GoatCounter vs Shynet
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
Shynet
Modern, privacy-friendly, detailed web analytics
| Feature | GoatCounter | Shynet |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 85 · Excellent | 69 · Good |
| Category | Web Analytics | Web Analytics |
| License | EUPL-1.2 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Go | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,994 | ★ 3,155 |
| First released | 2019 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Google Analytics | Google Analytics |
What are GoatCounter and Shynet?
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
Shynet
Shynet is a modern, privacy-friendly, and detailed web analytics platform that works without cookies and even without JavaScript. It targets users wanting solid analytics with strong privacy. It is deployed via Docker.
- Works without JavaScript or cookies
- Detailed session insights
- Multiple sites and users
- Privacy-respecting
GoatCounter vs Shynet: key differences
GoatCounter is written in Go, while Shynet is built with Python. Licensing differs — EUPL-1.2 for GoatCounter versus Apache-2.0 for Shynet. GoatCounter is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Shynet.
Why pick each one
Choose GoatCounter if…
- Extremely easy to run
- Very lightweight
- Privacy-friendly
Watch out for
- Basic reporting depth
- Small project
Choose Shynet if…
- Strong privacy
- Works without JS
- Detailed sessions
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Fewer integrations
Frequently asked questions
Is GoatCounter or Shynet better?
Neither is universally better. GoatCounter has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are GoatCounter and Shynet free and open-source?
Yes. GoatCounter is licensed under EUPL-1.2 and Shynet under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run GoatCounter and Shynet with Docker?
GoatCounter: yes. Shynet: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, GoatCounter or Shynet?
GoatCounter has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Shynet. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.