Matomo: A Privacy-Focused Alternative to Google Analytics
Matomo, formerly known as Piwik, is a widely used free and open-source web analytics application designed to track online visits to one or more websites and provide detailed reports for analysis. It is developed by an international team of developers and operates on a PHP/MySQL web server. Matomo has been translated into 54 languages, making it accessible to users worldwide.
The platform regularly receives updates and new versions to enhance its features and performance. As of July 2022, Matomo was utilized by over a million websites, representing more than 2% of all websites using known traffic analysis tools and 6% of the top 10,000 global websites.
Matomo is recommended and used by various public administrations, including CNIL, the European Commission, and the Italian government.
Key features of Matomo analytics include:
- Open Source: Matomo is an open-source software, which means its source code is freely available for anyone to view, modify, and distribute. This allows for greater transparency and gives users more control over their analytics data.
- Data Privacy: One of the significant advantages of Matomo is its strong emphasis on data privacy and security. Users can host Matomo on their own servers, enabling them to retain complete ownership and control over their data, which may be particularly appealing to those who are concerned about third-party data sharing.
- Customizable Reports: Matomo offers customizable reports and dashboards, allowing users to focus on the metrics that matter most to them. Users can create their own segments, goals, and visualizations to gain deeper insights into their website’s performance.
- Real-time Tracking: Matomo provides real-time analytics, allowing users to monitor their website traffic and user interactions as they happen. This feature can be useful for tracking campaigns and events in real-time.
- User Tracking Options: Users have the flexibility to choose the type of user tracking they want to implement, including cookie-based, IP address anonymization, and Do Not Track (DNT) compliance.
- Plugin System: Matomo has a robust plugin system, enabling users to extend its functionalities according to their specific needs. There are various plugins available that can integrate with other tools and services.
- GDPR Compliance: Matomo offers features to help website owners comply with data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe.
Overall, Matomo analytics is a powerful alternative to commercial analytics platforms, providing comprehensive web analytics while prioritizing data privacy and security. As with any analytics tool, it’s essential to understand its capabilities and configure it correctly to obtain accurate and meaningful insights from your data.
