In Europe, Matomo can be a serious Google Analytics alternative. The use of Google Analytics in some projects may be prohibited due to its incompatibility with GDPR laws. In France, a recent decision by the CNIL a French company for using Google Analytics. The CNIL stated that users must give consent for their data to be processed by a non-GDPR service provider through an opt-in system. The CNIL also highlighted that some user's private data may not be stored within Europe.
Why use Matomo ?
Matomo (formerly Piwik) is an open source web analytics platform that provides users with a powerful and flexible alternative to Google Analytics. Matomo was designed to give users complete control over their data, including the ability to collect, store and analyze data without any third-party involvement. Matomo tracks and reports on visitor activity on websites and apps, giving users a comprehensive understanding of their visitors’ behavior. It provides users with a comprehensive set of features and tools, such as real-time visitor data, visitor segmentation, custom reports, and more. It’s also compatible with a variety of platforms, including WordPress, Magento and Drupal. Matomo is an ideal choice for those who want to track and analyze their website’s activity without relying on a third-party service such as Google Analytics.
Combined with Metabase, a data visualization tool, Matomo can be very powerful and will be more flexible than any other analytics tool. Discover our article on Matomo + Metabase
What are the key differences between Matomo and Google Analytics?
Matomo and Google Analytics are two of the most popular web analytics solutions available. Both solutions offer insights and data that can help businesses better understand their customers and optimize their user experience. However, there are some key differences between the two that businesses should consider when deciding which solution is the best fit for their needs. One of the biggest differences between Matomo and Google Analytics is the data they collect. Matomo offers more detailed data, such as page views and specific user actions, while Google Analytics focuses more on general data such as page visits, time on page, and bounce rate. Matomo also offers more control over data collection, allowing businesses to specify which data points they want collected and how they want it collected. Another difference between the two solutions is the level of customization available. Matomo offers more customization options, allowing businesses to customize their reports and dashboards to better meet their needs. Google Analytics, on the other hand, is more limited in terms of customization. Finally, Matomo and Google Analytics have different pricing structures. Matomo is an open source solution that is free to use, while Google Analytics is a paid solution that offers a range of pricing plans to suit different budgets. In conclusion, Matomo and Google Analytics offer different insights and data that can help businesses better understand their customers and optimize their user experience. Businesses should consider the key differences between the two solutions before deciding which one is the best fit for their needs.
What unique features does Matomo offer that Google Analytics lacks?
Matomo is a great Google Analytics alternative that offers an open-source web analytics platform. It is focused on tracking your user's visits and their behaviors, while Google Analytics is more focused on measuring audiences. Matomo is a great alternative to Google Analytics if you are looking for more control and flexibility over your analytics data.
One of the unique features that Matomo offers is full data ownership. All of the data collected by Matomo is stored on your own servers and you have full access to the raw data. This ensures that the data remains private and secure and you can use it however you like, without worrying about third parties accessing the data.
Matomo also offers more granular tracking than Google Analytics. It can track individual visitors, their interactions with the website, and their behaviour over time. This allows for more detailed insights into website performance and visitor behaviour. Matomo also offers more detailed segmentation tools and allows you to create custom reports to track specific metrics.
Finally, Matomo is more lightweight than Google Analytics and does not require you to install any plugins or code on your website. This makes it easier to set up and manage, and can help improve website performance.
How easy is it to switch from Google Analytics to Matomo?
It depends on the size and complexity of your website. If you have a relatively small website with basic tracking needs, switching from Google Analytics to Matomo can be relatively straightforward. However, if you have a larger website with more complex tracking needs and many custom settings, the switch may require more effort and time.
What is the cost of Matomo compared to Google Analytics?
Matomo and Google Analytics are two of the most popular analytics tools available today. Both offer powerful tracking capabilities and insights into website traffic and user behaviour, but there are some significant differences in the cost of each.
Google Analytics is free to use, while Matomo starts at €19 per month for its cloud plan. But Matomo is open-source, so you can also host Matomo on your own server for only the cost of the server.
Premium plans are available as well for more advanced users on both tools. The main difference between the two is that while Google Analytics is free (exept custom paid plans for very large companies), Matomo offers a range of additional features that are not available with the basis version. These include advanced segmentation, custom reports, tfecommerce analysis, and more.
In terms of cost, the difference between Matomo and Google Analytics comes down to what features you need. If you just need basic website tracking, then Google Analytics will be the more cost-effective option. However, if you need more advanced features or insights, then Matomo may be a better choice. And if you want to have a full control over your data and use a european GDPR compliant solution, Matomo is definitly a must-go Google Analytics alternative.
How does Matomo handle data privacy compared to Google Analytics?
Data privacy is a major concern for businesses and individuals alike, and Matomo is designed to offer a privacy-focused Google Analytics alternative. Recently, french Google Analytics users where condemned by the CNIL because Google Analytics is sending private data outside of Europe, like IP addresses. In comparison to Google Analytics, Matomo provides several key benefits when it comes to data privacy:
- Data ownership: Matomo is open-source software, which means that businesses have full control over their data. They can choose to host Matomo on their own servers, ensuring that their data is stored in a location that they trust. In contrast, Google Analytics stores data on Google's datacenters, which can raise concerns about data privacy and security.
- Privacy-focused design: Matomo has been designed with privacy in mind, and it provides several features that are specifically aimed at protecting user data. For example, Matomo allows businesses to anonymize IP addresses, which helps to protect the privacy of website visitors. In addition, Matomo provides tools for configuring privacy settings and for controlling access to data.
- No data sharing: With Matomo, businesses are not required to share their data with any third parties. In contrast, Google Analytics requires businesses to share their data with Google, which can be a concern for some businesses that are wary of giving up control over their data.
- Data privacy regulations: Matomo is designed to comply with data privacy regulations, such as the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This means that businesses can be confident that they are using a tool that complies with the latest data privacy standards and regulations.
In summary, Matomo provides a privacy-focused alternative to Google Analytics that is designed to give businesses full control over their data. Whether you're concerned about data privacy, data security, or compliance with data privacy regulations, Matomo offers a powerful and flexible solution that is designed to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes.
Does Matomo provide the same level of insights and analytics as Google Analytics?
Matomo offers a range of features and functionalities for tracking and analyzing website data. When it comes to comparing Matomo to Google Analytics, there are pros and cons to both platforms.
One of the biggest benefits of Matomo is that it offers full control over the data being collected and analyzed. As an open-source platform, Matomo can be hosted on your own server, giving you complete control over where your data is stored and who has access to it. This is in contrast to Google Analytics, which is a cloud-based service that collects and stores data on Google's servers.
In terms of the level of insights and analytics provided, Matomo offers a wide range of reporting and visualization options that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your business. Matomo provides detailed tracking information on website traffic, conversion rates, user behavior, and more. Additionally, Matomo offers advanced reporting features such as custom reports, real-time data analysis, and the ability to set custom goals and funnels.
While Google Analytics is a well-established and widely-used platform, it may not always provide the level of insights and analytics that a business needs. With its extensive range of reporting and visualization options, Matomo can provide a more in-depth and granular view of your website data.
In conclusion, whether Matomo provides the same level of insights and analytics as Google Analytics will depend on the specific needs of your business. However, for businesses that require more control over their data and a more in-depth view of their website analytics, Matomo can be a powerful and flexible alternative to Google Analytics.
Are there any limitations to using Matomo as a Google Analytics alternative?
Matomo is a popular open-source web analytics platform that offers a range of features and functionalities for tracking and analyzing website data. While Matomo can be a powerful and flexible alternative to Google Analytics, there are some limitations to using Matomo as a Google Analytics alternative.
One of the main limitations of Matomo is the learning curve involved in setting up and using the platform. As an open-source platform, Matomo requires a certain level of technical expertise to install and configure, and may not be as user-friendly as Google Analytics.
In terms of data collection, Matomo may not collect as much data as Google Analytics, as it relies on users to properly implement tracking codes on their websites. This can result in incomplete or inaccurate data if the tracking codes are not set up correctly.
Another limitation of Matomo is that it requires a certain level of technical expertise to customize and configure the platform to meet the specific needs of your business. While Matomo provides a wide range of reporting and visualization options, customizing these options can be a complex and time-consuming process.
Finally, Matomo may not be as well-suited for businesses with high traffic volumes or complex data needs as Google Analytics. While Matomo can handle a significant amount of data, it may not be able to scale to meet the needs of larger businesses or websites.
In conclusion, while Matomo can be a powerful and flexible alternative to Google Analytics, there are some limitations to using Matomo as a Google Analytics alternative. Businesses should consider these limitations and weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each platform before making a decision on which platform to use.
How does Matomo integrate with other web services?
Matomo is designed to integrate with a variety of web services, including CMS systems, e-commerce platforms, and other marketing and analytics tools. This makes it a versatile and flexible tool for businesses that need to collect and analyze data from multiple sources.
One of the key ways that Matomo integrates with other web services is through its APIs. These APIs allow developers to extract data from Matomo and use it in other systems, or to import data from other systems into Matomo for analysis. For example, if you have an e-commerce store, you can use Matomo's APIs to extract data on your sales and customer behavior, and then use that data to create custom reports and dashboards that provide insights into your business.
Another way that Matomo integrates with other web services is through plugins. Matomo has a thriving ecosystem of plugins that extend its functionality in a variety of ways. For example, there are plugins that allow you to integrate Matomo with popular e-commerce platforms like Magento and WooCommerce, as well as marketing tools like Mailchimp and Hootsuite.
Finally, Matomo is designed to be highly customizable, with an open-source codebase that makes it easy for developers to create custom solutions that meet the specific needs of their businesses. Whether you're looking to create custom reports, dashboards, or data visualizations, or to integrate Matomo with other systems, the flexibility and versatility of Matomo makes it an excellent choice for businesses that need a powerful analytics and BI solution.
