GoatCounter
Open source, privacy-focused web analytics with a clean dashboard, no cookies, and no GDPR consent banners required.
Best for developers and small businesses who want simple, privacy-first analytics without cookie banners or complex setup.
Use Cases
Free Tier
Free hosted service for reasonable usage; unlimited self-hosted
How to Maximize the Free Tier
GoatCounter's hosted service is free for reasonable use — perfect for blogs, documentation sites, and small business pages. The simplicity is the appeal: one script tag, immediate data, no configuration. If you're concerned about the undefined limits, self-host it with Docker or a single Go binary — the code is fully open source. Use the JavaScript-free tracking pixel option if you need analytics on sites where JS is restricted. GoatCounter pairs well with a static site generator: add the script to your base template and every page is tracked automatically. If you need advanced product analytics (funnels, retention), combine GoatCounter with PostHog or Mixpanel for the behavioral layer.
Getting Started
Sign up at goatcounter.com → create a site → copy the tracking script → add the `<script>` tag to your HTML → visit your dashboard to see pageviews. For self-hosting: `goatcounter help` for binary downloads, or build from source with Go.
Pros
- Truly free hosted: No pageview caps for reasonable usage — run your personal site or small business analytics without paying a cent
- Privacy by design: No cookies, no personal data collection, GDPR compliant by default — skip the cookie consent banner entirely
- Lightweight: Adds only ~3.5KB to your page, has a no-JavaScript tracking pixel option, and loads fast
Cons
- Basic metrics only: No funnels, session recording, or cohort analysis — this is a pageview counter, not a product analytics suite
- Undefined limits: The 'reasonable usage' policy for hosted is vague — heavy traffic sites may be asked to self-host or pay
- Smaller ecosystem: Fewer integrations and third-party tools compared to Google Analytics or Mixpanel