How to self-host your Google Analytics alternative
Self-hosting your web analytics turns "your visitor data goes to Google" into "it stays on your own server" — several of these alternatives don't even use cookies.
Tools that meet this intent
Alternative to Google Analytics
Cookie-free web analytics, an alternative to Google Analytics.
Alternative to Google Analytics
Minimalist web analytics, very easy to self-host.
Alternative to Google Analytics
Complete web analytics with heatmaps and sessions, 100% yours.
Alternative to Google Analytics
Minimalist, private web analytics, an alternative to Google Analytics.
Alternative to Google Analytics
Ultra-lightweight web analytics in a single binary, an alternative to Google Analytics.
Real server requirements
Between 256MB and 2GB of RAM depending on the tool — never a single number.
The widest RAM range in the catalog for this intent: GoatCounter runs on 256MB (a single binary), Umami and Matomo need 1GB, and Plausible needs 2GB since it runs ClickHouse underneath — the right choice depends on the traffic volume you want to analyze, not just your server budget.
Migrating your Google Analytics history isn't equivalent across tools: some can import historical data with varying fidelity, while others simply start measuring from scratch the day you install them — it helps to separate "keeping what you already have" (export your GA reports separately, as a backup) from "measuring going forward" with the new tool. Custom events, goals/conversions and integrations (Google Ads, Search Console) usually need to be rebuilt by hand in whichever alternative you choose — none of these tools currently offers a verified automatic migration from Google Analytics.
What you gain and lose versus the SaaS
You lose Google Analytics' native integration with Google Ads/Search Console; you gain data that doesn't depend on a visitor accepting a cookie, and full control over how long it's retained.