What is this?
Matomo (formerly Piwik) is the leading free open-source web analytics platform — a privacy-focused alternative to Google Analytics that you install on your own server. It is already used on more than 1,400,000 websites.
Matomo (formerly Piwik) is the leading free open-source web analytics platform — a privacy-focused alternative to Google Analytics that you install on your own server. It is already used on more than 1,400,000 websites.Is this a hosted service like Google Analytics, or something I run myself?It is a full-featured PHP + MySQL application you download and install on your own webserver, then open the reports in your browser. There is also an official hosted Matomo Cloud if you don't want to self-host.
It is a full-featured PHP + MySQL application you download and install on your own webserver, then open the reports in your browser. There is also an official hosted Matomo Cloud if you don't want to self-host.How do I get it running?Download Matomo, upload it to your webserver, point your browser to the directory and follow the steps. After the five-minute install you get a JavaScript tag to paste into the pages you want to track.
Download Matomo, upload it to your webserver, point your browser to the directory and follow the steps. After the five-minute install you get a JavaScript tag to paste into the pages you want to track.What does the server it runs on need?PHP 8.1.0 or greater, MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.6+, and the pdo/pdomysql or MySQLi PHP extensions. Matomo itself is OS- and server-independent.
PHP 8.1.0 or greater, MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.6+, and the pdo/pdomysql or MySQLi PHP extensions. Matomo itself is OS- and server-independent.What's the catch with self-hosting it?You run and maintain the PHP/MySQL stack yourself — updates, backups and capacity are on you. If you don't have a server, Matomo Cloud offers a hosted alternative with a 21-day free trial, plus paid On-Premise support plans.
You run and maintain the PHP/MySQL stack yourself — updates, backups and capacity are on you. If you don't have a server, Matomo Cloud offers a hosted alternative with a 21-day free trial, plus paid On-Premise support plans.Should I use it for a personal blog or a big site?Both — the project targets everything from simple to advanced analytics, from personal sites to intranets and e-commerce, with a community of more than 200,000 active users.
Both — the project targets everything from simple to advanced analytics, from personal sites to intranets and e-commerce, with a community of more than 200,000 active users.Where does it actually run?It is a web application: you administer it and read reports in a browser. The server side is OS-independent and runs on any webserver meeting the PHP/MySQL requirements.
It is a web application: you administer it and read reports in a browser. The server side is OS-independent and runs on any webserver meeting the PHP/MySQL requirements.Who gets to see the tracking data?Only you: everything is stored in your own database on your own server. Privacy is built in, and Matomo can easily be configured to respect your visitors' privacy.
Only you: everything is stored in your own database on your own server. Privacy is built in, and Matomo can easily be configured to respect your visitors' privacy.What can it track out of the box?E-commerce, goal and campaign tracking, custom variables, email reports, a custom segment editor, geo location, and real-time visits with maps. The dashboard is fully customizable with drag-and-drop widgets.
E-commerce, goal and campaign tracking, custom variables, email reports, a custom segment editor, geo location, and real-time visits with maps. The dashboard is fully customizable with drag-and-drop widgets.Can I extend it or remove features I don't need?Yes — Matomo's features are built as plugins, so you can remove the ones you don't need, build your own analytics plugins, or hire a consultant to get a custom feature built in.
Yes — Matomo's features are built as plugins, so you can remove the ones you don't need, build your own analytics plugins, or hire a consultant to get a custom feature built in.Can I try it before installing anything?There is an online demo at demo.matomo.cloud, and Matomo Cloud comes with a 21-day free trial. You can also enable the VisitorGenerator plugin to fill a fresh install with fake data for experimenting.
There is an online demo at demo.matomo.cloud, and Matomo Cloud comes with a 21-day free trial. You can also enable the VisitorGenerator plugin to fill a fresh install with fake data for experimenting.How established is the project?Matomo has been developed by a large open community since 2011. It ships with thousands of unit tests plus automated integration, system, JavaScript and screenshot UI tests on CI, and runs a security bug bounty program on HackerOne.
Matomo has been developed by a large open community since 2011. It ships with thousands of unit tests plus automated integration, system, JavaScript and screenshot UI tests on CI, and runs a security bug bounty program on HackerOne.Which topics is it in?webserver, google-analytics, web-analytics, log, mariadb, website, statistics, ecommerce, marketing, foss, analytics, php
webserver, google-analytics, web-analytics, log, mariadb, website, statistics, ecommerce, marketing, foss, analytics, php