Open Web Analytics Hosting: A UK Guide
Open Web Analytics (OWA) is a self-hosted, open-source web analytics platform similar in purpose to Matomo, tracking visitor behaviour, page views, and conversions while keeping data on your own server rather than a third party’s. It’s a lighter-weight alternative for people who want the basics of self-hosted analytics without Matomo’s larger feature set.
What Open Web Analytics offers
- Visitor and goal tracking: Core analytics functionality, similar to Google Analytics but self-hosted.
- Heatmaps: Visualise where visitors click and how they interact with pages.
- API access: Build custom integrations using OWA’s API.
What Open Web Analytics needs from hosting
OWA runs on PHP with a MySQL or MariaDB database, and like any analytics platform, benefits from good database performance as tracked traffic volume grows.
FAQs about hosting Open Web Analytics
How does OWA compare to Matomo?
Both are self-hosted, privacy-focused alternatives to Google Analytics with similar core functionality. Matomo has a larger feature set and more active ongoing development; OWA is a lighter-weight option if you want the basics without the larger footprint.
Getting started
Switchweb provides UK-based hosting with current PHP versions, free SSL, and daily backups. View our web hosting plans to get started.
Looking to get started on Switchweb? Take a look at our website hosting plans or message us about a free trial.
Amiri
8 May 2024I must argue, doesnt Open Web Analytics on Switchweb seem a little too good to be true? I mean, how easy is it really? Surely there must be some challenges involved, right?
Imani
8 May 2024Easy or not, its all about perspective. Challenges are just opportunities in disguise, right?
Cooper Raymond
12 May 2024Just wondering, is it possible to integrate Open Web Analytics with other tools? It seems like a powerful tool, but its effectiveness might be limited if it can’t be used with others.