

Choose a clear confirmation approach

Most age gates rely on one of two age verification approaches: buttons or checkboxes. Both setup options are available in Getsitecontrol.

Button-based confirmation is very common. Visitors confirm they meet the stated age requirement with a single click that closes the popup; those who indicate they’re underage can be redirected to a different page or away from the website. This pattern is fast, straightforward, and it works well for most websites.

Checkbox confirmation adds an extra layer of intent because it requires visitors to check a box before clicking the button. This additional step can be useful for stricter compliance scenarios where explicit confirmation matters.

Set the right age requirement

Age requirements vary by industry and region. For example, alcohol-related websites in the United States typically require visitors to be 21 or older, while 18 is more common for European countries and other restricted content categories.

Whatever threshold applies to your business, make sure it’s visible and consistent throughout the popup: both in the headline and in the confirmation button text.

Use direct age confirmation language

Effective age gates rely on unmistakable language. Most common confirmation copy is simple, declarative, and legally unambiguous. That applies to the headline, description, and button text.

Age gate button copy examples

Age gate headline copy examples

In compliance contexts, clarity outperforms personality. Avoid vague or playful phrasing because it creates confusion and undermines the purpose of the popup. When the message is clear, visitors know exactly what they’re confirming, and the popup can close automatically once they do.

Redirect underage visitors thoughtfully

An age verification popup isn’t just about blocking access — it’s about handling underage visitors of your website responsibly. When someone confirms they don’t meet the age requirement, the best practice is to redirect them to a neutral-content destination rather than leaving them at a dead end.

Common redirect destinations include search engines, general information pages, or other pages of your website that don’t contain restricted content. A respectful redirect protects your brand and maintains professional experience, even for visitors you can’t serve.

Set popup display frequency

Once a visitor has confirmed their age, repeatedly showing the same popup during their visit can create unnecessary friction. Most businesses display the age gate on every new visit to ensure that each individual accessing the website confirms eligibility. This approach is preferred for stricter compliance scenarios because of the possibility of someone visiting your website from a shared device.

Some website owners limit the popup to the first visit to create a smoother experience for returning users. While this reduces friction, it offers less protection on shared devices. For businesses with rigorous compliance requirements, repeated verification that pops up each visit is often the safer choice.

Apply verification only where it’s needed

If your entire website contains age-restricted content, displaying the age gate on entry makes sense: every visitor sees the verification popup as soon as they arrive, regardless of which page they land on.

For mixed-content websites, you have more control options. For example, age verification can be applied to specific pages, subfolders, or product collections (for ecommerce sites selling both restricted and unrestricted items). This ensures sensitive content stays protected, while you aren’t over-blocking access to general information pages.

Match the age gate to your brand

Age verification popups are often the first interaction visitors have with your website. A popup that clashes with your visual identity will create friction before someone even confirms their age.

Customizing colors, fonts, imagery, and tone helps you make the age gate feel like a natural part of your website rather than a generic compliance roadblock. When designing the popup, take a few extra minutes to ensure that all visual elements are matched with your branding. Getsitecontrol built-in popup editor makes it easy to achieve maximum visual alignment.

Common age verification mistakes

Using incorrect age limits

Age requirements aren't universal: alcohol websites need 21+ verification in the US but only 18+ in most European countries. Using a single age threshold creates compliance problems in stricter jurisdictions while unnecessarily restricting access in others.

Ignoring location-specific regulations

Age restrictions vary not just by country but by state or region within countries; for example, cannabis websites face different laws in Texas versus California. Treating all website visitors the same creates compliance gaps. Research legal age requirements in every jurisdiction where your business operates, then use Getsitecontrol’s location-based targeting to display appropriate age thresholds based on visitor location.

Showing the popup repeatedly during sessions

Some age gates reappear every time a visitor navigates to a new page during the same browsing session, creating frustration and increased bounce rates. Configure your age gate to appear once when someone enters your website, then stay dismissed until they close their browser or return another day.

Failing to test on mobile devices

Age verification popups designed for desktop may break on mobile: text becomes unreadable, buttons are too small to tap, or the popup doesn't fit on screen. With Getsitecontrol, you’re unlikely to face this problem because of the unique built-in technology that adapts popups for mobile. However, it’s crucial to always preview your age gate on different screen sizes before launch to ensure buttons are touch-friendly, text is readable, and the layout works across all devices.

Making age gates easy to bypass

An age gate that can be closed without confirmation defeats its purpose. A common mistake is to overlook the close button on a popup or allow clicking outside the popup to dismiss it. To avoid this, use premade popup templates designed specifically for age verification: they are typically fullscreen and have no close buttons, ensuring the only options are confirming age or being redirected away.

Failing to hide page content

Choosing the wrong popup format may also result in the page content being partially visible to the visitors. To avoid this mistake, choose either fullscreen overlays or modal popups with a blurred background, so that the page content remains restricted until a visitor confirms their age.

Set up age verification popup with Getsitecontrol

Creating an age verification for your website doesn't have to involve complex coding or expensive solutions. With Getsitecontrol, you can choose among pre-designed templates, adjust their content, and implement a professional-looking age gate in just minutes. The fullscreen design ensures visitors can't access your content without confirming their age, while customization options let you match the popup perfectly to your brand.

Most users get their popup live quickly, without needing a developer. And if you need help, live chat support is available around the clock.

Ready to add an age verification popup to your website? Then create an account now. Getsitecontrol comes with a generous free plan, so you don’t have to add your credit card to create a popup and publish it on your website.