Matomo Analytics vs. Parse.ly

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Matomo Analytics
Score 8.9 out of 10
N/A
Piwik is an open source analytics platform that enables users to measure web and mobile apps as well as intranet portals. It protects the privacy of users through advanced privacy features and its approach to data ownership. Piwik offers On-premises and Cloud deployment options. Available in over 50 languages, it is fully customisable and vendor-independent. Piwik offers over 70 integrations with Content Management Systems, Ecommerce solutions, Forums as well as other mobile and web platforms.…
$0
Parse.ly
Score 7.8 out of 10
N/A
Parse.ly is a content optimization platform for online publishers. It provides in-depth analytics and helps maximize the performance of the digital content. It features a dashboard geared for editorial and business staff and an API that can be used by a product team to create personalized or contextual experiences on a website.N/A
Pricing
Matomo AnalyticsParse.ly
Editions & Modules
Free download (open source)
$0
Free 30 day trial
$0
limited to 30 days
Essential
$9
number of pageviews (monthly traffic)
Business
$29
number of pageviews (monthly traffic)
Enterprise
$199
your requirements and monthly traffic
Content Optimization Bundle
$579
per installation
Growth Bundle
$1,149
per installation
Premium Bundle
$1,499
per installation
Email Support Subscription
$2,090
per installation
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Matomo AnalyticsParse.ly
Free Trial
YesYes
Free/Freemium Version
YesNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeOptionalRequired
Additional DetailsOn-premise Edition is free to download and install on one's own servers.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Matomo AnalyticsParse.ly
Considered Both Products
Matomo Analytics
Chose Matomo Analytics
It is much more robust out of the box, easier to set up and more intuitive to use. The reports are set up already and it requires little to no setup after installation to start gathering insights.
Chose Matomo Analytics
Matomo Analytics offers the best of both worlds: detailed website analytics and the ability to be privacy-minded and compliant with data privacy regulations, up to and including GDPR. This allows for effective risk management, while also making compliance easy. And it doesn't …
Chose Matomo Analytics
Matomo allows complete control over your data. The setup is super easy, and deploying Matomo on multiple websites is a piece of a cake.
Chose Matomo Analytics
I've described this above but Matomo compares very, very favourably with GA. This is personal opinion of course but the look and feel alone are much improved.
Chose Matomo Analytics
Matomo's analytics tools have functions like the free Google Analytics. It is easy to learn and has a good implementation guide. So, it is good for learning web analytics.
Chose Matomo Analytics
The main and the most important advantage of Matomo to its competitors is cost. Solutions like Adobe Analytics might have more options for analysts but in the end, you need to pay extra which is not necessary for all the businesses. I would recommend Matomo to all the users …
Chose Matomo Analytics
We have used Google Analytics before for one of our online tools and we switched to Matomo for the other web applications we have. We did that because Matomo is free but mostly since we wanted us to own the data on these sensitive apps and not share it with third parties. Since …
Chose Matomo Analytics
Most services do not give us the fine control over our own data. They have access to information they are choosing not to share with us, notably IP addresses. Even if it's anonymized (last digits dropped), we should have the access to this data!
Chose Matomo Analytics
To be honest, I did not notice much of a difference between Piwik and Google Analytics, but I only provisioned the installation and added the users. Another team was processing the data from Piwik.
Chose Matomo Analytics
I have used a number of analytics products, including Google Analytics, Clicky and GoSquared. The winning feature of Piwik is the compact, rich data tables, which make it a good addition to the analytics mix. While I'm not throwing out the others, I've continued to find Piwik …
Chose Matomo Analytics
When we were initially evaluating the replacement for our AWStats setup the first alternative we looked at was Google Analytics. The main reason we started with the Google product was because, well, it's Google, plus I had used the Google Webmaster Tools kit at several other …
Chose Matomo Analytics
Moz is not directly a competitor, but it lacked (and still lacks) Piwik integration. Compared with Google Analytics the most important advantage has been the different approach to Privacy, GA has long been not compatible with German law and data is not in your own hands. Second …
Chose Matomo Analytics
At the time we did try Google Analytics and Urchin, however, due to our need for the upmost privacy using a product hosted on Google was difficult to sell. If you are looking for something that you can maintain separately without giving your data to Google with most of the same …
Chose Matomo Analytics
The customizable dashboard is useful so we can create different environments for employees. We have some data stewards who need to see all the data, but others only need to see certain widgets.
Chose Matomo Analytics
We are a pretty small company and even smaller Marketing shop. We use tools from both Google and Bing but have not had the financial freedom to explore additional tools out there. I have looked at Moz and would really like to evaluate that one at some point. For real hard-core …
Chose Matomo Analytics
I've used both Piwik and Google Analytic. I still prefer Piwik for it's more user friendly interface compared to Google Analytic. For most users, Piwik would be sufficient to provide the statistics required for planning. Google Analytics has more functions that complicates …
Chose Matomo Analytics
Open Source, easier implementation.
Chose Matomo Analytics
I have used NewRelic in the past. Currently using Adobe Analytics.
Overall, Piwik provides big volume of advanced data (just like its bigger competitors). Being easy to setup and maintain, as well as being free, is a huge plus. I liked the idea that I could access analytics data …
Chose Matomo Analytics
I have used Google Analytics, Site Catalyst, and Awstats as well as Piwik. There are some features that Google Analytics and Site Catalyst have that aren't available currently in Piwik, but most of those I don't currently need. Owning my data is more important to me than bells …
Chose Matomo Analytics
I have used Google Analytics in the past and still do for our clients who wish to use it, although I am not absolutely familiar with its features. AWStats & Urchin of course analyze the raw server logs, but are not as feature rich or configurable as Piwik.
Parse.ly
Chose Parse.ly
Parse.ly provides clearer insights into what stories are performing strongly in real time. Its interface is more user-friendly and it is easy to compare different time periods, titles or author statistics. Chartbeat had a website overlay to show where readers are going on site, …
Chose Parse.ly
Parse.ly excels in providing detailed insights into how users are interacting with specific pieces of content, allowing us to make data-driven decisions about content strategy and optimization. Its real-time reporting also provides us with immediate feedback on the …
Chose Parse.ly
Faster feedback and quicker visualization than what Google provides. However, it obviously can't get as specific or in-depth as Google Analytics
Chose Parse.ly
Doesn't come with an integrated overlay like Chartbeat, but is more intuitive (just) than GA. Seems more accurate and detailed than Chartbeat but less than GA. It's my go-to for day-to-day traffic engagement but monthly I'm more likely to look at in-house GA-generated reports.
Chose Parse.ly
I have not used or evaluated any other platforms similar to Parse.ly.
Chose Parse.ly
Parse.ly is way better because of how much more user-friendly and intuitive it is.
Chose Parse.ly
Parse.ly is the most comprehensive interface and system.
Chose Parse.ly
Have nothing similar to compare it with.
Chose Parse.ly
Parse.ly gives a more detailed look into how content is performing, versus the overall site metrics provided by Google Analytics.
Chose Parse.ly
Firstly, I didn't make the business decision to use Parse.ly. I'm just an employee using it. However, the first thing you notice is the change in appearance. Parse.ly's dashboard looks far more complicated than Chartbeat's and the black, white, and green theme [are] not as …
Chose Parse.ly
Parse.ly has very rich products and market use in media for content analytics. [The] dashboard provides [a] holistic view on the overall site visitor's information and what needs improvements. [The] dashboard is divided based on sections, author, posts, pages, etc., on the site …
Chose Parse.ly
Adobe Analytics is our organization's "official" data source and provides a much more in-depth feature set and customizable reporting tool. It's much less user-friendly than Parse.ly but can provide more detailed reporting. Google Analytics is used by my organization as a …
Chose Parse.ly
I used Google Analytics for years. I loved it and still love it. Google Analytics isn't as robust as Parse.ly and doesn't have some of the same capabilities, nor do I trust the data as much. But Google Analytics is still really good, and it's free. If I were at a …
Chose Parse.ly
Parse.ly is far more user-friendly than Google Analytics, which feels like a developer's tool by comparison. Parse.ly feels like it is designed for ease of access and use. While analyzing trends is more difficult in Google Analytics, it is straightforward in Parse.ly. Google …
Chose Parse.ly
I've used other web analytics tools such as Google Analytics, Baidu Analytics, and SiteCatalyst.
Chose Parse.ly
I use then in tandem; where Parse.ly lacks, I go over to Google Analytics and vice versa. Sometimes I need to look deeper at referral sources and that is where Parse.ly isn't as strong, especially if I am looking at a bigger set of content.
Chose Parse.ly
We used Chartbeat, which wasn’t as user friendly.
Chose Parse.ly
Parse.ly works better than Google Analytics. This is mainly due to its simplicity whereas Google Analytics can quickly become quite complicated with a lot of moving parts. Parse.ly, on the other hand, is quick to learn and understand while also providing a lot of information.
Chose Parse.ly
Parse.ly offers a more friendly user experience, with better ease in navigating the software.
Chose Parse.ly
Parse.ly is easier to use and more self-explanatory than Google Analytics. The site essentially explains itself upon visiting it. Chartbeat was quite good but I believe Parse.ly provides more granular details on web traffic and gives the user more insights into how and why …
Chose Parse.ly
Parse.ly is easier to track and to understand for me than the features that Google Analytics offers. Nonetheless, graphics seems to be more complex in Google's environment, which [I feel] can be a weakness for Parse.ly in the case of Data Analysts. Although, both are used in …
Features
Matomo AnalyticsParse.ly
Web Analytics
Comparison of Web Analytics features of Product A and Product B
Matomo Analytics
9.8
Ratings
19% above category average
Parse.ly
7.6
Ratings
6% below category average
Lead Conversion Tracking10.00 Ratings6.20 Ratings
Bounce Rate Measurement10.00 Ratings6.70 Ratings
Device and Browser Reporting10.00 Ratings8.30 Ratings
Pageview Tracking10.00 Ratings8.20 Ratings
Event Tracking10.00 Ratings7.80 Ratings
Reporting in real-time8.20 Ratings8.40 Ratings
Referral Source Tracking10.00 Ratings7.60 Ratings
Customizable Dashboards10.00 Ratings7.60 Ratings
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Medium-sized Companies
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Enterprises
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User Ratings
Matomo AnalyticsParse.ly
Likelihood to Recommend
10.0
(0 ratings)
7.8
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
8.7
(0 ratings)
8.7
(0 ratings)
Usability
10.0
(0 ratings)
7.7
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
6.7
(0 ratings)
7.8
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
9.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Matomo AnalyticsParse.ly
Likelihood to Recommend
Matomo is a full-fledged website tracking and analytics tool. It offers everything and then a bit more that GA has to offer. I cannot conceive of any situation where this programme would be "less appropriate". You can use it for each and every website and do well with it. The data it provides includes everything you could wish for (country, IP, new user or not, actions taken, goals achieved etc.)
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For people working in online media, or digital content creators, the platform could help them understand their audience and allow them to interact with them in a user-friendly way. Since the digital media industry is booming, Parse.ly can allow the user and the content creators to meet each other's demands and reduce redundancies and bombard the users with unnecessary content.
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Pros
  • Default Admin dashboard provides a ton of very useful information that is easily maneuvered around with "click-n-drag" to meet your preferences
  • Provides some very valuable granular insights by default without needing to do additional customizations
  • Breaks down insights into categories, then sub-categories which allow you to really drill down
  • Compiles and presents the data in a nice, visually friendly way
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  • Real-time metrics are great and help us decide what content to follow up on.
  • Audience segmenting is key, helps us determine where we're strong and where we're not.
  • Historical metrics are also helpful in helping us see what readers come back to overtime, which drives decisions about what content to devote more resources to producing.
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Cons
  • Their support is extremely bad with slow replies
  • Their interface and UI looks like something from 2010
  • It is only 20% of the web page that is usable and there is zero to no help as to how you use their platform
  • The website has lots of bugs that leads to that you often not get accurate analytics
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  • Traffic source. I would like to be able to find the exact social media page a view comes from. Now I can only tell which platform.
  • I would like to be able to compare traffic more than one year ago. Now I'm limited to one year.
  • Some more customization of reports (or maybe more training).
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Likelihood to Renew
Piwik makes it easy to see which social networks are most effective for you, and the mobile data is great too. Add to this the depth of data and excellent reporting, and you have several reasons to give Piwik a try
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Cost is always a factor when considering any renewal, so we will always see how that compares to other offerings, but we have been pleased with the functionality from Parse.ly. Importantly, it has engaged news teams, and writers can easily assess their own performance--it is not just a management tool. This wider take-up makes it more likely that we would renew.
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Usability
Piwik succeeds in presenting me (and my associates and my clients...) large amounts of data in a user friendly way. The interface and functionality can easily be customized. While some enhancements do need technical background (API calls by programming language from the webserver or javascript), others are easy to use (goal / event tracking)
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The Parse.ly platform is very user-friendly and easy to use. User management is simple, and reporting setup only takes a few minutes. They provide very helpful documentation for implementing the scripts on your site and have great customer support to help with custom development such as implementing their content recommendation engine.
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Support Rating
The best thing about the Matomo support is that they have a forum which basically you can find the answer to almost all of your questions and most of the time you don't need to contact them regarding your questions and problems but if you need help they will answer in a reasonable time slots.
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Seems to be more bugs than I encounter in Google Analytics, but Parse.ly is always very quick to answer my questions or fix something. It seems like most of my issues are due to communications around my requests being outside of the package we pay for with this tool (i.e., only two years of data).
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Implementation Rating
Only one hiccup when we were using a beta installation. Other than that, smooth sailing.
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No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Matomo Analytics offers the best of both worlds: detailed website analytics and the ability to be privacy-minded and compliant with data privacy regulations, up to and including GDPR. This allows for effective risk management, while also making compliance easy. And it doesn't block marketing from making data-driven decisions to optimize our marketing over time.
Read full review
Parse.ly excels in providing detailed insights into how users are interacting with specific pieces of content, allowing us to make data-driven decisions about content strategy and optimization. Its real-time reporting also provides us with immediate feedback on the effectiveness of content changes, which is particularly important for content-heavy sites that need to iterate quickly.
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Return on Investment
  • The ROI in terms of user impact and usage in our beta test has proven to be excellent. In comparison to our AWstats system that was tracking stats based on the htaccess logs, Piwik gives the customer the ability to see stats on an almost realtime basis versus a day behind due to file processing.
  • Lead conversion is definitely easier with a robust system like Piwik. Trying to hunt down leads using a straight up htaccess logs polling system is much more difficult for non-technical users.
  • Customer service calls have dropped since the stats data is now stored in a MySQL backend rather than flat files. With a database driven system efficiency has improved with respect to response time from a customer perspective by well over 150%.
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  • Sometimes in meetings our editorial director will point out stories that didn't perform well. To us, that means readers don't really care about the topic, so we'll pivot away from writing about that in the future. That might not be "business objectives" though.
Read full review
ScreenShots

Matomo Analytics Screenshots

Screenshot of Customizable dashboardScreenshot of ReferrersScreenshot of Mouse scroll HeatmapScreenshot of Web page HeatmapScreenshot of A/B testingScreenshot of Form Analytics overview

Parse.ly Screenshots

Screenshot of Overview in full-screen mode: Many Parse.ly pages, like the Overview, are TV-ready. Keep your entire team up-to-date with live, full-screen dashboards on TVs in your office.Screenshot of Overview screen: See a snapshot of what your audience is paying attention to today so you can make fast decisions about what content to produce or distribute. Customize it to show only what your team cares about by filtering it to a particular author, section, or tag. You can pick what stats and listings are displayed.Screenshot of Real-time posts page: See what’s gathering steam so you can capitalize on attention to every post, campaign, or section.
Real-time data includes the last 24 hours and updates every five seconds. It can be seen, filtered, and sorted on most screens.Screenshot of Historical posts page: Explore historical trends by post, author, section, topic, referrer, or campaign. Compare today’s performance to last week, month, or year.Screenshot of Campaign tracking: Easily tie in your off-site promotion to engagement with your on-site content using UTM parameters.Screenshot of Multi-channel tracking: Track all your content in one place, no matter where it lives.
Compare how your content performances on various distributed channels including your website, AMP, Facebook Instant Articles, and Apple News.