Indie vs Giant: Comparing Proxima Analytics and Google Analytics

When it comes to web analytics, Google Analytics is the dominant player, used by millions of websites around the world. However, this widespread adoption comes with certain drawbacks, including a lack of transparency and control over how data is collected and used. That's where Proxima Analytics comes in.

As a small, independent company focused solely on web analytics, we offer an alternative to Google's giant presence in the market. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive and user-friendly tool that puts privacy and control at the forefront, giving website owners the ability to track and analyze their data on their own terms.

In this comparison, we'll explore the key differences between Proxima Analytics and Google Analytics and help you decide which tool is the best fit for your needs.

Quick Look: Proxima vs Google Analytics

What Sets Proxima Analytics and Google Analytics Apart: A Detailed Comparison

While both Proxima Analytics and Google Analytics offer valuable insights into website traffic and user behavior, there are key differences that set these two tools apart. Proxima Analytics offers a range of advanced features and puts a strong emphasis on privacy and control, while Google Analytics may not include all of these features and is a closed-source product hosted by Google. In the following sections, we'll delve into the specific differences between Proxima Analytics and Google Analytics and help you decide which tool is the best fit for your needs.

Ease of Use

Google Analytics is a powerful tool, but it can be overwhelming for many website owners. With a complex interface and numerous data points to sift through, it can take time to understand and effectively use Google Analytics. This can be a barrier for those who don't have the time or resources to invest in training.

Proxima Analytics, on the other hand, is designed to be easy to use and understand, with no prior experience or training necessary. All of the important website traffic insights and metrics are presented on a single page, without the need to navigate through layers of menus or create custom reports. This makes it easy to quickly get the information you need and focus on making improvements to your site.

Overall, Proxima Analytics offers a more streamlined and user-friendly experience compared to Google Analytics, making it a better option for those who don't have the time or resources to invest in a more complex tool.

Improving the Users' Experience

When it comes to the user experience on your website, the choice between Proxima Analytics and Google Analytics can make a big difference. With Google Analytics, website owners may need to display cookie banners and consent notices in order to comply with privacy regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). These notices can be annoying and distracting for visitors, potentially compromising the overall user experience. Additionally, a complex privacy policy may be required to address analytics tracking.

Proxima Analytics, on the other hand, does not require any GDPR, CCPA, PECR, or cookie prompts, and does not require a complex privacy policy. By not using cookies and not tracking personal data, Proxima Analytics allows visitors to enjoy your site without any distractions or annoyances.

Improving Website Performance

Proxima Analytics is a lightweight web analytics tool that aims to provide essential website traffic insights without negatively impacting web speed. In comparison to Google Analytics, Proxima Analytics' script is more than 17 times smaller and more than 40 times smaller when integrated with Google Tag Manager. By choosing Proxima Analytics, website owners can reduce page weight and improve loading time, optimizing the performance of their site.

Data Ownership

When it comes to data ownership, Proxima Analytics and Google Analytics differ significantly. With Proxima Analytics, you can maintain 100% ownership of your website data and protect the privacy of your visitors at the same time. You can self-host Proxima on your own servers, or use our hosted service, where your website analytics are stored on our servers in the EU cloud. In either case, you remain completely in control of your site data and fully own all of your data.

In contrast, Google Analytics is created, hosted, and run by the largest adtech company in the world, a company that is known for collecting and using personal data for targeted advertising and other purposes. This means that your website data may be shared with advertising companies, sent to third parties, mined for personal and behavioral trends, or monetized in some way. This lack of control and transparency can be a concern for those who value privacy and control over their data.

Open Source vs Closed Source

Proxima Analytics is a fully open-source web analytics tool, meaning that its source code is publicly available and accessible on GitHub. This transparency allows anyone to review the code and ensure that it is keeping data private and secure. Additionally, Proxima Analytics can be self-hosted, giving users the ability to manage their own server infrastructure.

In contrast, Google Analytics is a closed-source product, meaning that its source code is not publicly available. This lack of transparency means that there is no way to know what is happening behind the scenes when using the Google Analytics script. While Google may not have malicious intentions, this lack of transparency means that users must put their trust in the company without any visibility into how their data is being handled.

For those who value transparency and control over their data, Proxima Analytics offers a more appealing option. Its open-source nature and ability to be self-hosted give users greater control and assurance that their data is being handled responsibly.

Privacy-Friendly Analytics

As privacy concerns continue to rise online, more and more people are looking for ways to protect their data and maintain control over their online presence. Proxima Analytics is a part of this shift towards greater privacy, offering a web analytics tool that can track website usage without collecting personal data or using cookies. This allows website owners to get the insights they need to improve their site without sacrificing the privacy of their visitors.

Google Analytics, on the other hand, may not prioritize privacy in the same way. While it can provide valuable insights into website performance, it may also collect personal data and use cookies, potentially compromising the privacy of site visitors. This can be a concern for those who value privacy and want to protect the data of their visitors.

Data Privacy Regulations

Data privacy regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States, and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) in the United Kingdom have been introduced to protect personal data and ensure that website owners obtain explicit consent before tracking and collecting personal usage data.

Google Analytics collects a significant amount of personal data, which can be a potential liability for website owners. In some cases, the use of Google Analytics has been found to violate data protection regulations, such as the GDPR. These decisions, including those by the Austrian and French Data Protection Authorities, highlight the risks associated with using Google Analytics and the importance of obtaining explicit consent from visitors.

In contrast, Proxima Analytics is designed to be compliant with data privacy regulations and protect the privacy of visitors. All visitor data is exclusively processed on servers and cloud infrastructure owned and operated by European providers, ensuring that it is covered by the EU's strict laws on data privacy. A dditionally, Proxima Analytics is not subject to the risks associated with the Schrems II decision, which invalidated the EU-US Privacy Shield, as website data never leaves the EU.

Avoiding Ad Blockers

Many people use ad blockers to block banner ads, retargeting messages, and behavioral profiling, which can also block Google Analytics scripts. This can be particularly common among tech-savvy audiences, with up to 60% of users blocking Google Analytics.

Proxima Analytics is not part of the adtech industry and does not track personal data, use cookies, or engage in personal behavior profiling. As a result, Proxima Analytics is not usually blocked by ad blockers. Additionally, website owners have the option to self-host Proxima Analytics or proxy the script from their domain name as a first-party connection, further avoiding the risk of being blocked by ad blockers.

Proxima Analytics offers a more ad blocker-resistant approach to web analytics compared to Google Analytics, making it an appealing option for those looking to ensure that their analytics are consistently tracked and reported.

The Cost of Privacy

One potential concern when comparing Proxima Analytics to Google Analytics is the cost of using. While Google Analytics is free to use, Proxima Analytics charges a fee for its subscription plans. So why is this the case?

The main reason is that Google Analytics is able to offer its service for free because it relies on collecting and analyzing personal data from web users in order to sell advertisements. This business model allows Google to generate wealth and provide its analytics tool for free.

Proxima Analytics, on the other hand, does not collect or analyze personal data and does not have a similar business model. As a result, Proxima Analytics must charge a fee in order to stay in business and continue developing the project. While there is a cost associated with using Proxima Analytics, this cost comes with the added benefit of full ownership and control of data, as well as the assurance that your data is not being shared or sold to third parties.

Support Indie Developers and Businesses with Proxima Analytics

Google Analytics is a widely-used tool for tracking website traffic, with it installed on 85% of all websites. However, it is owned by the largest advertising company in the world, which raises concerns about data privacy and the concentration of power in a single company.

Proxima Analytics offers an alternative solution that is developed and run by a small team of independent developers and businesses. By choosing Proxima, you can support the indie web and have peace of mind knowing that your data is being handled responsibly. To learn more about Proxima and how it can benefit your business, visit their website.

Simplify Your Data Analysis with Proxima Analytics: Fast, Private, and Ethical

Closing paragraph: "Proxima Analytics is the perfect Google Analytics alternative for businesses that value simplicity, speed, privacy, and ethics. With Proxima Analytics, you can quickly and easily analyze your data to make informed decisions without sacrificing privacy or ethical standards. Whether you're looking to optimize your marketing campaigns or understand your customers better, Proxima Analytics has the tools and expertise to help you succeed. So why wait? By giving us a try, you can start improving your website performance and protecting your visitors' privacy today.