Google Analytics vs Open Web Analytics

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Google Analytics

125.7K
48.2K
+ 1
5K
Open Web Analytics

27
27
+ 1
0
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Google Analytics vs Open Web Analytics: What are the differences?

Introduction

Google Analytics and Open Web Analytics are both web analytics tools that provide valuable insights into website performance and user behavior. However, there are key differences between the two platforms that might influence your choice when deciding which one to use.

  1. Data Ownership and Privacy: One major difference between Google Analytics and Open Web Analytics is the control and ownership of data. With Google Analytics, your data is stored on Google's servers, which means that Google has access to your data and can use it for their own purposes. On the other hand, Open Web Analytics is a self-hosted solution, allowing you to have complete control and ownership of your data, ensuring better privacy and data security.

  2. Cost: Cost is an important factor to consider when choosing between Google Analytics and Open Web Analytics. Google Analytics offers a free version with limited features, but also provides an enterprise-level solution with advanced features at a cost. On the contrary, Open Web Analytics is an open-source tool that is completely free to use, making it a cost-effective option for individuals and small businesses.

  3. Customization and Flexibility: When it comes to customization and flexibility, Open Web Analytics provides more freedom compared to Google Analytics. With Open Web Analytics, you have the ability to customize and modify the tool according to your specific needs and requirements. This includes adding custom reports, integrating with other tools, and extending the functionality. Google Analytics, on the other hand, has limited customization options and functionalities, as it is a more standardized platform.

  4. Online vs Offline Analytics: Another key difference between Google Analytics and Open Web Analytics is the ability to track offline activities. While Google Analytics primarily focuses on tracking online activities such as website visits and conversions, Open Web Analytics offers the ability to track both online and offline events. This can be especially useful for businesses that have physical stores or conduct offline marketing activities.

  5. Integration with Other Platforms: Google Analytics has strong integration capabilities with a wide range of Google products and services, such as Google Ads and Google Search Console. This allows for a seamless flow of data between different platforms and enhances the overall tracking and reporting capabilities. Open Web Analytics, on the other hand, might have limited integration options and may require additional configuration to integrate with other platforms.

  6. Technical Expertise and Support: The level of technical expertise required to set up and maintain Google Analytics is generally lower compared to Open Web Analytics. Google Analytics has a user-friendly interface and extensive documentation, making it easier for beginners to get started. Additionally, Google provides reliable support and regular updates for the platform. Open Web Analytics, being an open-source tool, might require more technical knowledge and troubleshooting skills to fully utilize and maintain.

In Summary, Google Analytics offers robust data analysis capabilities with strong integration options, but lacks flexibility and control over data. Open Web Analytics provides better data ownership, customization options, and cost-effectiveness but may require more technical expertise and has limited integration capabilities.

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Pros of Google Analytics
Pros of Open Web Analytics
  • 1.5K
    Free
  • 926
    Easy setup
  • 890
    Data visualization
  • 698
    Real-time stats
  • 405
    Comprehensive feature set
  • 181
    Goals tracking
  • 154
    Powerful funnel conversion reporting
  • 138
    Customizable reports
  • 83
    Custom events try
  • 53
    Elastic api
  • 14
    Updated regulary
  • 8
    Interactive Documentation
  • 3
    Google play
  • 2
    Industry Standard
  • 2
    Walkman music video playlist
  • 2
    Advanced ecommerce
  • 1
    Medium / Channel data split
  • 1
    Easy to integrate
  • 1
    Financial Management Challenges -2015h
  • 1
    Lifesaver
  • 1
    Irina
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    Cons of Google Analytics
    Cons of Open Web Analytics
    • 11
      Confusing UX/UI
    • 8
      Super complex
    • 6
      Very hard to build out funnels
    • 4
      Poor web performance metrics
    • 3
      Very easy to confuse the user of the analytics
    • 2
      Time spent on page isn't accurate out of the box
      Be the first to leave a con

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      What is Google Analytics?

      Google Analytics lets you measure your advertising ROI as well as track your Flash, video, and social networking sites and applications.

      What is Open Web Analytics?

      It is open source web analytics software that you can use to track and analyze how people use your websites and applications. It provides website owners and developers with easy ways to add web analytics to their sites using simple Javascript, PHP, or REST based APIs.

      Need advice about which tool to choose?Ask the StackShare community!

      What companies use Google Analytics?
      What companies use Open Web Analytics?
      See which teams inside your own company are using Google Analytics or Open Web Analytics.
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      What tools integrate with Google Analytics?
      What tools integrate with Open Web Analytics?

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      Blog Posts

      Jul 2 2019 at 9:34PM

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      What are some alternatives to Google Analytics and Open Web Analytics?
      Mixpanel
      Mixpanel helps companies build better products through data. With our powerful, self-serve product analytics solution, teams can easily analyze how and why people engage, convert, and retain to improve their user experience.
      Piwik
      Matomo (formerly Piwik) is a full-featured PHP MySQL software program that you download and install on your own webserver. At the end of the five-minute installation process, you will be given a JavaScript code.
      Google Tag Manager
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      Amplitude
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      Heap
      Heap automatically captures every user action in your app and lets you measure it all. Clicks, taps, swipes, form submissions, page views, and more. Track events and segment users instantly. No pushing code. No waiting for data to trickle in.
      See all alternatives