Statcounter vs Google Analytics

<!DOCTYPE html> <head> <title>Statcounter vs Google Analytics | Statcounter</title> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta name="Author" content="Statcounter"> <meta name="Keywords" content="website stats, web stats, counter, hit counter, hit counters, free hit counter, free web counter, web counter, tracker, web tracker, visitor tracker"> <meta name="Description" content="Why should I choose Statcounter over Google Analytics?"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, user-scalable=0"> <meta name="referrer" content="origin-when-cross-origin"> <meta property="og:title" content="Statcounter vs Google Analytics | Statcounter"> <meta property="og:description" content="Why should I choose Statcounter over Google Analytics?"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.statcounter.com/images/landing/share_statcounter_vs_google_analytics.png"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.statcounter.com/statcounter-vs-google-analytics/"> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_IE"> <meta property="og:type" content="website"> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Statcounter"> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://ajax.aspnetcdn.com"> <link rel="preload" href="//statcounter.com/css/packed/statcounter-d25539c3ae.css" as="style"> <link rel="preload" href="/css/sticky-nav.css?cb=098824195" as="style"> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-155370589-1"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'UA-155370589-1');</script><link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://www.statcounter.com/images/favicon.png?v=1" type="image/x-icon"><link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="https://www.statcounter.com/images/apple-touch-icon-144x144-precomposed.png?v=1"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Statcounter Blog RSS Feed" href="https://blog.statcounter.com/feed/"><link rel="stylesheet" href="//statcounter.com/css/packed/statcounter-d25539c3ae.css"><link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/modal.app.css?2894"><link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/sticky-nav.css?cb=098824195"> <script src="https://ajax.aspnetcdn.com/ajax/jQuery/jquery-2.1.3.min.js"></script> <script src="https://ajax.aspnetcdn.com/ajax/jquery.ui/1.11.2/jquery-ui.min.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="//statcounter.com/js/packed/statcounter-758f2ac613.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/js/packed/sc-perf-15d6a5f857.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/js/sticky-nav-inline.jquery.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/js/scroll-with-stickynav-inline.jquery.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/libs/cycle2-inline.jquery.min.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/libs/cycle2-swipe-inline.jquery.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="hs-script-loader" async defer src="//js.hs-scripts.com/5804298.js"></script> </head> <body id="section-product" class="page-internal landing-page statcounter-vs-google-analytics sticky-nav"><header><div id="sticky-nav"><div id="mobile-menu"><a href="/login/" id="login">Log In</a><div id="mobile-menu-accordion"><h3>Product</h3> <div> <ul> <li><a href="/features/">Features</a></li> <li><a href="/pricing/">Pricing</a></li> <li id="how-it-works-accordion" class="mobile-sub-menu"><a href="/how-it-works/">How It Works</a> <ul> <li><a href="/how-it-works/">How does Statcounter work?</a></li> <li><a href="/free-invisible-web-tracker/">Reliable web tracker</a></li> <li><a href="/free-hit-counter/">Fast hit counter</a></li> <li><a href="/free-web-stats/">Free web stats</a></li> <li><a href="/statcounter-vs-google-analytics/">Statcounter vs Google Analytics</a></li> <li><a href="/ip-address-tracker/">IP Address Tracker</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="/about/recommendations/">Our Customers</a></li><li><a href="/success-stories/">Success Stories</a></li><li><a href="/demo/summary/">Demo</a></li> </ul> </div> <h3>Company</h3> <div> <ul> <li><a href="/about/mission/">Mission</a></li> <li><a href="/press-release/">Press Releases</a></li> <li><a href="/careers/">Careers</a></li> <li><a href="/about/legal/">Legal</a></li> <li><a href="/about/link-to-us">Link To Us</a></li> <li><a href="https://gs.statcounter.com/" target="_blank">Global Stats</a></li> </ul> </div> <h3>Support</h3> <div> <ul> <li class="mobile-sub-menu accordion"><a>Installation</a> <ul> <li><a href="/default/">Default Installation Guide</a></li> <li><a href="/install-guides/">Platform Installation Guides</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="mobile-sub-menu accordion"><a>Using Statcounter</a> <ul><li><a href="/support/using-statcounter/">Using Statcounter</a></li><li><a href="/support/analyze-your-first-visitors/">Analyze Your First Visitors</a></li><li><a href="/support/install-the-mobile-app/">Install the Mobile App</a></li><li><a href="/support/ignore-your-own-visits/">Ignore your own visits</a></li><li><a href="/support/explore-visitor-paths/">Explore Visitor Paths</a></li><li><a href="/support/configure-your-email-reports/">Configure your email reports</a></li><li><a href="/support/filter-your-reports/">Filter Your Reports</a></li><li><a href="/support/add-visitor-labels-and-alerts/">Add Visitor Labels & Alerts</a></li><li><a href="/support/add-another-project/">Add Another Project</a></li><li><a href="/support/sync-your-google-keyword-data/">Sync Your Google Keyword Data</a></li><li><a href="/support/set-up-multiple-users/">Set Up Multiple Users </a></li><li><a href="/support/view-google-ads-keywords-in-statcounter/">View Google Ads Keywords in Statcounter</a></li><li><a href="/support/analyze-landing-pages/">Analyze Your Landing Pages</a></li><li><a href="/support/live-update/">Watch a live update of your visitors</a></li><li><a href="/support/track-conversion-rate/">Track Your Conversion Rate</a></li><li><a href="/support/detect-click-fraud/">Detect Click Fraud</a></li><li><a href="/support/session-replay/">Session Replay Guide</a></li><li><a href="/support/session-replay-filters/">Zone in on the important sessions to watch with filters</a></li></ul> </li> <li id="knowledge-base-accordion" class="mobile-sub-menu accordion"><a href="/support/faq/">FAQ</a> <ul> <li><a href="/support/faq/">General</a></li> <li><a href="/support/faq/?filter=Installation">Installation</a></li> <li><a href="/support/faq/?filter=Configuration">Configuration</a></li> <li><a href="/support/faq/?filter=Upgrade">Upgrade</a></li> <li><a href="/support/faq/?filter=Bugs">Bugs</a></li> <li><a href="/support/faq/?filter=Statistics">Statistics</a></li> <li><a href="/support/faq/?filter=Billing">Billing</a></li> <li><a href="/support/faq/?filter=Forum">Forum</a></li> <li><a href="/support/faq/?filter=Definitions">Definitions</a></li> <li><a href="/support/faq/?filter=Advertising">Advertising</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="//api.statcounter.com/" target="_blank">API</a></li> <li><a href="/support/contact/">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div><h3>Explore</h3><div><ul><li><a href="https://statcounter.com/google-analytics-alternatives">Google Analytics Alternatives</a></li><li><a href="https://statcounter.com/statcounter-vs-google-analytics">Statcounter vs Google Analytics</a></li><li><a href="https://blog.statcounter.com/">Statcounter Blog</a></li></ul></div></div><div class="mobile-menu-signup"> <a href="/sign-up/" class="btn btn-green">Try it for Free!</a> </div></div><div class="row clearfix"> <div class="col col-span-9 col-nav"><nav id="nav-main"> <ul class="clearfix"><li id="nav-product"><a href="/features/">Features</a></li> <li id="pricing"><a href="/pricing/">Pricing</a></li> <li id="nav-demo"><a href="/demo/summary/">Demo</a></li> <li id="nav-sign-up"><a href="/sign-up/">Try it for FREE!</a></li> <li id="nav-log-in"><a href="/login/">Log In</a></li></ul> </nav></div> <div class="col col-span-3 col-logo"> <div id="logo-statcounter-2017"> <a href="/">Statcounter</a> </div> </div> <div id="navicon"> <span>Menu</span> </div> </div> </div><div id="header-content"><div class="row clearfix"> <div class="col col-span-12"><h1>Statcounter vs Google Analytics</h1> </div> </div><div id="image-container"> <img src="/images/landing/statcounter_vs_google_analytics.svg"> </div></div></header><div id="main"><div class="section easy-website-analytics clearfix"><div class="row clearfix"><h2>Google Analytics making your head hurt? Statcounter makes analytics easy.</h2></div><div class="row clearfix"><div class="try-it-for-free-mobile"><a href="https://statcounter.com/sign-up/" class="btn btn-green">Try it for FREE!</a></div></div><div class="row clearfix"><div class="container-centered col col-span-6"><p class="content left">Google Analytics is a tool for digital marketing experts who have the time and patience to invest in extensive training. The official ‘Google Analytics for Beginners’ course comes in seventeen parts. And that’s just a warm up for their 'Advanced Google Analytics' and 'Google Analytics for Power Users' courses.</p><p class="content left">The steep learning curve and heavy use of analytics terminology is a sticking point for many, not to mention the multiple levels of navigation menus and endless array of charts in the Google Analytics interface.</p><p class="content left">We designed Statcounter for small businesses who don’t have a digital marketing expert on their team. With easy to understand terminology, a simple user interface and all the features you need to understand your visitors, increase your traffic and make the most out of your website and digital marketing activities, Statcounter is the path of least resistance.</p></div><div class="container-centered col col-span-6"><h4><img src="/images/landing/icon-google-analytics.svg">Google Analytics</h4><ul><li>Steep learning curve</li><li>Requires a training course</li><li>Geared towards expert digital marketers</li></ul><h4><img src="/images/landing/icon-statcounter.svg">Statcounter</h4><ul><li>Easy to use out-of-the-box</li><li>Made for businesses without a digital marketing expert on their team</li><li>Bots and spam removed from stats</li></ul></div></div><div class="row clearfix"><div class="col col-span-12 image-centered"><img src="/images/landing/easy-website-analytics.svg"></div></div></div><div class="section detailed-visitor-view bg-grey clearfix"><div class="row clearfix"><h2>Statcounter gives you the detailed visitor view. Really detailed.</h2></div><div class="row clearfix"><div class="container-centered col col-span-6"><p class="content left">Both Statcounter and Google Analytics present data in aggregate form where groups of observations are represented with summary statistics. E.g. total page views, breakdown of mobile and desktop, average visit lengths, bounce rate, etc. <p class="content left">However, only Statcounter gives you the ability to drill down to a detailed view of each individual visitor for full visibility of your visitor's experience.</p><p class="content left">Statcounter's Recent Activity feeds show you a real-time, live feed of your visitors to see their location and system stats, and understand their behaviour and engagement.</p><p class="content left">Visitor Paths helps you make informed decisions about design and content by examining the navigation paths your visitors take through your website.</p><p class="content left">Magnify any visitor to view a forensic level of detail and identify anonymous web traffic as leads and customers.</p></div><div class="container-centered col col-span-6"><h4><img src="/images/landing/icon-google-analytics.svg">Google Analytics</h4><ul><li>Aggregate data only</li></ul><h4><img src="/images/landing/icon-statcounter.svg">Statcounter</h4><ul><li>Aggregate data, plus...</li><li>Detailed views of individual visitors</li><li>Navigation paths visitors took through your website</li></ul></div></div><div class="row clearfix"><div class="container-centered col col-span-12 image-centered"><img src="/images/landing/detailed-visitor-view.svg"></div></div></div><div class="section google-ads-click-fraud clearfix"><div class="row clearfix"><h2>Paying for Google Ads? You need to know about click fraud.</h2></div><div class="row clearfix"><div class="container-centered col col-span-6"><p class="content left"><a href="https://statcounter.com/click-fraud-detection/">Click fraud</a> is a major problem for any business paying for clicks to their website. It occurs when individuals or automated computers (bots) click on an advert without having any interest in the product/service advertised. Click Fraud is performed, instead, simply to generate a cost for the advertiser (without any chance of making a sale) and consume the advertiser's budget.</p><p class="content left">In 2017, 25% of all ad clicks were estimated to be fraudulent. Think of that in terms of a quarter of your digital advertising spend going down the toilet! And with the emergence of automated bots and click farms, the problem is getting exponentially worse.</p><p class="content left">With 84.5% of their revenue coming from ads and a quarterly revenue of <span class="nowrap">$36.3 billion</span>, (<a href="https://venturebeat.com/2019/04/29/alphabet-earnings-q1-2019/" target="_blank">source</a>) there's no doubt that Google is primarily an advertising business and their goal is to sell ads. Therefore it is not in Google's interest to help you spend less on ads and the tools they provide are ill equipped to detect the problem.</p><p class="content left">As an independently run business, Statcounter has no ulterior motive and gives you an impartial view on your website traffic. Our easy to use website analytics tools help you quickly identify and label suspicious visitor activity and download reports in spreadsheet format to submit to Google for a refund.</p></div><div class="container-centered col col-span-6"><h4><img src="/images/landing/icon-google-analytics.svg">Google Analytics</h4><ul><li>Google benefits financially from click fraud</li><li>Does not provide adequate tools to help</li></ul><h4><img src="/images/landing/icon-statcounter.svg">Statcounter</h4><ul><li>Independent & impartial</li><li>Provides the tools you need to detect click fraud and get refunded</li></ul></div></div><div class="row clearfix"><div class="col col-span-12 image-centered"><img src="/images/landing/google-ads-click-fraud.svg"></div></div></div><div class="section statcounter-support bg-grey clearfix"><div class="row clearfix"><h2>Support when you need it.</h2></div><div class="row clearfix"><div class="container-centered col col-span-6"><p class="content left">Google Analytics support appears to have a live chat feature for support but when you engage with the bot, you quickly realise it is only interested in helping if you are paying for ads. Not looking to advertise?</p><p class="content left">"Kindly fill out the form below and someone should get back to you within 2 - 3 days."<br>-Google Analytics Live Chat</p><p class="content left">Statcounter provides email support for all free accounts and priority live chat support with real humans for all upgraded members. Talk to one of our experienced analytics experts whenever you have a question or issue. Ask us how something works, suggest a feature, report a bug. Our friendly in house support team is here to help.</p></div><div class="container-centered col col-span-6"><h4><img src="/images/landing/icon-google-analytics.svg">Google Analytics</h4><ul><li>No live chat support</li><li>Several days wait for support</li></ul><h4><img src="/images/landing/icon-statcounter.svg">Statcounter</h4><ul><li>Live Chat Support for upgraded members</li><li>Email support for free accounts</li></ul></div></div><div class="row clearfix"><div class="col col-span-12 image-centered"><img src="/images/landing/statcounter-support.svg"></div></div></div><div class="section testimonials ss-style clearfix"> <div class="sc-row clearfix"> <h2>What are our customers are saying?</h2> <div class="col col-span-6"> <div class="testimonial"> <img src="/images/testimonials/andi_lucas.png"> <div class="name">ANDI LUCAS</div> <div class="title"></div><a href="https://hummingbirdmarketingservices.com" target="_blank">Hummingbird Marketing Services</a><div class="text">"I know that I can get some of this information from Google Analytics but I feel like Google Analytics is not very user-friendly. It's more difficult for me to read the reports, and they don't have the same kind of detail that Statcounter does. So while I have Google Analytics set up and I have Jetpack set up so I can quickly look at daily stats, Statcounter is filling in all the gaps for me."</div> </div> </div> <div class="col col-span-6"> <div class="testimonial"> <img src="/images/testimonials/brandon_gottier.png"> <div class="name">BRANDON GOTTIER</div> <div class="title"></div><a href="https://bdgwebdesign.com/" target="_blank">BDG Web Design.com</a><div class="text">"Statcounter is basically the pulse of our business. It's always the first tab on my browser and I refresh it probably 40 to 50 times a day. It has always been my go-to. Google analytics has a lot of noise. It's powerful, but Statcounter makes it so much easier to make quick decisions."</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="sc-row clearfix"> <div class="col col-span-6"> <div class="testimonial"> <img src="/images/testimonials/quentin_james.png"> <div class="name">QUENTIN JAMES</div> <div class="title"></div><a href="https://quentinjamesdesign.co.uk/" target="_blank">Quentin James Design</a><div class="text">"I find the Google Analytics interface horrific. And Statcounter is just dead easy and dead clear and dead simple to use. Most of my clients aren't particularly technically savvy but they can understand Statcounter so easily. They just get it. I know if I gave them a login for Google Analytics, I'd spend hours on the phone every week explaining stuff to them."</div> </div> </div> <div class="col col-span-6"> <div class="testimonial"> <img src="/images/testimonials/mike_pead.png"> <div class="name">MIKE PEAD</div> <div class="title"></div><a href="https://www.primaryimage.uk/" target="_blank">Primary Image</a><div class="text">"One of the main reasons I choose Statcounter over of Google Analytics is because it’s so user friendly. It has a really nice interface with clear reports. The screens are easy to understand and accessible. And it’s the same with my clients. They really appreciate the simplicity."</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="sc-row clearfix"> <div class="col col-span-6"> <div class="testimonial"> <img src="/images/testimonials/luke_collins.png"> <div class="name">LUKE COLLINS</div> <div class="title"></div><a href="https://lukecollinsphotography.com" target="_blank">Luke Collins Photography</a><div class="text">"I have Google Analytics on my site but I never ever check it because I don't feel like they give you the information in an easily digestible format. Whereas with Statcounter, it's easier for me to see what's going on with my site."</div> </div> </div> <div class="col col-span-6"> <div class="testimonial"> <img src="/images/testimonials/eman_nabih.png"> <div class="name">EMAN NABIH</div> <div class="title"></div><a href="https://devenia.com" target="_blank">Devenia</a><div class="text">"We don’t use Google Analytics. Instead, we use Statcounter because it gives us usable and actionable data. Google Analytics is a confusing mess as a tool. I’m sure it works well in the board meetings though! Other than that, it is useless."</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="home-join clearfix"><h2>Try Statcounter free for 30 days</h2> <div class="text-center">No Credit Card required. Downgrade to the free plan anytime.</div> <a href="/sign-up/" class="btn btn-green">Try it for FREE!</a></div></div><footer> <div class="row clearfix"> <div class="col col-span-3"> <h3 id="product-title">Product</h3> <ul id="product-menu"> <li><a href="/features/">Features</a></li> <li><a href="/pricing/">Pricing</a></li> <li><a href="/how-it-works/">How It Works</a></li> <li><a href="/about/recommendations/">Our Customers</a></li><li><a href="/success-stories/">Success Stories</a></li><li><a href="/demo/summary/">Demo</a></li> </ul> <h3>Get the App</h3> <ul id="mobile-apps" class="clearfix"> <li id="app-ios"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/statcounter-free-real-time/id903409665?mt=8" target="_blank">Statcounter iOS App</a></li><li id="app-android"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.statcounter.statcounterapp" target="_blank">Statcounter Android App</a></li><li id="app-windows"><a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/p/statcounter-web-analytics/9nblggh5q10j" target="_blank">Statcounter Windows App</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col col-span-3"> <h3>Company</h3> <ul> <li><a href="/about/mission/">Mission</a></li> <li><a href="/press-release/">Press Releases</a></li> <li><a href="/careers/">Careers</a></li> <li><a href="/about/legal/">Legal</a></li> <li><a href="/about/link-to-us">Link To Us</a></li> <li><a href="https://gs.statcounter.com/" target="_blank">Global Stats</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col col-span-3"> <h3>Support</h3> <ul> <li><a href="/default/">Installation</a></li> <li><a href="/support/using-statcounter/">Using Statcounter</a></li> <li><a href="/support/faq/">FAQ</a></li> <li><a href="//api.statcounter.com/" target="_blank">API</a></li> <li><a href="/support/contact/">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col col-span-3"> <h3>Explore</h3> <ul><li><a href="/google-analytics-alternatives">Google Analytics Alternatives</a></li><li><a href="/statcounter-vs-google-analytics">Statcounter vs Google Analytics</a></li> <li><a href="https://blog.statcounter.com/">Statcounter Blog</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </footer><div id="sub-footer"> <div class="row clearfix"> <div class="col col-span-6"> <p class="center-text"><span class="nowrap">© Statcounter 1999-2024.</span>   <span class="nowrap">All rights reserved.</span></p> </div><div class="col col-span-6 clearfix"> <ul id="social-links" class="clearfix"> <li id="link-facebook"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/StatCounter-276618292699885/" target="_blank">Statcounter on Facebook</a></li> <li id="link-twitter"><a href="https://twitter.com/statcounter" target="_blank">Statcounter on Twitter</a></li> </ul> </div></div> </div><div id='sc-perf-wh' class='sc-perf session-replay-block'>webf002</div><div id='sc-ttfb-bd' class='sc-perf session-replay-block'>13.39316368103</div> <script type="text/javascript"> if(document.cookie.indexOf("landing=")==-1) { var exdate=new Date(); exdate.setDate(exdate.getDate()+365); document.cookie="landing=" +escape(document.location)+"|||"+escape(document.referrer)+";expires="+exdate.toGMTString()+";path=/;domain=.statcounter.com"; } var sc_project=11601825; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_security="9b281417"; document.write("<sc"+"ript type='text/javascript' src='" + "https://statcounter.com/counter/counter_test.js?cb=697241dd5385'></"+"script>"); </script> <noscript><div class="statcounter"><a title="Web Analytics Made Easy - StatCounter" href="https://statcounter.com/" target="_blank"><img class="statcounter" src="//c.statcounter.com/11601825/0/9b281417/1/" alt="Web Analytics Made Easy - StatCounter"></a></div></noscript>  <script type="text/javascript"> if(document.cookie.indexOf("landing=")==-1) { var exdate=new Date(); exdate.setDate(exdate.getDate()+365); document.cookie="landing=" +escape(document.location)+"|||"+escape(document.referrer)+";expires="+exdate.toGMTString()+";path=/;domain=.statcounter.com"; } var sc_project=10011918; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_security="458f783c"; var sc_click_stat=1; document.write("<sc"+"ript type='text/javascript' src='https://statcounter.com/counter/counter_test.js?cb=697241dd5385'></"+"script>");</script> <noscript><div class="statcounter"><a title="blogger visitor counter" href="https://statcounter.com/blogger/" target="_blank"><img class="statcounter" src="https://c.statcounter.com/10011918/0/458f783c/1/" alt="blogger visitor counter"></a></div></noscript> </body></html>

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