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Swetrix vs Matomo: A Comprehensive Comparison
Swetrix and Matomo (formerly Piwik) are both open-source alternatives to Google Analytics that value data ownership. However, we represent two completely different eras of web analytics.
Matomo is the "legacy" giant - a powerful but heavy tool built on older technology (PHP/MySQL) that tries to clone the Google Analytics experience. Swetrix is the "modern" challenger - built on a next-generation stack (ClickHouse) to be lightweight, fast, and privacy-first by design.
Here is a quick comparison to help you decide which one fits your needs.
Why choose Swetrix over Matomo?
 Swetrix | Matomo | |
|---|---|---|
| Core Features | ||
| Real-time Analytics | ||
| Page views | ||
| Custom Events | ||
| Live visitors count | ||
| UTM Tracking | ||
| Email Reports | ||
| Modern, intuitive UI | ||
| Easy setup | ||
| Advanced Features | ||
| Performance Monitoring (Web Vitals) | Paid Plugin / $$$$ | |
| User Flow Analysis | Paid Plugin / $$$$ | |
| Funnels | Paid Plugin / $$$$ | |
| Error Tracking | Paid Plugin / $$$$ | |
| Heatmaps | Paid Plugin / $$$$ | |
| Session recordings | Paid Plugin / $$$$ | |
| A/B testing | Via Custom Events | |
| Multiple Domains per Site | ||
| Technical specifications | ||
| Script size | ~6 KB | > 60 KB |
| User Interface | Modern & Clean | Dated & Cluttered |
| Database Technology | ClickHouse | MySQL |
| API access | ||
| EU data residency | ||
| Cookie-less by default | ||
| Pricing & Support | ||
| Self-hostable | ||
| Cloud Entry price | $19.00 | €22.00 ( ~$25) |
| Human customer support | Paid option / $$$$ | |
The "Free" Self-Hosting Trap
One of the biggest misconceptions about Matomo is that the self-hosted version is completely free. While the core software is free, Matomo charges significantly for "Premium Features" that are standard in modern analytics tools.
Want Funnels? That's €179/year. Want User Flows? That's €79/year. Want Search Engine Keywords? That's €79/year. Want Web Vitals? That's €79/year. Want Error Tracking? That's €154/year.
If you want a fully featured analytics suite, your "free" self-hosted Matomo can easily cost you over €500/year in plugin subscriptions only.
With Swetrix, we don't nickle-and-dime you. Features like Funnels, User Flows, and Performance Monitoring are included in our core product - whether you use our Cloud or self-host it.
Performance: Lightweight vs. Bloated
Matomo was built in the era of PHP and MySQL. While reliable, it can be heavy on your server resources, especially as your traffic grows. Its tracking script is also significantly larger (>22KB gzipped vs Swetrix's ~3KB), which can impact your website's load time.
Swetrix is built on modern TypeScript tech stack and ClickHouse, a high-performance column-oriented database designed specifically for analytics. This means:
- Blazing fast queries, even with millions of data points.
- Lower server footprint for self-hosters.
- A tiny footprint on your website's frontend.
Privacy: Cookie-less by Design
Matomo can be configured to be cookieless, but out of the box, it often relies on cookies and requires complex configuration to be fully compliant with GDPR/PECR without a consent banner.
Swetrix is cookie-less by default. We use privacy-preserving fingerprinting (hashing IP + User Agent + Salt) that rotates daily, ensuring you get accurate unique visitor counts without ever storing personal data or tracking users across the web. You don't need a complex cookie banner to use Swetrix.
User Interface: 2025 vs. 2010
Matomo's interface is famous for being... "comprehensive." It mimics the old Google Analytics (UA) interface, with hundreds of menus, sub-menus, and settings. For most users, it's overwhelming and requires a steep learning curve.
Swetrix is designed for clarity. We give you the insights you need - traffic trends, conversion funnels, performance metrics - in a clean, modern dashboard that anyone can understand in seconds. You don't need to be a data scientist or have extensive training to understand your data. We believe analytics should answer questions, not create more of them.
Conclusion
Matomo is a solid choice if you are a large enterprise that needs a legacy-style analytics suite, has a dedicated DevOps team to manage a heavy PHP/MySQL stack, and has the budget for expensive premium plugins.
Swetrix is the choice for modern developers, startups, and agencies. If you want a lightweight, high-performance, and privacy-friendly tool that includes advanced features (like Funnels and Performance Monitoring) without hidden costs or bloat, Swetrix is the superior alternative.
The web analytics your site deserves.
Tired of bloated dashboards, privacy concerns, and data you can't trust? Switch to Swetrix and get simple, powerful analytics that respects your users.