Counter.dev Selfhost vs Offen Fair Web Analytics
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted web analytics options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Counter.dev Selfhost | Offen Fair Web Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 78 · Good | 46 · Fair |
| Category | Web Analytics | Web Analytics |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,009 | ★ 981 |
| First released | 2020 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Google Analytics | Google Analytics |
What are Counter.dev Selfhost and Offen Fair Web Analytics?
Counter.dev Selfhost
Counter.dev is a minimalist, privacy-respecting web analytics service that can be self-hosted. It records page visits without cookies and shows a compact stats view.
- Cookie-free analytics
- Minimal dashboard
- Easy embed
- Privacy respecting
Offen Fair Web Analytics
Offen Fair Web Analytics is a privacy-focused analytics tool that gives website operators insights while letting visitors see and delete their own data. It is transparent and consent-based.
- Visitor data transparency
- End-to-end encrypted data
- Consent-based tracking
- Users can delete their data
Counter.dev Selfhost vs Offen Fair Web Analytics: key differences
Both projects are written in JavaScript. Licensing differs — MIT for Counter.dev Selfhost versus Apache-2.0 for Offen Fair Web Analytics. Counter.dev Selfhost is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Offen Fair Web Analytics.
Why pick each one
Choose Counter.dev Selfhost if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1k GitHub stars)
Choose Offen Fair Web Analytics if…
- Exceptionally privacy-respecting
- Builds visitor trust
Watch out for
- Less mainstream
- Consent UI changes metrics
Frequently asked questions
Is Counter.dev Selfhost or Offen Fair Web Analytics better?
Counter.dev Selfhost is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Offen Fair Web Analytics if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Counter.dev Selfhost and Offen Fair Web Analytics free and open-source?
Yes. Counter.dev Selfhost is licensed under MIT and Offen Fair Web Analytics under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Counter.dev Selfhost and Offen Fair Web Analytics with Docker?
Counter.dev Selfhost: yes. Offen Fair Web Analytics: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Counter.dev Selfhost or Offen Fair Web Analytics?
Counter.dev Selfhost has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Offen Fair Web Analytics. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.
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