GoatCounter
GoatCounter is an open source web analytics platform available as a hosted service (free for non-commercial use) or self-hosted app.
About GoatCounter
GoatCounter is an open source web analytics platform, offered as a donation-supported hosted service or as a self-hosted application. It is positioned as a privacy-friendly alternative to Google Analytics and Matomo, identifying unique visits without cookies or persistent storage of personal data, and without requiring a GDPR notice. The platform collects statistics such as browser information, location, screen size, and referring sites and campaigns, with fine-grained control over what data is gathered.
Integration is done via a single script tag, with alternative options including a JavaScript-free tracking pixel, backend middleware integration, or log file parsing. The tool adds about 3.5KB of extra data to a site. The interface is built with accessibility as a priority, including compatibility with screen readers.
GoatCounter.com is intended for personal websites and small-to-medium businesses under reasonable usage levels; it is not intended for sites sending millions of pageviews per day. Users can export their data and cancel at any time, and the source code is available for self-hosting or modification.
Key features
- Privacy-first analytics that avoids tracking users with unique identifiers and doesn't require a GDPR notice
- Lightweight script adds only ~3.5KB to a site, with JavaScript-free tracking pixel option
- Identifies unique visits without cookies or persistent personal data storage
- Tracks browser info, location, screen size, referring sites, and campaigns
- Open source with self-hosting available
- Data export and account cancellation available at any time
Frequently asked questions
Is GoatCounter free to use?
GoatCounter.com is free for reasonable public usage such as personal or small-to-medium business sites, funded by donations via GitHub Sponsors. Sites sending millions of pageviews per day should self-host instead.
Does GoatCounter require cookies or a GDPR notice?
No, it identifies unique visits without cookies or persistently storing personal data, so it doesn't require a GDPR notice.
How do I integrate GoatCounter into my site?
You add a single script tag to your site, or alternatively use a JavaScript-free image-based tracker, backend middleware integration, or logfile parsing.
Can I self-host GoatCounter?
Yes, it is 100% open source and can be self-hosted for any purpose, with the code available on GitHub.
Who is GoatCounter for?
It's aimed at people who want easy, privacy-friendly web analytics as an alternative to Google Analytics or Matomo, particularly for personal websites or small-to-medium businesses.
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