GoatCounter vs OpenPanel
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted web analytics options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
GoatCounter
Easy and privacy-friendly web analytics
VS
OpenPanel
Open-source web and product analytics in one tool
| Feature | GoatCounter | OpenPanel |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 85 · Excellent | 89 · Excellent |
| Category | Web Analytics | Web Analytics |
| License | EUPL-1.2 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,997 | ★ 7,042 |
| First released | 2019 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Google Analytics | Mixpanel, Google Analytics |
What are GoatCounter and OpenPanel?
GoatCounter
GoatCounter is an open-source web analytics platform that is easy to use and privacy-friendly, collecting no personal data. It targets small site owners and hobbyists. It is deployed as a single binary or via Docker.
- No personal data collected
- Single-binary deployment
- Works without JavaScript
- Lightweight and fast
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
GoatCounter vs OpenPanel: key differences
GoatCounter is written in Go, while OpenPanel is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — EUPL-1.2 for GoatCounter versus AGPL-3.0 for OpenPanel. GoatCounter is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for OpenPanel. GoatCounter is the more established project (first released 2019), while OpenPanel arrived in 2024.
Why pick each one
Choose GoatCounter if…
- Extremely easy to run
- Very lightweight
- Privacy-friendly
Watch out for
- Basic reporting depth
- Small project
Choose OpenPanel if…
- Mixpanel-style features open-source
- Modern dashboard
Watch out for
- Newer project
- Multi-service deployment
Frequently asked questions
Is GoatCounter or OpenPanel better?
Neither is universally better. OpenPanel has the larger community, while GoatCounter is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are GoatCounter and OpenPanel free and open-source?
Yes. GoatCounter is licensed under EUPL-1.2 and OpenPanel under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run GoatCounter and OpenPanel with Docker?
GoatCounter: yes. OpenPanel: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, GoatCounter or OpenPanel?
GoatCounter 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.