Umami, simple self-hosted analytics
Tags: webdev, analytics, news, javascript
Published: 2024-07-02 07:11:33

I was looking for a simple analytics solution because I wasn't satisfied with Google Analytics' footprint on page performance and overall heaviness. After trying various options, I have been using Umami for a few weeks, and I'm very happy with it! Let's see why.

## What is Umami?

Umami is an open-source, lightweight, self-hosted alternative to Google Analytics that respects your users' privacy. It is focused on giving you the essential tools you need to track your website traffic, where users are coming from, and what they are doing on your site.

If you're looking for a very complete suite of features, Umami might not be for you, but I wanted a simple, privacy-focused analytics tool, which is why I chose Umami.

## Why I Love Umami ❤️

I initially went with Google Analytics, but its SDK was heavy and sent a lot of data to Google. Then, I tried Plausible, which is self-hostable and great, but it was too CPU-heavy for my VPS (using around 30% CPU!). Finally, I found Umami, which is just what I needed! Lightweight for both my VPS and website, easy to use, privacy-focused, and open-source.

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## How to install

Umami's installation process is straightforward, and their documentation is excellent. Essentially, it just requires setting up a database and running a Docker container.

However, if you're looking for an even simpler method, you can use Coolify for a "one-click" install. With Coolify, you simply click on "Install Umami" under resources, and you're good to go!


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/5kyir33d6qix6yguzt27.png)

> Umami one-click install with Coolify

## Quick look

Let's take a quick look at Umami's dashboard and key features.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/hgg6x3j7084np46phiex.png)

As you can see, the interface is pretty minimal yet contains most of the essential information you need. You can see the number of page views, unique visitors, and top referrers. You can also see the most visited pages and the devices your visitors are using.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/m0a1xbrya997hjkb2a4s.png)

> Tracking custom events

In addition, you can add custom events to track specific actions on your website, such as button clicks or form submissions. This is a great feature to track user interactions and conversions.

## My experience

#### Easy to Use

Let's be honest, some analytics tools are way too powerful and complex for most user needs. Umami, on the other hand, is incredibly user-friendly. The setup was straightforward, and within minutes, I was able to start collecting and analyzing data. It’s got all the essentials without the bloat.

#### Comprehensive Insights

Despite its simplicity, Umami Analytics provides a wealth of information. From tracking page views and referrers to monitoring user behavior and campaigns, it covers all the bases.

## Potential Drawbacks

Of course, no tool is perfect, and Umami Analytics has its limitations. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

#### Limited Integrations

If you rely heavily on third-party integrations, you might find Umami a bit lacking. It doesn’t have the extensive plugin ecosystem that some other analytics tools boast. However, for many users, its core features are more than sufficient.

#### Basic Customization

While Umami is easy to use, it doesn’t offer the deep customization options that power users might crave. If you need highly specific data segmentation or complex custom reports, you might need to look elsewhere or complement Umami with other tools.

## Wrapping Up: is Umami for you?

Umami is a fantastic tool for those who value privacy and simplicity without compromising on insights. Whether you’re managing a personal blog, an online store, or a corporate website, it’s worth giving Umami a shot.

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