Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Google Analytics · 📊 analytics
Google Analytics vs Umami
Funnels, cohorts and retention without turning the analytics stack into a second product. Here is how Umami ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Google Analytics ($0/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Google Analytics vs Umami Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-10
| Dimension | Google Analytics (Paid) | Umami (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $0 / mo | $0 / mo |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source MIT |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Local or hosted (your machine or their cloud) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hosteddocker to self-host |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 39.9k (active aug 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Google Analytics to Umami
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
It is far shallower for cohorts, retention, experimentation, taxonomy governance and behavioral analysis than Amplitude.
How to deploy Umami
Create an Umami Cloud account or deploy the Node application with Docker Compose and PostgreSQL
What it takes to run
None for hosted signup; self-hosting requires Docker or Node hosting and a PostgreSQL database
Where your data lives
A self-hosted deployment stores analytics and account data in PostgreSQL; Umami Cloud stores it in Umami's managed service
Why fork Umami instead of vibe-coding a Google Analytics clone?
Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for Google Analytics or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 5 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Matomo or Umami.
Google Analytics vs Umami FAQ
Is Umami a good free alternative to Google Analytics?+
Yes. Umami is a verified open-source (MIT) replacement for Google Analytics. Funnels, cohorts and retention without turning the analytics stack into a second product.
What is the catch when switching from Google Analytics to Umami?+
It is far shallower for cohorts, retention, experimentation, taxonomy governance and behavioral analysis than Amplitude.
How do I install or self-host Umami instead of Google Analytics?+
Install: Create an Umami Cloud account or deploy the Node application with Docker Compose and PostgreSQL. Setup: None for hosted signup; self-hosting requires Docker or Node hosting and a PostgreSQL database
