Google Tag Manager vs Segment

Overview

Segment

Stacks3.3K

Followers941

Votes275

Google Tag Manager

Stacks63.8K

Followers7.5K

Votes0

Google Tag Manager vs Segment: What are the differences?

Introduction:

When it comes to managing and analyzing data for online platforms, Google Tag Manager and Segment are two popular tools that offer solutions.

Data Sources and Integrations: Google Tag Manager primarily focuses on collecting and managing data from various tags and scripts installed on a website. It offers built-in integrations with Google Analytics, AdWords, and other Google products. In contrast, Segment acts as a customer data infrastructure that allows you to collect data from multiple sources like websites, mobile apps, and servers, and send it to various destinations such as analytics tools, data warehouses, and marketing platforms.
Flexibility and Customization: Google Tag Manager provides a user-friendly interface for marketers to add, edit, and manage tags without needing developer intervention. However, it has limitations in terms of customizing data flows and processing. On the other hand, Segment offers more flexibility and customization options through its robust API and user-defined schemas. Users can create tailored data pipelines and transformations according to their specific needs.
Real-Time Data Streaming: While Google Tag Manager focuses on collecting and processing data in batch mode, Segment specializes in real-time data streaming. This allows businesses to analyze and act upon incoming data immediately, enabling personalized user experiences, dynamic segmentation, and timely decision-making.
Data Governance and Compliance Features: Segment provides advanced features for data governance, security, and compliance, such as data permissions, user roles, and privacy controls. These capabilities ensure that businesses can adhere to regulatory requirements and protect customer data effectively. Google Tag Manager, while secure, lacks the same level of granular control over data access and management.
Cost Structure: Google Tag Manager is free to use for basic tag management services, making it accessible to small businesses and individuals. However, the cost can increase as more advanced features and services are needed. In contrast, Segment operates on a subscription-based model, offering tiered pricing based on the volume of data processed and the number of integrations utilized. This can be advantageous for scaling businesses with diverse data management needs.
Implementation Complexity: Google Tag Manager is relatively easy to set up and use, especially for users familiar with Google's ecosystem. It requires minimal technical expertise and can be deployed quickly on websites. In contrast, Segment may have a steeper learning curve due to its powerful features and comprehensive data management capabilities. Users might need more time and resources to fully leverage its potential.

In Summary, Google Tag Manager and Segment differ in data sources and integrations, flexibility, real-time data streaming, data governance features, cost structure, and implementation complexity. Each tool caters to distinct data management needs, offering unique advantages and challenges for businesses to consider when choosing a solution.

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Advice on Segment, Google Tag Manager

Iva

Product Marketing Manager at Martian & Machine

Jan 20, 2021

Needs adviceon

Segment

Google Tag Manager

Amplitude

Hi,

This is a question for best practice regarding Segment and Google Tag Manager. I would love to use Segment and GTM together when we need to implement a lot of additional tools, such as Amplitude, Appsfyler, or any other engagement tool since we can send event data without additional SDK implementation, etc.

So, my question is, if you use Segment and Google Tag Manager, how did you define what you will push through Segment and what will you push through Google Tag Manager? For example, when implementing a Facebook Pixel or any other 3rd party marketing tag?

From my point of view, implementing marketing pixels should stay in GTM because of the tag/trigger control.

If you are using Segment and GTM together, I would love to learn more about your best practice.

Thanks!

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Comments

Detailed Comparison

Segment	Google Tag Manager
Segment is a single hub for customer data. Collect your data in one place, then send it to more than 100 third-party tools, internal systems, or Amazon Redshift with the flip of a switch.	Tag Manager gives you the ability to add and update your own tags for conversion tracking, site analytics, remarketing, and more. There are nearly endless ways to track user behavior across your sites and apps, and the intuitive design lets you change tags whenever you want.
A single API to integrate third-party tools; Data replay that backfills new tools with historical data; SQL support to automatically transform and load behavioral data into Amazon Redshift; More than 120 tools on the platform; One-click to install plugins for WordPress, Magento and WooCommerce; Mobile, web and server-side libraries	-
Statistics
Stacks 3.3K	Stacks 63.8K
Followers 941	Followers 7.5K
Votes 275	Votes 0
Pros & Cons
Pros 86 Easy to scale and maintain 3rd party services 49 One API 39 Simple 25 Multiple integrations 19 Cleanest API Cons 2 Not clear which events/options are integration-specific 1 Limitations with integration-specific configurations 1 Client-side events are separated from server-side	No community feedback yet
Integrations
Google Analytics Mixpanel UserVoice LiveChat Olark Marketo Intercom Sentry BugHerd Gauges	Google Analytics

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Related Comparisons

Google Tag Manager vs Segment: What are the differences?

Introduction:

When it comes to managing and analyzing data for online platforms, Google Tag Manager and Segment are two popular tools that offer solutions.

Data Sources and Integrations: Google Tag Manager primarily focuses on collecting and managing data from various tags and scripts installed on a website. It offers built-in integrations with Google Analytics, AdWords, and other Google products. In contrast, Segment acts as a customer data infrastructure that allows you to collect data from multiple sources like websites, mobile apps, and servers, and send it to various destinations such as analytics tools, data warehouses, and marketing platforms.
Flexibility and Customization: Google Tag Manager provides a user-friendly interface for marketers to add, edit, and manage tags without needing developer intervention. However, it has limitations in terms of customizing data flows and processing. On the other hand, Segment offers more flexibility and customization options through its robust API and user-defined schemas. Users can create tailored data pipelines and transformations according to their specific needs.
Real-Time Data Streaming: While Google Tag Manager focuses on collecting and processing data in batch mode, Segment specializes in real-time data streaming. This allows businesses to analyze and act upon incoming data immediately, enabling personalized user experiences, dynamic segmentation, and timely decision-making.
Data Governance and Compliance Features: Segment provides advanced features for data governance, security, and compliance, such as data permissions, user roles, and privacy controls. These capabilities ensure that businesses can adhere to regulatory requirements and protect customer data effectively. Google Tag Manager, while secure, lacks the same level of granular control over data access and management.
Cost Structure: Google Tag Manager is free to use for basic tag management services, making it accessible to small businesses and individuals. However, the cost can increase as more advanced features and services are needed. In contrast, Segment operates on a subscription-based model, offering tiered pricing based on the volume of data processed and the number of integrations utilized. This can be advantageous for scaling businesses with diverse data management needs.
Implementation Complexity: Google Tag Manager is relatively easy to set up and use, especially for users familiar with Google's ecosystem. It requires minimal technical expertise and can be deployed quickly on websites. In contrast, Segment may have a steeper learning curve due to its powerful features and comprehensive data management capabilities. Users might need more time and resources to fully leverage its potential.

Google Tag Manager vs Segment

Overview