AppBreakup

GoAccess alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave GoAccess: no marketing metrics like goals or campaigns, and needs access to server logs. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces GoAccess, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. AWStats currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1AWStats logoAWStatsOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Linux, Windows +14 of 466.5
2Matomo logoMatomoOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted, iOS +15 of 562.6
3GoatCounter logoGoatCounterOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted4 of 459.6
4Liwan logoLiwanOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Web4 of 455.3
  1. AWStats logo

    1. AWStatsTop pick

    Best for: Hosting users who want log-based traffic reports with no tracking code

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Linux, Windows, macOS

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from GoAccess

    Classic log analyzer with long-term monthly reports.

    Pros

    • No tracking script needed
    • Already included in many hosting panels
    • Free GPL software with long history

    Cons

    • Very dated interface and coarse reports
    • Author has stopped releasing new versions after v8
    • Not designed for marketing analysis
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is AWStats a good GoAccess alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GNU GPL
    Checked Oct 25, 2026awstats.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Latest stable
    8.0 (2025-08-26)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026awstats.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Maintenance
    v8 is the author's last release
    Checked Oct 25, 2026awstats.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Requirements
    Perl 5.00503 or higher
    Checked Oct 25, 2026awstats.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Matomo logo

    2. Matomo

    Best for: Organisations that want GA-level depth with full data ownership

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from GoAccess

    Can import server logs and also track with JavaScript.

    Pros

    • Free to self-host with full data ownership
    • No data sampling and unlimited retention
    • Very wide feature set, including ecommerce and funnels

    Cons

    • Interface feels dated and crowded
    • Self-hosting large sites needs tuning
    • Heatmaps, recordings and other extras are paid plugins
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Matomo a good GoAccess alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Data sampling
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026matomo.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Cloud free trial
    Yes, no credit card
    Checked Oct 25, 2026matomo.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Report data retention
    Forever (Cloud)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026matomo.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Users
    1 million organisations
    Checked Oct 25, 2026matomo.org(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. GoatCounter logo

    3. GoatCounter

    Best for: Personal sites and blogs that want free, honest stats without tracking people

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from GoAccess

    Lightweight hosted stats that can also import log files.

    Pros

    • Free hosted service for reasonable public use
    • Very light script, plus pixel and log-import options
    • Easy to self-host as a single binary

    Cons

    • Deliberately basic, with no funnels or ecommerce
    • One-person project with limited support
    • Interface is plain compared with commercial tools
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is GoatCounter a good GoAccess alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Open source
    Yes, hosted or self-hosted
    Checked Oct 25, 2026goatcounter.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free for reasonable public usage
    Checked Oct 25, 2026goatcounter.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Script size
    ~3.5KB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026goatcounter.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Cookies
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026goatcounter.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Liwan logo

    4. Liwan

    Best for: Developers who want privacy analytics with nothing extra to run

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from GoAccess

    Self-hosted analytics with a privacy-friendly script and dashboard.

    Pros

    • Single binary with built-in database
    • No tracking cookies or raw IP storage
    • Single sign-on with common identity providers

    Cons

    • Young project with a small community
    • No hosted version
    • Fewer reports than larger tools
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Liwan a good GoAccess alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    Apache 2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026liwan.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Deployment
    Single binary or Docker container
    Checked Oct 25, 2026liwan.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Privacy
    No tracking cookies; raw IPs not recorded
    Checked Oct 25, 2026liwan.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Single sign-on
    Google Workspace, Entra ID, OIDC
    Checked Oct 25, 2026liwan.dev(opens source in a new tab)

The best GoAccess alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

AWStats logo

Best GoAccess alternative for most people

AWStats

Classic log analyzer with long-term monthly reports.

Matomo logo

Best GoAccess alternative for a free option

Matomo

Can import server logs and also track with JavaScript.

GoatCounter logo

Best GoAccess alternative for open source

GoatCounter

Lightweight hosted stats that can also import log files.

Liwan logo

Best GoAccess alternative for self-hosting

Liwan

Self-hosted analytics with a privacy-friendly script and dashboard.

AWStats logo

Best GoAccess alternative for Mac

AWStats

Classic log analyzer with long-term monthly reports.

AWStats logo

Best GoAccess alternative for Windows

AWStats

Classic log analyzer with long-term monthly reports.

AWStats logo

Best GoAccess alternative for Linux

AWStats

Classic log analyzer with long-term monthly reports.

Matomo logo

Best GoAccess alternative for iPhone and Android

Matomo

Can import server logs and also track with JavaScript.

Cloudflare Web Analytics logo

Best GoAccess alternative for working in the browser

Cloudflare Web Analytics

Free hosted stats with no server access needed.

GoAccess alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to GoAccess?

AWStats ranks first right now. Classic log analyzer with long-term monthly reports. Matomo and GoatCounter follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to GoAccess?

Yes. AWStats (open source), Matomo (open source), GoatCounter (open source) and Cloudflare Web Analytics (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to GoAccess?

Yes: AWStats, Matomo, GoatCounter and Liwan. AWStats, Matomo and GoatCounter can also be self-hosted.

Which GoAccess alternatives work on Linux?

AWStats runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from GoAccess?

The complaints we hear most: no marketing metrics like goals or campaigns; needs access to server logs; counts requests and bots, not people.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces GoAccess, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.