Google Analytics vs Matomo

Google Analytics and Matomo are both analytics options. Google Analytics lists 6 features across 3 platforms; Matomo lists 6 features across 3 platforms — see the full breakdown below, sourced from each vendor's own site rather than ratings or reviews.

Side-by-side summary

ComparingGoogle AnalyticsMatomo
CategoryAnalyticsAnalytics
Alternatives tracked32
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android
Pricing modelFree + paid plansOpen source

Best for Google Analytics

Best suited to organizations that need web/app measurement and attribution tied closely to Google's advertising and cloud ecosystem; Analytics 360 is aimed at larger organizations that need higher limits, longer retention, unsampled analysis, and service-level commitments.

Best for Matomo

Positioned for organizations wanting privacy-compliant analytics without vendor lock-in — enterprises prioritizing data ownership, public sector bodies with regulatory requirements, and teams seeking a Google Analytics alternative.

Feature comparison

Every feature listed here comes directly from each vendor's own official site.

Google Analytics

  • Web and app event-based measurement in Google Analytics 4
  • Cross-platform reporting and attribution
  • Audiences, key events, explorations, and customizable reports
  • Machine-learning-based insights and predictive capabilities
  • Native integrations with Google Ads, Search Ads 360, Search Console, and Google Cloud
  • BigQuery export, with materially higher daily export limits on Analytics 360

Matomo

  • Unsampled data with no sampling limitations
  • Cookieless tracking and data anonymization options
  • Self-hosted or cloud deployment with full data ownership
  • Heatmaps and session recordings
  • A/B testing and personalization
  • Funnel/flow analysis and raw data export

Pros and cons

Google Analytics

Pros
  • Web and app event-based measurement in Google Analytics 4
  • Cross-platform reporting and attribution
  • Audiences, key events, explorations, and customizable reports
  • Machine-learning-based insights and predictive capabilities
  • Native integrations with Google Ads, Search Ads 360, Search Console, and Google Cloud
  • BigQuery export, with materially higher daily export limits on Analytics 360
Cons
  • Standard properties have lower limits than Analytics 360, including up to 14 months of configurable data retention versus up to 50 months on 360.
  • Standard explorations can sample at 10 million events per query, while 360 raises that threshold and adds unsampled exploration capacity.
  • Standard daily BigQuery export is capped at 1 million events, while Analytics 360 supports much larger daily exports; organizations exceeding Standard limits need to evaluate a 360 contract.

Matomo

Pros
  • Unsampled data with no sampling limitations
  • Cookieless tracking and data anonymization options
  • Self-hosted or cloud deployment with full data ownership
  • Heatmaps and session recordings
  • A/B testing and personalization
  • Funnel/flow analysis and raw data export
Cons
  • The free On-Premise edition requires you to provide and maintain the server, database, updates, backups, and operational security yourself.
  • Matomo Cloud pricing scales with traffic, while advanced On-Premise capabilities and professional support can require paid bundles or separate subscriptions.

Key differences

  • Google Analytics lists Web and app event-based measurement in Google Analytics 4, Cross-platform reporting and attribution, Audiences, key events, explorations, and customizable reports, Machine-learning-based insights and predictive capabilities, Native integrations with Google Ads, Search Ads 360, Search Console, and Google Cloud, BigQuery export, with materially higher daily export limits on Analytics 360 that Matomo doesn't list.
  • Matomo lists Unsampled data with no sampling limitations, Cookieless tracking and data anonymization options, Self-hosted or cloud deployment with full data ownership, Heatmaps and session recordings, A/B testing and personalization, Funnel/flow analysis and raw data export that Google Analytics doesn't list.

Choose Google Analytics if…

Choose Google Analytics if this fits: Best suited to organizations that need web/app measurement and attribution tied closely to Google's advertising and cloud ecosystem; Analytics 360 is aimed at larger organizations that need higher limits, longer retention, unsampled analysis, and service-level commitments. Compared with Matomo specifically, Google Analytics also offers Web and app event-based measurement in Google Analytics 4, Cross-platform reporting and attribution, Audiences, key events, explorations, and customizable reports, and 3 more features that Matomo doesn't list.

Choose Matomo if…

Choose Matomo if this fits: Positioned for organizations wanting privacy-compliant analytics without vendor lock-in — enterprises prioritizing data ownership, public sector bodies with regulatory requirements, and teams seeking a Google Analytics alternative. Compared with Google Analytics specifically, Matomo also offers Unsampled data with no sampling limitations, Cookieless tracking and data anonymization options, Self-hosted or cloud deployment with full data ownership, and 3 more features that Google Analytics doesn't list.

Facts on this page are sourced from each vendor's official site (linked below), not from ratings or reviews. Products change — verify anything that matters to your decision directly on the vendor's own site before switching. See our Disclaimer and Sources Policy.

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