Top Free Alternative to Google Analytics

Google Analytics is one of the most well known website analytics around, not to mention being one of the best. Although Google Analytics is a fantastic app to tackle your site’s analytics needs, there are actually several other options available that many would argue are better choices. I’ve pulled together some of the best alternatives to Google Analytics and some information about each; price, plugins, mobile apps, real-time tracking and requirements.
Which analytics app do you use and why? Read on to see if there’s anything more fitting for your needs or if you have something you’d recommend. 

Google Analytics

Perhaps the most well known and most used, Google Analytics is king of the hill. It’s one of the most powerful analytics apps available and remains free, which makes it the most popular choice to date. There are plugins, tweaks and third-party apps for just about every platform available so integration should be a snap.
Among its greatness, it also has drawbacks and many argue quality flaws. Keep reading to see other great alternatives for your analytics needs.

• Price: Free
• WordPress Plugin: Yes
• Mobile Application : Yes
• Real-time data: Yes
• Requirements: None

Piwik

Piwik is an open source analytics app that you’ll have to host yourself but offers everything from real-time tracking to mobile apps for iPhone and Android and is even offered in over 30 languages. It’s directly intended to be an alternative to Google Analytics and does a pretty dang good job of it. 

• Price: Free (open source) 
• WordPress Plugin: Yes 
• Mobile App: iPhone (iTunes) or Android app 
• Real-time data: Yes 
• Requirements: Self-hosted (PHP, MySQL) 

Woopra

Woopra takes a different approach to analytics and requires that you download a desktop client to handle your site’s incoming data. The app offers real-time tracking and a dark color scheme for its interface, making heavy use of icons and vibrant colors. With the features offered, Woopra is a great choice, especially since it’s free.

• Price: Free
• WordPress Plugin: Yes
• Mobile App: iPhone app (iTunes)
• Real-time data: Yes
• Requirements: Desktop compatible with desktop client
• Developer: iFusion Labs, LLC.

GoingUp!

GoingUp! takes a slightly different approach by pushing SEO tools along with the regular analytics app tools. The interface could use a some refinements but overall gets the job done. Among the piles of features the app sports, real-time tracking, heatmaps and mobile apps are nowhere to be seen. The app is free though so if you need easier to understand SEO tools, this might be worth checking out.

• Price: Free
• WordPress Plugin: Yes
• Mobile App: No
• Real-time data: No
• Requirements: None
• Developer: GoingUp!

 

 

 

Open Web Analytics!

Easy, Open, Web Analytics.

Open Web Analytics (OWA) is open source web analytics software that you can use to track and analyze how people use your websites and applications. OWA is licensed under GPL and provides website owners and developers with easy ways to add web analytics to their sites using simple Javascript, PHP, or REST based APIs. OWA also comes with built-in support for tracking websites made with popular content management frameworks such as WordPress and MediaWiki.

• Price: Free
• WordPress Plugin: Yes
• Mobile App: No
• Real-time data: No
• Requirements: None

 

What Do You Use?

Each of these apps are fantastic in their own way and make for pretty great alternatives to Google Analytics. Do you use or plan on trying out one of the apps listed here? Or maybe you use an app I haven’t listed that you think should’ve been?