Top 10 Tools For Tracking Web Site Statistics


I consulted with a few people and put together this list of the top web site statistics packages. There are literally hundreds of companies providing some form of web statistics. All of them appear to have a slightly different business model.

#1: Google Analytics (and Urchin)

Ever since Google bought Urchin, they’ve been doing an ok job with Google Analytics. Most people really know why they bought it though… so they could track statistics and results for AdWords.

#2: FeedBurner

The leader in RSS feed statistics.

#3: Mint

Great tool for bloggers: lets you see at a glance (one long, scrolling page) all of the recent activity on your site, and high level trends.

#4: AWStats

The stats package of choice for ISPs who want to provide budget software that actually scans your server logs.

#5: MyBlogLog

Just bought up by Yahoo! this web stats system is more of a community and lets you track your frequent visitors. You can also track clicks and popular blog stories.

#6: WebTrends

The gold standard for many years.

#7: Site Meter

Hugely popular with big sites like Drudge. Free plan lets people make their statistics public, and shows a little icon at the bottom of the page.

#8: CoreMetrics

More of a business class web stats service.

#9: WebSideStory (HBX)

Was a huge player in the late ’90s on sites like Geocities. Still going strong.

#10: Clicky Web Statistics

A new service that aims to let you drill down into a single users visit to your site, and see what pages they visited in order.

Bonus #11: Crazy Egg

Best visual stats system the world has ever seen. With the introduction of heat maps showing where people click, you can see at a glance what pages and buttons are working. Downside: May not be that useful over the long term.

Bonus #12: Reinvigorate

Looks promising.

Bonus #13: Measure Map

Promised to be the jewel of the online stats systems, but barely launched before Google bought it up and left it to die.

Bonus #14: W3Counter

See who is on your site while they are on your site. Free and hosted.

What statistics package do you use?

Thanks to Kyle Neath, Joe Lencioni, Josh Pigford, and Paul Stamatiou for a few of the suggestions.


14 responses to “Top 10 Tools For Tracking Web Site Statistics”

  1. Great post, I use 1,2 and 4.

    I also use Google Webmaster tools (now with a Links!)

    One thing, it would be nice if you placed an asterisk next to the ones that are free.

  2. I am busy beta testing reinvigorate’s system. I must say I think its great, havn’t noticed any issues or bloated sections like you get with Google Analytics.

    Good clean and simple design.

  3. I use Analytics for the big picture. I haven’t really drilled into that capability yet.
    My host installed version of Urchin is where I go for the details..
    I have a Feedburner Pro account, but prefer to pull up that data in w3counter.
    Tried CrazyEgg, and agree it’s probably best used in “shots”, not long term.
    WebTrends…back in the day.
    MeasureMap — interesting presentation of relatively flat and uninspiring data

  4. I was using Performancing Metrics until they pulled the plug on the stats tool due to the cost. It was very good for a free service, and I actually enjoyed the usability of the site over Google Analytics which I’m currently using now. It appears that SplashPress Media just acquired the site so chances are they’ll be bringing back Metrics again (btw, they recommended FeedBurner for stats once Metrics closed down).

  5. Some top rated ones by marketers include:
    hitslink.com and indextools.com

    These are like Google Analytics but offer a different and sometimes easier to follow visitor tracking stats.

  6. Firstly, great re-cap of tools for tracking. One thing i didn’t find (maybe I missed it) was what software would be good to track things like open rate on emails, click through on banners (on your site). Basic metrics that provide value to advertisers. Any suggestions? Does google analytics do this? Thanks so much!

  7. I second the views of Jason – I use Stat Counter as it’s very simple and free to a point. The new Reinvigorate beta is quite complicated – it has lost the simplicity of the original (despite it looking pretty damn hot). Also use Crazy Egg for visualising stats. We use WebTrends at work but IMHO it is pretty average unless you have a lot of time to put in to it, setting up profiles.

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