GoatCounter

Overview GoatCounter is an open source web analytics platform that provides easy-to-use, privacy-friendly website statistics without tracking personal data. It is available as a free donation-supported hosted service or as a self-hosted app for those who want full control. The platform was designed as a simpler alternative to Google Analytics and Matomo, removing the complexity of excessive options while keeping useful statistics like browser info, location, screen size, referring sites, and campaigns. It serves website owners who want meaningful analytics without GDPR headaches, cookie banners, or tracking visitors with unique identifiers. Key Benefits Adds just ~3.5KB of extra data to your site — lightweight and fast. Identifies unique visits without cookies or storing personal data. Offers JavaScript-free tracking pixel, backend middleware integration, and log file import options. Keeps useful statistics including browser information, location, screen size, referring sites, and campaigns. Offers fine-grained control over which data is collected. 100% open source — you can inspect the code, make improvements, or self-host for any purpose. How It Works You add a single script tag to your website — script data-goatcounter="https://yoursite.goatcounter.com/count — and GoatCounter begins collecting anonymous visit data immediately. You can also use a no-JavaScript image-based tracker, integrate the counter in your backend middleware, or parse existing server log files instead. All data is accessible through a clean dashboard with a text view and filtering options for paths. Use Cases Personal website owners who want simple, privacy-respecting traffic stats without cookie banners. Small-to-medium business operators tracking public website performance without tracking individual users. Open source enthusiasts who prefer to self-host their own analytics infrastructure. Accessibility-conscious developers who need analytics dashboards compatible with screen readers. Privacy-focused site owners who want GDPR compliance without the complexity of consent management tools. Why Choose This Product GoatCounter is best suited for personal websites and small-to-medium businesses with reasonable traffic levels — the hosted service is free for this use. The page explicitly notes that sending millions of pageviews per day is not appropriate for the free hosted tier; users with high-volume needs should self-host. All users benefit from full data ownership, the ability to export data at any time, and a 100% open source codebase.