Ackee vs OpenPanel
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted web analytics options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Ackee
Self-hosted, privacy-focused analytics tool
VS
OpenPanel
Open-source web and product analytics in one tool
| Feature | Ackee | OpenPanel |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 89 · Excellent | 89 · Excellent |
| Category | Web Analytics | Web Analytics |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,709 | ★ 7,038 |
| First released | 2018 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Google Analytics | Mixpanel, Google Analytics |
What are Ackee and OpenPanel?
Ackee
Ackee is a self-hosted, Node-based analytics tool that tracks website visitors while respecting privacy and avoiding cookies. It targets developers wanting minimal, ethical analytics. It is deployed via Docker.
- Privacy-focused tracking
- GraphQL API
- Clean minimal dashboard
- No cookies used
OpenPanel
OpenPanel is an open-source analytics platform that combines web analytics with product analytics, positioned as a mix of Mixpanel and Plausible. It tracks events, funnels, and user retention.
- Web and product analytics
- Funnels and retention
- Real-time event tracking
- Privacy-friendly design
Ackee vs OpenPanel: key differences
Ackee is written in JavaScript, while OpenPanel is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for Ackee versus AGPL-3.0 for OpenPanel. Ackee is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for OpenPanel. Ackee is the more established project (first released 2018), while OpenPanel arrived in 2024.
Why pick each one
Choose Ackee if…
- Lightweight and private
- Easy to deploy
- Nice minimal UI
Watch out for
- Limited reporting depth
- Needs MongoDB
Choose OpenPanel if…
- Mixpanel-style features open-source
- Modern dashboard
Watch out for
- Newer project
- Multi-service deployment
Frequently asked questions
Is Ackee or OpenPanel better?
Neither is universally better. OpenPanel has the larger community, while Ackee is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Ackee and OpenPanel free and open-source?
Yes. Ackee is licensed under MIT and OpenPanel under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Ackee and OpenPanel with Docker?
Ackee: yes. OpenPanel: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Ackee or OpenPanel?
Ackee has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for OpenPanel. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.