Lesson 11Collecting data from visitors

Notion 70

Alternatives to google analytics (self-hosting, less data consumption, lightweight)

Target skills

Learn the alternatives to Google Analytics

Why you should consider using an alternative to Google Analytics

There are three main reasons to look for alternatives to Google Analytics: ease of use, privacy and ethics.

1. Ease of Use

Google Analytics is a powerful analysis tool, but it can also be complicated. If you don't have much experience with technology, figuring out how to use Google Analytics can be quite a challenge.

2. Privacy and Security

Google is best known for its 'free' products: Google Search Console, Gmail, Chrome, Google Docs, Google Analytics, etc.
But, let's not forget, Google is not a non-profit organization. They don't give these products away for free.
Let's make this example: Google Drive is very useful to store documents and photos. You can use the free version but it has limited GB. So if you need more GB, i.e because we are in a work team, we have to pay. This is one way Google uses to earn money.
However we have to remember that the 80% of earnings comes from advertising.

3. Ethics

There is a growing concern about the power Google has gained over the years. In fact, Google has a share of almost 90% in the search engine market. This means that its search algorithm shapes the public's perception of the world. Can you imagine the influence Google has on it?