Statcounter review and a Better alternative

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Published on Aug 17, 2023 by Ankit Ghosh

StatCounter is a web analytics tool that aims to simplify all the analytics metrics into easily understandable charts and graphs.

This article will cover StatCounter’s features, strengths, and weaknesses. But there's more! We'll introduce you to an exciting alternative. This innovative solution offers a fresh perspective, empowering you to make informed decisions.

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  1. StatCounter Reviews
  2. StatCounter Reviews
  3. Simple Analytics: A better alternative
  4. Feature comparison between Statcounter and Simple Analytics
  5. Conclusion
  6. FAQs: A Better Alternative to StatCounter
    1. What kind of data does StatCounter collect?
    2. Can the tracking and reporting be customized in StatCounter?
    3. Is StatCounter easy to use?
    4. Is real-time analytics available in Statcounter?
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StatCounter Reviews

StatCounter is a web analytics tool that helps website owners monitor their traffic, analyze visitor behavior and track online campaigns. It was founded in 1999 and is based in Dublin, Ireland.

It also has other helpful features besides general analytics data, such as landing page analysis, conversion tracking, paid traffic analysis, session replay, live visitor feed, and more.

Pros of StatCounter

  • Provides real-time tracking
  • Essential analytics metrics are provided
  • Allows the user to segment visitors
  • Allows users to customize reports

Cons of StatCounter

  • The pricing plans can be expensive for small businesses
  • The free version has many limitations
  • Dated and poor UI

StatCounter Reviews

"Check it out, an affordable and efficient solution"

What do you like best about StatCounter?

This product is very useful in conducting web analysis and keeping track of traffic. Easy to use

What do you dislike about StatCounter?

The service has not let us down as of yet.

What problems is StatCounter solving and how is that benefiting you?

A great tool for analyzing our web traffic particularly per region. The tracking code is very effective

*Nikou M. | Executive Assistant, Enterprise*

Source: G2

"Great way to track visits to your website!"

What do you like best about StatCounter?

I like that they allow you to display a graphic on your site so that customers/visitors can see how many visits your page has had. They also give really great feedback as to specific analytics and what you can do to improve user retention.

What do you dislike about StatCounter?

I didn’t have any issues with StatCounter. It’s a great analytics tool for anyone who wants or needs to know the reach and audience of their websites.

What problems is StatCounter solving and how is that benefiting you?

I have been able to get a good deal of information about who visits my website, when, from what devices, ect.

*Jessabella R. | Owner & Writer, Writing and Editing, Small Business*

Source: G2

Simple Analytics: A better alternative

Simple Analytics is an easy-to-use analytics tool that gives you the insights you need while being 100% GDPR-compliant.

It was founded by Adriaan van Rossum shortly after the GDPR was approved. Since its inception, Simple Analytics has had customers of all sizes, notable ones being: Michelin, Havas Media, Nomadlist, and the UK Government.

Though Simple Analytics might sound like a simple minimal analytics tool, it does pack some powerful features that many marketers love, such as automated event collection, goal tracking, e-commerce analytics, bypassing ad blockers (as it’s privacy-friendly), and much more.

Let's explore why it's become a preferred choice for businesses seeking reliable and affordable analytics tools.

Pros of using Simple Analytics

  1. Simple UI: Simple Analytics is one of the easiest analytics tools. The dashboard is built in a way to easily understandable to non-marketers.
  2. Affordable: Tracking website and product metrics is pretty affordable with Simple Analytics. For just $9/month, you can track 100,000 data points (pageviews + events). Additionally, you get features that you would find in much more expensive tools.
  3. Privacy First: The world is moving in a direction where privacy is becoming increasingly important. Google Analytics has been declared illegal in multiple EU countries. You would rather avoid getting caught up in this mess. Take privacy or compliance with regulations into account.
  4. Mini Websites: Have you ever seen “t.co” as a referrer in your web analytics? If you have, you must have broken your head trying to find the source. Simple Analytics helps you find the exact tweet that referred/mentioned to your website.
  5. Lightweight: Your website is your storefront on the internet. Providing the best possible experience matters. Installing an analytics script has an impact on page speed. Choose an analytics tool that won’t slow your website down. Even Google recommends having a website that loads quickly.
  6. Integration: Installing and integrating Simple Analytics is also super easy. It has 20+ integrations to select from, so you can get it added quickly.

Cons of using Simple Analytics

Due to privacy laws, Simple Analytics doesn’t store IPs and user identifiers, which makes it lack a couple of metrics, such as bounce rate, but it does have time on page to give you an idea of user stickiness.

Pricing of Simple Analytics

Simple Analytics offers one of the most affordable pricing structures in its segment. The plans start at just $9/month, which lets you track 100,000 data points.

If you need more features, such as team access, the pricing goes up to $49/month, increasing the data points limit from 100,000 to 1,000,000.

Feature comparison between Statcounter and Simple Analytics

Simple AnalyticsStatCounter
Account Management
Trackable ItemsUnlimitedUnlimited
User Seats1 to Unlimited usersUnlimited
User RolesAvailableAvailable
Account SecurityPasswordless LoginN/A
Data Processing
Data RetentionUnlimitedUnlimited
Data Center LocationsEuropean Economic Area (EEA)European Economic Area (EEA)
Data ImportGA importer includedImport Google keyword data
Data OwnershipYouStatcounter
Software HostingPublic CloudPublic Cloud
ComplianceGDPR, PECR, CCPAGDPR
Data FreshnessRealtimeRealtime
Data ExportAs CSV or via APITo a spreadsheet or other third-party software.
CookielessSimple Analytics is cookielessStatCounter uses cookies
Reporting
Funnel ReportingAvailableLimited
Device ReportingAvailable (based on OS and screen sizes)Available
SegmentationAvailableAvailable
Trend ReportingAvailableAvailable
Alerts & Automation
Integrations20+ Available and can send a request to the Simple Analytics team for moreGoogle Ads
Email ReportsWeekly, monthlyDaily, weekly, monthly
Customizability
AnnotationsAvailableNot Available
Custom EventsAvailableAvailable

Conclusion

StatCounter includes numerous features and in-depth analysis but fails to provide an overall polished tool. If you need something that looks good, is easy to use, and complies with privacy laws, check out Simple Analytics.

It is the way to go for most people looking for a simple and easy-to-use web analytics tool; feel free to give it a try!

FAQs: A Better Alternative to StatCounter

What kind of data does StatCounter collect?

Statcounter gathers information about website visitors, such as IP addresses, browser information, device type, referring websites, and geographic location. It also keeps track of user engagements, such as page visits, clicks, and conversions.

Can the tracking and reporting be customized in StatCounter?

StatCounter offers several customization options, such as configuring unique tracking settings and generating customized reports. However, compared to more powerful analytics solutions, the level of flexibility may be limited.

Is StatCounter easy to use?

Statcounter is less complex than Google Analytics but less intuitive than Simple Analytics. If you want a tool that gives you the insights you need in an easy-to-use dashboard, you should check out Simple Analytics.

Is real-time analytics available in Statcounter?

Statcounter offers real-time analytics to track website traffic and visitor behavior. This might be valuable for gaining quick insights and tracking the effectiveness of marketing activities.

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