GoAccess
Self-HostedReal-time web log analyzer and interactive viewer
Overview
GoAccess is an open-source, real-time web log analyzer that processes logs from Apache, Nginx, CloudFront, and more. It generates terminal-based or HTML interactive reports with visitor stats, hits, bandwidth, referrers, user agents, and geolocation data. Deployable via Docker, package managers, or source code, it runs without a database, ensuring fast processing even for large logs. Ideal for self-hosted setups, it prioritizes privacy by keeping analytics data local, giving users full control over their web traffic insights.
Key Features
- Real-time log processing for multiple formats
- Terminal and HTML interactive dashboards
- No database required for operation
- Geolocation tracking of visitors
- Lightweight design for large log files
Frequently Asked Questions
? Is GoAccess hard to install?
No—GoAccess can be installed via package managers (apt, yum, brew), Docker, or source code. For Docker, a simple command like `docker run -p 7890:7890 -v /path/to/logs:/var/log/nginx allinurl/goaccess` sets it up quickly.
? Is it a good alternative to Google Analytics?
Yes for privacy-focused users—GoAccess processes logs locally, so no data leaves your server. It lacks Google Analytics' event tracking but excels at log-based insights like visitor counts, bandwidth usage, and referrers.
? Is it completely free?
Yes—GoAccess is open-source under the MIT License, so it’s free to use, modify, and distribute without any costs or subscriptions.
Top Alternatives
Tool Info
Pros
- ⊕ Privacy-focused (no third-party data sharing)
- ⊕ Easy deployment via Docker or package managers
- ⊕ Fast processing with minimal resource usage
- ⊕ Supports popular web server log formats
Cons
- ⊖ Terminal interface has a learning curve for non-technical users
- ⊖ HTML reports need manual refresh unless auto-configured
- ⊖ Lacks event-based analytics compared to SaaS tools