Amplitude
Product analytics platform for tracking user behavior and generating data-driven insights
Matomo
Self-hosted web analytics platform with complete data ownership
Privacy-focused analytics platform you install on your own server. Track websites in real-time with full control over your data—a powerful alternative to Google Analytics.
Overview
Complete Control Over Your Analytics
Matomo is a full-featured web analytics platform that you download and install on your own server. Built with PHP and MySQL, it provides real-time insights into website traffic while ensuring you maintain complete ownership of your data. After a straightforward five-minute installation, you receive a JavaScript tracking code to embed on any site you wish to monitor.
Privacy-First Architecture
Used by over 1.4 million websites worldwide, Matomo serves as a powerful alternative to third-party analytics services. Privacy is built into the core architecture, allowing organizations to comply with data protection regulations while still gaining deep insights into visitor behavior. The platform supports advanced capabilities including e-commerce tracking, goal conversion analysis, campaign attribution, custom segmentation, and real-time visitor maps.
Extensible and Customizable
Matomo's plugin-based architecture enables teams to add or remove features as needed. The customizable dashboard lets you arrange widgets, create custom reports, and access all data through a comprehensive API. Backed by a vibrant community of over 200,000 active users and supported by thousands of automated tests, Matomo delivers enterprise-grade analytics without vendor lock-in.
Highlights
Self-hosted deployment with complete data ownership and API access
Privacy-compliant tracking with built-in consent management
Real-time analytics dashboard with drag-and-drop customization
Plugin architecture for extensibility and custom feature development
Pros
- Full control over analytics data stored on your own infrastructure
- No data sampling or visitor limits regardless of traffic volume
- GDPR and privacy regulation compliance built into core platform
- Extensive plugin ecosystem and active community support
Considerations
- Requires server infrastructure and technical expertise to deploy
- Self-managed updates, backups, and security maintenance
- Resource-intensive on high-traffic sites without optimization
- Steeper learning curve compared to hosted SaaS alternatives
Managed products teams compare with
When teams consider Matomo, these hosted platforms usually appear on the same shortlist.
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Fit guide
Great for
- Organizations requiring data sovereignty and regulatory compliance
- High-traffic websites needing unlimited tracking without sampling
- Teams wanting customizable analytics with API integration
- Privacy-conscious businesses seeking Google Analytics alternatives
Not ideal when
- Teams without server infrastructure or technical resources
- Small projects preferring zero-maintenance hosted solutions
- Organizations needing immediate deployment without setup time
- Users seeking native integration with Google advertising platforms
How teams use it
Healthcare Provider Compliance
Hospital network tracks patient portal usage while maintaining HIPAA compliance through on-premises data storage and complete audit trails
E-commerce Conversion Optimization
Online retailer analyzes shopping cart abandonment, tracks campaign ROI, and monitors product performance without sharing customer data with third parties
Multi-Site Publishing Network
Media company consolidates analytics across 50+ properties with unified reporting, custom dashboards, and API-driven data integration into internal BI tools
Government Agency Transparency
Public sector organization provides citizen-facing services analytics while ensuring data remains within national borders and meets strict privacy regulations
Tech snapshot
PHP79%
JavaScript8%
Vue5%
Twig2%
TypeScript2%
HTML2%
Frequently asked questions
What are the minimum server requirements for Matomo?
Matomo requires PHP 7.2.5 or greater, MySQL 5.5+ or MariaDB, and the PDO/MySQLi PHP extensions. It's OS and server independent, running on Linux, Windows, or macOS hosting environments.
How does Matomo compare to Google Analytics in terms of features?
Matomo offers comparable core analytics including real-time tracking, e-commerce, goal conversion, campaign tracking, and custom segmentation. Key differences include self-hosting, no data sampling, complete API access, and built-in privacy compliance.
Can I migrate existing Google Analytics data to Matomo?
While Matomo cannot directly import historical Google Analytics data, you can run both platforms simultaneously during transition. Matomo begins collecting data immediately upon JavaScript code installation.
Is there a hosted version if I don't want to self-host?
Yes, Matomo Cloud offers a fully managed hosting option with a 21-day free trial. This eliminates server management while maintaining the same privacy-focused approach and feature set.
How do I extend Matomo with custom features?
Matomo's plugin architecture allows you to develop custom features using PHP. You can create proprietary plugins, use community plugins from the marketplace, or hire consultants for specialized development.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 21,212
- Watchers
- 21,212
- Forks
- 2,803
LicenseGPL-3.0
Repo age14 years old
Last commit5 hours ago
Self-hostingSupported
Primary languagePHP
Last synced 53 minutes ago