Google Analytics Alternatives

1. Web Analytics features

Most tools have a feature set oriented toward a specific use case, like user engagement reports and customer journey reports for product analytics, or heatmaps and session recordings for UX analytics. Think of what you want to measure and analyze before diving into the deep end. More features is not always better: there are specialized tools that do few things in a great way, instead of many things just okay.

2. Data privacy regulation compliance

Data privacy compliance should be high on your list. Look for a tool that complies with the GDPR and CCPA if you want to respect your visitor’s privacy and avoid trouble. Large fines have been given to companies that did not handle customer private data correctly.

Tools that comply with any specific regulation will state it clearly since it’s a selling point nowadays. Even so, always consult a legal expert to check if a tool can be used in your target markets. Learn more about data privacy regulation in our knowledge base.

3. Ownership

Ownership covers to two aspects: data ownership and software ownership. Owning your (raw) data gives you full control over it. This means you can modify and analyze it in any way you want. Your data will not be used by anyone but you, which simplifies data privacy compliance. Still, you can send it to wherever with a Customer Data Platform (CDP).

As opposed to proprietary software, you can turn to the open-source community. There are quite a few open-source options on the market today. The benefit of an open-source analytics tool is that you can access the source code and customize them however you see fit. This can make them cost-effective and they give you more control over your data collection and management.

4. Hosted or Self-hosted Analytics

Hosted means that the provider hosts the software for you. You can then use their software by logging in, which is the case for most tools. They work out of the box and offer convenience: don’t worry about technicalities like servers and security.

Self-hosted means you install the tool on your own web servers. This gives you control over where your data is kept and how it’s used. Self-hosted is great if you have knowledge of server management and access to sufficient computing power.

One of the main reasons why you might choose self-hosted analytics is the data privacy restrictions of the countries you operate in. Some countries prohibit storing their citizens’ personal data outside their territory, like the EEA, China, and Russia.

5. Pricing of analytics tools

Get value for your money by considering the price of the tool compared to the functionality it offers. Many tools base their pricing on a metric, like the number of pageviews. Exceeding that number exposes you to additional charges or forces you to go up one pricing tier.

Luckily these paid solutions come with a free trial, ranging from 7 to 21 days. Don’t want to pay? Pick a free tool. Be aware that free plans usually come with restrictions or fewer features.