Countly is a great platform for product analytics. But for some teams, it’s not the perfect fit. Maybe you want more control. Maybe you want to cut down costs. Or maybe… you just like open source!
Let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into a few exciting, fully open-source analytics stacks. These are fan-favorites among DevOps teams who want data freedom without giving up on insights.
TL;DR:
All Heading
Looking to replace Countly and still own your data? Here are four open-source analytics stacks loved by DevOps teams. They’re powerful, self-hosted, and totally free (except the server bills). From product metrics to event logs—they’ve got you covered. Also, no annoying vendor lock-in!
1. PostHog – All-in-One Product Analytics
“PostHog is like Countly… but with extra muscles and a cool attitude.”
PostHog is an open-source product analytics platform you can self-host. It tracks everything—from user sessions to feature flags—all in one place.
Why teams love it:
- Full control & data ownership
- Self-host in your own Kubernetes cluster or bare VM
- Session recording, heatmaps, A/B testing—out of the box
- Great DevDocs and active GitHub repo
Best for: Product managers, developers, and growth teams who want deep analytics without sending data to the cloud.
Tech stack highlights:
- Python (Django)
- ClickHouse for high-speed analytics
- React frontend
License: MIT (Core features), with optional commercial plugins
Pro tip: Install with Docker and check performance tuning tips—ClickHouse loves RAM!
2. Plausible – Lightweight & Privacy-Friendly Web Analytics
If Google Analytics gives you a headache, you’ll love Plausible. It’s simple, fast, and doesn’t track user data in creepy ways. That’s why privacy-focused teams are all over it!
Why Plausible makes the list:
- Fully open source and self-hostable
- No cookies, no tracking headaches—perfect for GDPR
- A beautiful, minimalist dashboard
It may not come with event-heavy logs like Countly, but it’s excellent for page views, campaign tracking, and conversion rates.
Best for: Marketing teams, startups, and product sites focused on privacy.
Tech stack highlights:
- Elixir on the backend
- PostgreSQL as database
- Pre-built Docker images for easy deploy
License: AGPLv3
Easy to set up, zero JS fatigue!
3. Matomo – Enterprise-Ready Google Analytics Alternative
Matomo is the OG when it comes to open-source analytics. It’s been around for a while—and for a good reason. It offers everything Countly does and then some.
Why Matomo rocks:
- Enterprise-level features without vendor lock-in
- Event tracking, custom dimensions, goals, and funnels
- Self-hosted and GDPR compliant
Plus, it comes with tons of built-in reports, just like Google Analytics—but stored entirely on your servers.
Best for: Enterprises, government agencies, and data-compliance nerds
Tech stack highlights:
- PHP backend
- MySQL/MariaDB for storage
- Plugin-based architecture
License: GPLv3 (Core), extra paid plugins available
Warning: It can get heavy with lots of traffic, so plan server resources wisely.
4. RudderStack – Open Source Customer Data Pipeline
This one’s a bit different. RudderStack isn’t an analytics platform itself, but it’s a data routing powerhouse. Think of it as the open-source version of Segment.
Why DevOps teams love RudderStack:
- Send event data to any analytics platform you want
- Full control over data pipelines
- Self-host in your own environment
Use it to collect events from web, mobile, or backend sources—and pipe them into warehouse tools like BigQuery, ClickHouse, or your own backend app. Create your custom analytics experience!
Best for: Data-savvy teams wanting custom pipelines with full control
Tech stack highlights:
- Go, Node.js
- Supports Kafka, S3, ClickHouse, and many more
- CLI and API for managing pipelines
License: MIT license (Core), Enterprise tier available
Bonus Tips for Hosting These Tools
Thinking of self-hosting? Awesome! But remember:
- Use Docker or Kubernetes to simplify deploys
- Enable HTTPS and secure tokens—analytics data can be sensitive
- Run regular backups of your databases
- Limit external access—analytics tools often don’t need to be public
And hey, wouldn’t hurt to add Grafana into the mix for pretty dashboards!
The Bottom Line
You don’t have to give up rich insights just to break up with Countly. Whether you’re tracking products, web pages, or full-blown event logs—you’ve got options that are powerful, open, and private.
Let’s recap:
- PostHog – All-in-one product analytics
- Plausible – Simple, privacy-friendly website tracking
- Matomo – Enterprise analytics with classic flavor
- RudderStack – Flexible data pipelines for control freaks
Each tool has its pros. Some are lightweight. Some enterprise-grade. But they all share one big advantage: you stay in charge of your own data.
Goodbye cloud lock-in. Hello power and privacy. 🎉
Recent Comments