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Google Analytics vs Matomo: Who Owns Your Data?

Discover how Matomo, based in the EU, offers enhanced data ownership compared to Google Analytics. Choose wisely to protect your insights.

Last updated: February 19, 2026Reviewed by Built in EU Team

Should You Switch to Matomo?

What You Gain

Enhanced privacy, open-source flexibility, and cost savings

Privacy advantage
Trade-offs

Loss of advanced features and integrations with Google Ads

Google Analytics has more features
Bottom Line

Switch if privacy is a priority; stay if advanced features are needed

At a Glance

Data Location
🇺🇸US

US data laws

🇪🇺EU

GDPR protected

Pricing

Google Analytics

Contact

Matomo

free

Migration
Medium difficulty~1-2 days

Privacy & Compliance Comparison

Critical data sovereignty factors at a glance

CriteriaGoogle AnalyticsMatomo
Server Location
US, EU (Google Cloud data centers)EU
GDPR Compliance
Partial (SCCs)Full
Open Source
E2E Encryption
Enterprise onlyOptional
Data Portability
Full exportFull export

CLOUD Act Notice

Google Analytics is a US company and must comply with CLOUD Act data requests, even for data stored in EU data centers. Matomo is not subject to US jurisdiction.

Switching from
Google Analytics logo

Google Analytics

🇺🇸

Google

VS
Switching to
Matomo logo

Matomo

🇪🇺

US Data Storage

Data subject to US CLOUD Act and may be accessed by US authorities

EU Data Protection

Data protected under GDPR with EU-only data residency

Certifications & Compliance

No certifications listed

EU-hosted
ISO 27001
GDPR Compliant
Open Source
Self-Hostable

Reasons to Switch

  • GDPR compliance with EU server hosting
  • Open source allows code customization
  • Self-hosting option enhances data control
  • ISO 27001 certification ensures security

Things to Consider

  • !Migration from Google Analytics can be complex
  • !Lacks direct integration with Google Ads
  • !Learning curve for new interface and features
Migration difficulty:
Medium
~1-2 days

Migration Overview

Full guide
Difficulty
Medium
Time Estimate
~1-2 days

Depends on data size and complexity

Quick Steps

1

Create Matomo account and configure settings

2

Export and prepare data from Google Analytics

3

Import data, test integrations, and migrate users

Other alternatives to Google Analytics

Ready to make the switch?

Start using Matomo today and take control of your data privacy.