Counter.dev Selfhost vs OpenPanel
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted web analytics options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
OpenPanel
Open-source web and product analytics in one tool
| Feature | Counter.dev Selfhost | OpenPanel |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 78 · Good | 89 · Excellent |
| Category | Web Analytics | Web Analytics |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,009 | ★ 7,042 |
| First released | 2020 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Google Analytics | Mixpanel, Google Analytics |
What are Counter.dev Selfhost and OpenPanel?
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
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
Counter.dev Selfhost vs OpenPanel: key differences
Counter.dev Selfhost is written in JavaScript, while OpenPanel is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for Counter.dev Selfhost versus AGPL-3.0 for OpenPanel. Counter.dev Selfhost is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for OpenPanel. Counter.dev Selfhost is the more established project (first released 2020), while OpenPanel arrived in 2024. OpenPanel has the considerably larger community, at 7,042 GitHub stars versus 1,009.
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 OpenPanel if…
- Mixpanel-style features open-source
- Modern dashboard
Watch out for
- Newer project
- Multi-service deployment
Frequently asked questions
Is Counter.dev Selfhost or OpenPanel better?
Neither is universally better. OpenPanel has the larger community, while Counter.dev Selfhost is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Counter.dev Selfhost and OpenPanel free and open-source?
Yes. Counter.dev Selfhost is licensed under MIT and OpenPanel under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Counter.dev Selfhost and OpenPanel with Docker?
Counter.dev Selfhost: yes. OpenPanel: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Counter.dev Selfhost or OpenPanel?
Counter.dev Selfhost has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for OpenPanel. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.