Google Analytics vs Snowplow: What are the differences?

Introduction

Google Analytics and Snowplow are popular web analytics tools that help businesses track and analyze website data. While both tools offer valuable insights, they have key differences in terms of data ownership, flexibility, data schema, data processing, real-time analytics, and cost.

1. Data Ownership: One major difference between Google Analytics and Snowplow is data ownership. With Google Analytics, data is stored on Google's servers, and Google has access to this data. In contrast, Snowplow allows for complete data ownership, as it can be hosted on the organization's own servers, providing more control and privacy over the data.

2. Flexibility: Snowplow provides greater flexibility compared to Google Analytics. While Google Analytics offers a standardized set of features and reports, Snowplow allows custom event tracking and data collection. This means that businesses can track specific events and metrics that are unique to their website or business goals, providing more tailored and granular insights.

3. Data Schema: Google Analytics has a predefined data schema, which determines the types of data that can be collected and analyzed. On the other hand, Snowplow has a flexible and customizable data schema, allowing businesses to define their own data structure and capture any data points they require. This flexibility in data schema enables businesses to have a more comprehensive and specialized understanding of their website and customer behavior.

4. Data Processing: Google Analytics uses server-side data processing, where data is processed on Google's servers. This can result in a slight delay in data availability. In contrast, Snowplow offers real-time data processing, allowing businesses to access up-to-the-minute data insights. This real-time processing capability can be particularly helpful for time-sensitive analytics and marketing campaigns.

5. Real-time Analytics: While both Google Analytics and Snowplow offer real-time analytics, the level of real-time data analysis capabilities differs. Google Analytics provides real-time reporting on metrics such as active users, pageviews, and conversions. Snowplow, on the other hand, offers real-time data streaming and analysis, allowing businesses to take immediate actions based on real-time insights, such as triggering personalized content or notifications.

6. Cost: Another significant difference between Google Analytics and Snowplow is the cost. Google Analytics offers a free version that caters to the needs of most small to medium-sized businesses. However, larger enterprises may opt for Google Analytics 360, a premium version with advanced features and support that requires a significant financial investment. On the other hand, Snowplow has a more flexible pricing structure, allowing businesses to choose the level of support and customization they require, potentially resulting in lower costs for some organizations.

In summary, Google Analytics and Snowplow differ in terms of data ownership, flexibility, data schema, data processing capabilities, real-time analytics, and cost.