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GoatCounter

Open source web analytics platform, self-hosted or hosted, that counts pageviews with a script tag and avoids personal data.

GoatCounter is a web analytics platform that counts pageviews through a script tag, a JavaScript-free tracking pixel, a REST API or imported web server logs. The project offers it as a hosted service on goatcounter.com and as an app the creator can run on their own server, and the README says the source code can be self-hosted without restrictions.

The self-hosted app serves on port 8080 by default and stores its data in SQLite unless it is given a PostgreSQL connection. The README lists release binaries, a Docker image and a source build as the install routes. The project describes its approach as counting visits without tracking personal data and without cookies.

Worth knowing

The hosted service’s privacy page states that data is stored on servers in Finland and Germany. The project’s own text describes it as an alternative to Google Analytics and Matomo.

Identity

Status
Active
Maintainer
Martin Tournoij4
Maintained by
Individual
First release
20209
Headquarters
Ireland5

Rendering and deploy

Runs as
Always on6
Install with
binary-download6

Releases

Current major version
28
Last release
2025-12-158

Adoption

GitHub stars
6,1342
Contributors
6010

Why these figures do not compare

Sources

  1. 2026-11-03: links, Categories
    www.goatcounter.com
  2. 2026-11-03: links, Written in, GitHub stars
    api.github.com/repos/arp242/goatcounter
  3. 2026-11-03: links
    www.goatcounter.com/help/start
  4. 2026-11-03: Maintainer, License
    github.com/arp242/goatcounter/blob/v2.7.0/LICENSE
  5. 2026-11-03: Headquarters
    www.goatcounter.com/help/privacy
  6. 2026-11-03: Runtime, Runs as, Databases, Install with, Admin interface, Content API, License model
    github.com/arp242/goatcounter/blob/main/README.md
  7. 2026-11-03: Content API
    www.goatcounter.com/help/api
  8. 2026-11-03: Current major version, Last release
    api.github.com/repos/arp242/goatcounter/releases
  9. 2026-11-03: First release
    api.github.com/repos/arp242/goatcounter/commits/4ff547e63a6386128c577e180c93abf2555dec40
  10. 2026-11-03: Contributors
    api.github.com/repos/arp242/goatcounter/contributors
  11. 2026-11-03: Multilingual
    www.goatcounter.com/help/translating

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