GoatCounter vs RudderStack
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted web analytics options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
GoatCounter
Easy and privacy-friendly web analytics
VS
RudderStack
Open-source customer data pipeline platform
| Feature | GoatCounter | RudderStack |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Web Analytics | Web Analytics |
| License | EUPL-1.2 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | binary, docker | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,864 | ★ 4,465 |
| First released | 2019 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Google Analytics | Segment |
Why pick each one
Frequently asked questions
Is GoatCounter or RudderStack better?
GoatCounter is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider RudderStack if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are GoatCounter and RudderStack free and open-source?
Yes. GoatCounter is licensed under EUPL-1.2 and RudderStack under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run GoatCounter and RudderStack with Docker?
GoatCounter: yes. RudderStack: yes.