5 Open Source Alternatives to Google Analytics
)
For all those who want to have control over their data:
Forty years ago today, the 108 Convention on Data Protection was adopted. It was the first binding international treaty on data protection and the model for a large number of data protection regulations.
Since 2007, 28 January has therefore been European Data Protection Day, a day of action based on the initiative of the Council of Europe. The United States and Canada also joined the European Commission's initiative in 2008. Data Privacy Day is therefore celebrated in these countries at the same time as European Data Protection Day.
The aim of the initiative is to sensitise citizens to the issue of data protection. Further information on this year's European Data Privacy Day can be found at the Council of Europe and at the Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Construction and Home Affairs.
However, we do not only want to inform you about data protection as an abstract construct, but also show you ways to better protect your analytical data. For us, individual online platforms and websites in general also include the option to decide on the use of one's own analytics data. In the following, we have prepared a comparison of open source alternatives to Google Analytics and present 5 tools that can help you with your data analysis.
The big difference is that all tools offer self-hosting. This means that data sovereignty can be guaranteed. When log data is stored, the privacy of visitors can be better guaranteed. However, with self-hosting, admins also have to take care of the maintenance and operation of the application.
One advantage of programmes that are decoupled from the Google product line is that many ad blockers can be bypassed. This also captures users with an activated ad blocker.
The main disadvantage of these tools is a mostly limited product scope and a less seamless integration into the rest of the Google universe.
If you need the exact data:
Matomo
The free open-source tool can compete with the market leader Google Analytics in many ways. The big difference here is that Matomo can be hosted on your own servers. To support data protection, Matomo offers additional privacy features that allow you to configure data to be either automatically anonymized or integrated in compliance with data protection regulations. The downside compared to Google Analytics is a more complex installation, configuration, and maintenance process. Matomo also offers many comprehensive features.
✓ self-hosting or available as a service
✓ allows multiple user accounts
✓ easily expandable through plugins
✓ free in self-hosting
✓ offers comprehensive web analytics
✓ no technical limitations for data storage and processing
✓ allows the import of Google Analytics data
 "Analyse Übersicht Matomo")
 "Analyse Übersicht Open Web Analytics")
Open Web Analytics
The tool is similar to Google Analytics in terms of presentation and usability. Also Open Web Analytics is free. For larger companies, the heatmap display is very interesting, where mouse movements on a website can be analyzed. Open Web Analytics does not limit how many websites and records can be tracked, providing a clear advantage over Google Analytics, where the free package is limited to ten million hits per month.
✓ self-hosting or available as a service
✓ allows multiple user accounts
✓ layout can be customized to user preferences
✓ free in self-hosting
✓ provides comprehensive web analytics
✓ heatmap for user behavior
✓ allows search term tracking and website usage history tracking
Wenn euch ein Überblick über die Daten genügt:
Plausible
The selling point of Plausible is the complete differentiation from Google Analytics. The tool focuses on simplicity and ease of use, describing itself as simple, light-weight, and user-friendly. All important metrics are therefore displayed at a glance. There is also the option to self-host the tool. Like the other three light-weight alternatives, Plausible does not use cookies, therefore does not collect personally identifiable information.
✓ self-hosting or available as a service
✓ allows for a user account
✓ light-weight
✓ optimized for speed
✓ can be linked with Google Search Console
 "Analyse Übersicht plausible")
 "Analyse Übersicht fathom")
Fathom
There are similarities between Fathom and Plausible in terms of design. Both prioritize usability and privacy. Unlike Plausible, Fathom allows the use of multiple user accounts. The tool describes itself as robust and capable of handling high traffic volumes. It can be hosted either as 'Fathom light' on your own server or for a fee with Fathom. Fathom also does not use cookies and works with anonymized data.
✓ self-hosting or available as a service
✓ allows multiple user accounts
✓ light-weight
✓ can handle large amounts of traffic
Umami
Also at Umami it is a simple and fast alternative to Google Analytics. The tool analyzes open source traffic and focuses on evaluating page views and countries of origin. The presentation is clear, no cookies are used here either. Personal data is therefore not collected. Umami can be downloaded from GitHub and self-hosted.
✓ self-hosting
✓ allows multiple user accounts
✓ free in self-hosting
✓ light-weight
✓ allows sharing analysis data online with the community
 "Analyse Übersicht Umami")
)
Tommy
Innovations- & Design-Expertin mit Schwerpunkt Psychologie und Marketing
More from our blog
Day 2 MACHN 2025: The festival for tech, business and art
Experience the highlights of the second day of MACHN 2025. From exciting presentations to insights into current trends and topics from the world of technology, business, and art.
Day 1 MACHN 2025: The festival for tech, business and art
Experience the highlights of the first day of MACHN 2025. From exciting presentations to insights into current trends and topics from the world of technology, business, and art.
World Backup Day 2025 - A good time for your backup?
31 March is World Backup Day. Learn how to make effective backups and what happens when you don't.
Team Interview Leon (Frontend-Dev)
Today in the team interview:
Leon - problem finder and solver, performance perfectionist and Java developer.
Werkstudentin Interview Lena
Today in an interview:
Lena - wunschlösung back office supporter, team event planner, feel-good manager
Research & development project: Online marketplaces and platforms of the future
What will marketplace & platform business models look like in the future? Find out more in our research & development project co-financed by the EU and the state of Thuringia
Team Interview Wojciech (Frontend-Dev)
Today in the team interview: Wojciech - pixel perfectionist, bug hunter, protector of scalability
Day 2 MACHN 2024: Innovation and networking in Leipzig
Experience the highlights of the second day of MACHN 2024, from exciting workshops and inspiring presentations to practical insights into current trends and technologies.
Day 1 MACHN 2024: Innovation and networking in Leipzig
Experience the highlights of the first day of MACHN 2024, from exciting workshops and inspiring presentations to practical insights into current trends and technologies.
Bye bye #localgutscheining - A review of our voucher portal project as part of the #JenaVsVirus hackathon.
Learn more about #localgutscheining here: how our project brought Jena together in the Corona Lockdown and supported local businesses.
The difference between online marketplaces, shops, portals, platforms and stores
Find out here what exactly the difference is between online marketplaces, shops, portals, platforms and shops.
We make our way to the Start-Up Festival 2023
Our Business Development Team was on the road again last week - at the MACHN Start-Up Festival for Tech, Business and Art in Leipzig. Here are some insights!