Shynet vs Vince Analytics
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted web analytics options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Shynet | Vince Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 69 · Good | 42 · Fair |
| Category | Web Analytics | Web Analytics |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,155 | ★ 2,015 |
| First released | 2020 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Google Analytics | Google Analytics |
What are Shynet and Vince Analytics?
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
Vince Analytics
Vince is a self-hosted, privacy-friendly alternative to Google Analytics packaged as a single small binary. It focuses on low resource usage and a simple Plausible-style dashboard.
- Single small binary
- Privacy-friendly tracking
- Plausible-style dashboard
- Low resource usage
Shynet vs Vince Analytics: key differences
Shynet is written in Python, while Vince Analytics is built with Go. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Shynet versus AGPL-3.0 for Vince Analytics. Vince Analytics is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Shynet. Shynet is the more established project (first released 2020), while Vince Analytics arrived in 2023.
Why pick each one
Choose Shynet if…
- Strong privacy
- Works without JS
- Detailed sessions
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Fewer integrations
Choose Vince Analytics if…
- Trivial to deploy
- Lightweight
Watch out for
- Younger project
- Smaller community
Frequently asked questions
Is Shynet or Vince Analytics better?
Neither is universally better. Shynet has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Shynet and Vince Analytics free and open-source?
Yes. Shynet is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Vince Analytics under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Shynet and Vince Analytics with Docker?
Shynet: yes. Vince Analytics: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Shynet or Vince Analytics?
Vince Analytics 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.