Burst: sustainable alternative to Google Analytics

Are you looking for an alternative to Google Analytics? Then you’ve come to the right place with the WordPress plugin Burst Statistics. It not only works easily, but is also privacy-friendly and a lot more sustainable. So in terms of privacy and low CO2 emissions, you’re in the right place.

As a website owner, you naturally want to know how well your website is doing. How many visitors you have, where they come from and which pages they visit. This often leads you to Google Analytics. Yet not everyone is a fan of this.

What are the disadvantages of Google Analytics?

• Steep learning curve: this tool is so extensive, you will need some time to master it. Great tool for marketers and online entrepreneurs, but less interesting if you check your stats every once in a while.
• Less sustainable: Google Analytics’ script is loaded on every page and data is stored in a cloud. And what is stored in the cloud is also on a server somewhere, powered by electricity.
• Privacy concerns: although Google Analytics acts according to GDPR and AVG legislation, people continue to question privacy. Namely, it is not always clear on which server, i.e. where, the collected data is stored. Is it in the EU or in the U.S.?

When it comes to privacy, it’s often about the cookie banner. But is it required or not. Find out here whether you need to put a cookie banner on your website.

Why would you use Burst?

There are several other alternatives to Google Analytics, but Burst clearly stands out in terms of simplicity, privacy and sustainability:

• Easy to use: unlike Google Analytics, this is not a comprehensive platform. Burst Statistics is limited to the most necessary statistics: visitors, page views, sessions, device types, pages visited and referrers (for example, search engines like Google or Ecosia or AI tools like ChatGPT). This can all be done with the free version. Want more? Then you can purchase the paid version Burst Statistics Pro.
• Privacy-friendly: Burst collects data, but only stores it locally, that is, on your own server or host. If your website is hosted within the EU, Burst is the right choice. This way, you can be sure that the data will not be resold.
• Sustainable solution: Burst not only stores data locally, but also needs fewer external scripts. Furthermore, there is a feature in Burst that ensures that this plugin does not slow down the website. This is explained in the roadmap below.
• Dutch company: Burst Statistics was developed by a Groningen-based BV that also created the plugins Complianz and Really Simple Security. So by using this plugin, you support the local Benelux economy.

Really Simple Security is a security plugin. Want to know more about securing your website? Then read how to create a secure WordPress website here.

Roadmap: how to install Burst.

This is the roadmap for the free version. Do you need more? Then you can purchase the paid version.

1. Log in to your website.
2. Go to WordPress dashboard > Plugins > Add new plugin.
3. Search for “Burst” or “Burst Statistics.”
4. Click install.
5. Click activate.
6. Are you using a cache plugin like WP Rocket? Then don’t forget to empty the cache.
7. Now, if all goes well, you’ll see the word “Statistics” appear in the left bar of your dashboard. Click on this and you will be taken to Burst!
8. Check if it works: on your cell phone, visit the website and under “dashboard” of Burst, see if you see the number 1 appear under “current” (or a higher number if there were already other visitors). Is that the case? Then it’s working.
9. Now we are going to set Burst further. Now go to settings > general.
10. Check “Enable turbo mode” to keep your page speed high. Now Burst’s script is no longer loaded in the header (upper part of the website), but in the footer (lower part of the website). Attention: does a visitor leave before the page is fully loaded? Then that visitor does not count.
11. Check “Enable Cookieless Tracking,” Burst will now not set cookies.
12. Check “Honor ‘Do Not Track’ requests,” that way you will definitely stay in order in terms of privacy.
13. Enter your email address for a periodic statistics report of your website. You choose whether you want to receive it weekly or monthly.
14. Go to settings > goals, if you want to actively work on your marketing. Here’s how to set goals in Burst.
15. Go to settings > advanced, this way you can exclude yourself. This is where you enter your own IP address. You can do that for both your fixed computer and your phone. This way, your own visits are not counted and you get a more objective report.
16. Want to make your site even faster? Then check “Merge tracking settings and scripts,” which will merge scripts.
17. Are you using a cache plugin? If so, don’t forget to clear the cache.

How will you proceed with Burst?

Once you are logged into your own site, you can always view your statistics. You discover which pages or articles are visited often and less often. But also how many of your visitors come through other websites.

Are you also using Google Analytics? Don’t stop there right away and keep that up for a while. That way you can compare results and check if Burst is really for you.

With both Burst and Google Analytics, you can see who is visiting your web site. But do you want more visitors? Then see how to get your Web site visited more often here.

Conclusion

Burst is the simple, privacy-friendly and sustainable alternative to Google Analytics. The plugin works simply, stores data only locally and loads fewer external scripts. Furthermore, Burst shows fewer results than Google Analytics. Useful for the ordinary website owner, but not for the marketer. That makes Burst a good solution for people or organizations that value privacy and sustainability.

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