Satsu vs Matomo
A faster, simpler alternative to enterprise-grade analytics.
Matomo is a powerful analytics suite with deep customization and enterprise-grade compliance tools. It's popular among privacy-focused organizations and public institutions – especially those needing self-hosted data control.
But for most developers and indie projects, Matomo is simply too heavy.
If you want fast, real-time, cookie-free tracking without server setup or bloated features, Satsu might be exactly what you need.
Primarily a self-hosted tool. That means provisioning a server, installing updates, managing security, and scaling infrastructure yourself – unless you pay for their expensive cloud service.
Fully hosted and maintenance-free. One script tag, and you're live. No infrastructure, no updates, no hassle.
Has a huge feature set – from heatmaps to goal tracking to tag managers – but that also means complexity. The UI feels like older versions of Google Analytics: dense, multi-layered, and built for analysts.
Clean and modern. The dashboard shows just what you need: pageviews, visitors, devices, referrers – no digging, no overwhelm. It's fast, dark-mode by default, and built for developers who value clarity.
Tracking script is relatively heavy, often exceeding 20 KB or more depending on plugins.
Ultra-lightweight – under 6 KB – and has virtually zero performance impact. If your site performance matters (and it should), the difference is huge.
Can be GDPR/CCPA compliant – but only if you configure it properly. Many features (like cookies or IP logging) are on by default.
Privacy-first by design. Satsu uses IP addresses only for geolocation and never links them to user profiles. No cookies, no fingerprinting, no data sharing – and no consent banner needed under most privacy laws.
Supports real-time analytics, but performance can suffer depending on your hosting setup.
Delivers true real-time stats, with no sampling or server bottlenecks – optimized for speed from day one.
Feature-rich, with modules for everything from SEO reports to eCommerce tracking. But for many devs, that's overkill.
Takes the opposite approach: focused, minimal analytics with exactly what you need and nothing you don't.
Fully open source and ideal for teams that require full control of their data stack.
Closed source and fully hosted – which is exactly what many solo devs prefer. You get speed, simplicity, and no setup stress.
When Satsu is a better fit than Matomo:
You're a solo dev or small team with no time for server setup
You just want quick, privacy-friendly insights, not an analytics suite
You care about performance and page speed
You want to start tracking in under a minute
You're not looking for heatmaps, session replay, or complex funnels
Build, don't configure
Matomo is powerful – but it's built for complex teams, not fast-moving developers. Satsu cuts through the noise. It's fast, ethical, and made for indie builders who just want to understand their traffic without becoming a data engineer.
The lightweight, privacy-first Matomo alternative for devs who prefer building over configuring.