I have a small website, and using the new Google Analytics feels like a total nightmare. Since I don't get much traffic yet, I'd really like to see what visitors are doing on my site in real-time, like tracking their clicks as they browse. What alternatives do people recommend for basic stats without requiring those annoying cookie banners?
5 Answers
I really like PostHog, though it's more for web apps. It helps track user behavior and interactions effectively. But if you're just looking for basic website stats, it might feel like overkill.
GA4 is definitely a headache. It's shifted to an event-based model which makes it less friendly for simple web analytics compared to its predecessor. If you're not tracking app data, it can feel way too complex. Just know you're not alone in finding it confusing!
Ha! Thank you for validating my confusion.
Check out Plausible Analytics if you're after simplicity. It's easy to use and provides the essential statistics without the clutter. I've really enjoyed using it for basic needs.
I've heard about Plausible, but have you tried Umami? I think it might be a better fit for gathering insights without the complications.
Yandex Metrica offers real-time user tracking and recordings, and it's an excellent tool for understanding visitor behavior. It's worth a look if you want something that functions like Google Analytics but is more straightforward to navigate.
If you can, consider self-hosting with Matomo. It's straightforward to set up and includes all the basic features you'd likely need. Plus, it respects user privacy a lot better than some options out there.
Thanks for the recommendation! I worry about self-hosting, though. Does it have live visitor tracking?
Isn't PostHog a bit much for just tracking simple stats? I’m pretty new to all this.