Alytics vs Google Analytics 4: the privacy-first alternative
Alytics is a privacy-first alternative to Google Analytics 4. Alytics uses no cookies, requires no consent banners, and is GDPR compliant by default. It includes click heatmaps and Core Web Vitals monitoring in a 5.8 KB script — 8x smaller than GA4's 45 KB. Google Analytics has been found non-compliant with GDPR in multiple EU countries including Austria, France, and Italy.
GDPR compliance: why it matters
Google Analytics has been ruled non-compliant with GDPR by multiple EU data protection authorities. If your website serves European visitors, this directly affects your legal obligations. Alytics is designed to be GDPR compliant by default, so you never need to worry about consent management.
Google Analytics & GDPR issues
- ✕ Austrian DPA (DSB) ruled Google Analytics non-compliant in December 2021
- ✕ French DPA (CNIL) ruled Google Analytics non-compliant in February 2022
- ✕ Italian DPA (Garante) ruled Google Analytics non-compliant in June 2022
- ✕ GA4 uses cookies that require explicit consent under GDPR
- ✕ Data transferred to US servers raises Schrems II concerns
- ✕ Cookie consent banners reduce opt-in rates — typically 30-70% of visitors decline
Alytics: GDPR compliant by default
- ✓ No cookies used — no consent banner needed
- ✓ IP addresses processed but never stored
- ✓ All data processed and stored in the EU
- ✓ No personal data collection or tracking across sites
- ✓ No data sharing with advertising platforms
- ✓ See 100% of your traffic — no visitors lost to consent opt-outs
Feature comparison
Alytics and Google Analytics 4 take different approaches. GA4 offers deep integration with the Google ecosystem and advanced ML features. Alytics focuses on privacy, performance, and built-in tools like heatmaps and Web Vitals that GA4 does not include.
| Feature | Alytics | GA4 |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy & Compliance | ||
| Cookie-free | ✓ | ✕ |
| Consent banner required | ✕ | ✓ |
| GDPR compliant by default | ✓ | ✕ |
| EU data hosting | ✓ | ✕ (US primary) |
| No personal data collection | ✓ | ✕ |
| IP anonymization | ✓ (not stored) | Partial |
| Core Analytics | ||
| Pageviews | ✓ | ✓ |
| Unique visitors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Session tracking | ✕ | ✓ |
| Bounce rate | ✓ | ✓ |
| UTM tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Real-time dashboard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom events | ✓ | ✓ |
| E-commerce tracking | ✕ | ✓ |
| Advanced Features | ||
| Click heatmaps | ✓ | ✕ |
| Core Web Vitals | ✓ | ✕ |
| Conversion funnels | ✓ | ✓ |
| Search Console integration | ✓ | ✓ (via linking) |
| Cross-platform tracking | ✕ | ✓ |
| Google Ads integration | ✕ | ✓ |
| AI/ML insights | ✕ | ✓ |
| Predictive audiences | ✕ | ✓ |
| Technical | ||
| Script size | 5.8 KB | ~45 KB |
| Data sampling | None | ✓ (high traffic) |
| Data retention | Configurable | 14 months max |
| Self-hostable | ✕ | ✕ |
| API access | ✓ | ✓ |
Where Google Analytics 4 has the advantage
GA4 is deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem. If your business depends on Google Ads, cross-platform tracking, or advanced machine learning insights, GA4 offers capabilities that Alytics does not.
- • Cross-platform tracking
Web, iOS, and Android in one property
- • Google Ads integration
Direct campaign attribution and optimization
- • AI/ML insights
Predictive audiences and automated anomaly detection
- • E-commerce tracking
Enhanced measurement with product-level data
- • Massive community and ecosystem
Tutorials, agencies, and integrations
- • Free for most websites
Up to 10M events/month at no cost
- • BigQuery export
Advanced analysis with raw event data
Where Alytics has the advantage
Alytics is built for teams that value privacy, simplicity, and performance. If you need GDPR compliance without consent management overhead, or want heatmaps and Web Vitals without extra tools, Alytics delivers out of the box.
- ✓ GDPR compliant by default
No consent banner, no cookie management
- ✓ Click heatmaps included
See where visitors click without Hotjar or Clarity
- ✓ Core Web Vitals monitoring
LCP, INP, CLS tracking built into analytics
- ✓ 8x smaller script
5.8 KB vs ~45 KB — better page performance
- ✓ No data sampling
Every visit counted accurately
- ✓ Simpler interface
See your data without certification or training
- ✓ EU data hosting
All data processed and stored in the European Union
- ✓ Own your data
No data sharing with advertising platforms
How to switch from Google Analytics to Alytics
Switching to Alytics takes less than five minutes. You can run both analytics scripts side-by-side during the transition to validate data before removing GA4.
Sign up for Alytics
Free tier available, no credit card required. Create your account in seconds.
Add the script tag
One line of HTML in your website's head section. Works with any framework or CMS.
Verify your data
Check the Alytics dashboard to confirm data is flowing in correctly.
Remove the GA4 script
When you're ready, remove the Google Analytics script. No data is lost in Alytics.
You can run both scripts simultaneously during the transition. Alytics does not interfere with GA4.
Alytics vs Google Analytics FAQ
Why should I switch from Google Analytics to Alytics?
If privacy compliance matters to your business, Alytics eliminates the need for cookie consent banners and GDPR compliance concerns. Alytics also adds heatmaps and Core Web Vitals that GA4 does not offer.
Is Alytics a free Google Analytics alternative?
Alytics offers a free tier for smaller websites. For higher traffic volumes, paid plans are available. Unlike GA4, Alytics does not monetize your visitors' data.
Can Alytics replace Google Search Console integration?
Alytics integrates with both Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools, showing search performance data alongside your analytics. This is not a replacement for Search Console itself, but brings the data into one dashboard.
How much smaller is the Alytics script than Google Analytics?
The Alytics tracker is 5.8 KB compared to GA4's approximately 45 KB — about 8x smaller. The smaller script size means faster page loads and better Core Web Vitals scores.
Can I run Alytics and Google Analytics at the same time?
Yes. The two scripts do not interfere with each other. Many users run both during a transition period to validate data before removing GA4.
Switch to privacy-first analytics
Join thousands of websites using Alytics instead of Google Analytics. GDPR compliant, cookie-free, with heatmaps and Web Vitals included.