OpenPanel vs Rakam Analytics
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
VS
Rakam Analytics
Custom analytics platform with SQL on event data
| Feature | OpenPanel | Rakam Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 89 · Excellent | 15 · At risk |
| Category | Web Analytics | Web Analytics |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,042 | ★ 790 |
| First released | 2024 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Mixpanel, Google Analytics | Mixpanel, Amplitude |
What are OpenPanel and Rakam Analytics?
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
Rakam Analytics
Rakam is an analytics platform that lets you collect custom events and run SQL queries to build reports. It is designed for product teams that want flexible self-hosted analytics.
- Custom event collection
- SQL on event data
- Flexible reports
- Self-hosted control
OpenPanel vs Rakam Analytics: key differences
OpenPanel is written in TypeScript, while Rakam Analytics is built with Java. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for OpenPanel versus Apache-2.0 for Rakam Analytics. OpenPanel is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Rakam Analytics. Rakam Analytics is the more established project (first released 2014), while OpenPanel arrived in 2024. OpenPanel has the considerably larger community, at 7,042 GitHub stars versus 790.
Why pick each one
Choose OpenPanel if…
- Mixpanel-style features open-source
- Modern dashboard
Watch out for
- Newer project
- Multi-service deployment
Choose Rakam Analytics if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Java
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenPanel or Rakam Analytics better?
OpenPanel is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Rakam Analytics if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are OpenPanel and Rakam Analytics free and open-source?
Yes. OpenPanel is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Rakam Analytics under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run OpenPanel and Rakam Analytics with Docker?
OpenPanel: yes. Rakam Analytics: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, OpenPanel or Rakam Analytics?
OpenPanel has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Rakam Analytics. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.