Offen Fair Web Analytics vs Stormly

Compare Offen Fair Web Analytics and Stormly on capabilities, jurisdiction, assurance, and fit for European buyers.

Both listed as alternatives to: Google Analytics, Mixpanel

Logo: Offen Fair Web Analytics

Offen Fair Web Analytics

Germany· Web Analytics

Needs review

Shortlist when you want self-hosted, Apache-2.0 analytics that only measures after opt-in, encrypts events in the browser, and lets visitors open their own data in the Auditorium. Skip when you need cookieless full-coverage metrics, session replay/heatmaps, or zero-ops managed EU hosting—consider Plausible, Pirsch, or Friendly Analytics instead.

Opt-in onlyBrowser E2E encryptionSelf-hostedApache-2.0Visitor data accessBerlin-based project
Logo: Stormly

Stormly

Netherlands· Web Analytics

Needs review

Shortlist Stormly when you need Dutch-contracted, e-commerce-first product analytics: SKU-aware report packs, Shopify/Adobe-oriented setup, inbox-style AI anomaly narratives, and a public DPA. Skip when you need cookieless privacy web stats only (consider Plausible, Simple Analytics, or Pirsch), open-source self-hosting, verified ISO/SOC on a public cert page, or a subprocessor chain free of US-group cloud and Azure OpenAI.

E-commerce product analyticsSKU-aware reportsAI anomaly insightsShopify / Adobe CommerceNL entity + public DPASaaS (not self-host)
Offen Fair Web Analytics vs Stormly: Snapshot
FeatureLogo: Offen Fair Web AnalyticsOffen Fair Web AnalyticsLogo: StormlyStormly
Country of originGermanyNetherlands
CategoryWeb AnalyticsWeb Analytics
Open sourceYesNo
Self-hostedYesNo
HeadquartersGermanyNetherlands
Legal entityPublic legal notice lists Frederik Ring, Berlin (offen.software); product authors Frederik Ring and Hendrik Niefeld—no separate GmbH name verified on imprintMonon B.V. (Lutmastraat 1-3, 1072 JL Amsterdam; KvK 76248747 per Terms)
Governing lawGermany (indicative from Berlin imprint)Netherlands (Dutch law; Amsterdam courts)
US parent / controlNo known US parentNo known US parent
CLOUD Act exposure (indicative)LowMedium
Hosting / residencyProduct is operator self-hosted (your VPS/cloud/on-prem). No Offen multi-tenant analytics SaaS or vendor subprocessor list for visitor events. Related marketing site (offen.software) names Hetzner Online GmbH (Germany) as host—not the analytics data path. Optional community deploys include Heroku (operator choice).Client analytics subprocessors (Security Architecture): Hetzner (EU); Amazon AWS (US company, vendor states EU regions only for encrypted analytics backups); Vultr (US company); Microsoft Azure OpenAI (US company, vendor states EU Azure region). Plans market EU data residency. Controller privacy policy also references Vultr/AWS for account data, AuthSMTP EU + Amazon SES USA for email, Stripe for payments; marketing site uses Google Analytics and Hotjar.
Summary

Open-source, self-hosted web analytics with opt-in consent, browser-side end-to-end encryption, and a shared Auditorium so visitors can see and control their own usage data.

Dutch SaaS product analytics for e-commerce teams: SKU-aware reports, AI-assisted anomaly and root-cause insights, and Shopify/Adobe Commerce/Segment/GTM-oriented connections under Monon B.V. (Amsterdam).

Tags
At a glance: Offen Fair Web Analytics vs Stormly
At a glanceLogo: Offen Fair Web AnalyticsOffen Fair Web AnalyticsLogo: StormlyStormly
HQ / authorsBerlin, Germany (Frederik Ring & Hendrik Niefeld)Not listed
LicenseApache-2.0 (code/docs); logo CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0Not listed
DeliverySelf-host only (binary, Docker, community deploys)Not listed
Consent modelOpt-in only; first-party cookiesNot listed
Default retention6 months (configurable shorter)Not listed
Funding noteNLnet NGI support (project-stated)Not listed
HQ / entityNot listedMonon B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands
CategoryNot listedE-commerce product analytics (SaaS)
Hosting (public)Not listedHetzner; AWS EU-region backups; Vultr; Azure OpenAI EU region (vendor docs)
Open sourceNot listedNo
Self-hostNot listedNo
Commercial modelNot listedFree tier + monthly plan + custom; trial path on paid
Governing lawNot listedDutch law; Amsterdam courts
Key capabilities: Offen Fair Web Analytics vs Stormly
Key capabilitiesLogo: Offen Fair Web AnalyticsOffen Fair Web AnalyticsLogo: StormlyStormly
Opt-in onlyYesNot listed
Browser E2E encryptionYesNot listed
Self-hostedYesNot listed
Apache-2.0YesNot listed
Visitor data accessYesNot listed
Berlin-based projectYesNot listed
E-commerce product analyticsNot listedYes
SKU-aware reportsNot listedYes
AI anomaly insightsNot listedYes
Shopify / Adobe CommerceNot listedYes
NL entity + public DPANot listedYes
SaaS (not self-host)Not listedYes

Offen Fair Web Analytics

  • Opt-in only collection with first-party cookies

    No analytics events are recorded until the visitor actively consents. Cookies are first-party and the tracker is meant to run on a same-site subdomain so third-party cookie restrictions and cross-site tracking models do not apply. Visitors who never opt in leave no usage trail—expect lower absolute volumes than cookieless tools that measure by default.

  • Browser-side end-to-end encryption of usage events

    Clients encrypt usage data before it leaves the browser; the server stores ciphertext and cannot decrypt events alone. Only the visitor (via their cookie) and the matching operator account can open that visitor's data in the Auditorium. Practical impact: a compromised database or overly broad ops access does not yield plaintext browsing histories the way a typical self-hosted analytics DB would.

  • Auditorium for both operators and visitors

    Operators see aggregates across pages where the installation is active (unique users/sessions, top pages, filters). Each opted-in visitor can open the same style of UI for their own data only, with plain-language metric explanations, and can delete data or fully opt out later. This is the fair design point: measurement is not a one-way glass.

  • Essential metrics without IP or User-Agent capture

    Dashboards cover real-time activity, page views, unique users and sessions, bounce rate, returning users, top pages, referrers, UTM campaign/source, landing and exit pages, weekly retention, and load time. Location is country-level from timezone mapping; mobile share uses orientation capability—not IP geolocation or UA parsing. No heatmaps, session replay, or warehouse-grade product analytics.

  • Lightweight self-host: binary, Docker, SQLite or SQL

    Production installs use a single binary (Linux/Windows/macOS) or the offen/offen image; docs also cover Heroku, Uberspace, and YunoHost. Default store is SQLite; MySQL and Postgres are supported. AutoTLS can request Let's Encrypt certificates. Config is environment variables or offen.env. You own uptime, backups, SMTP for password reset, and the subdomain layout.

  • Multi-site accounts, teams, and short retention

    One installation can cover multiple websites with shared team access. Default retention is six months with automatic deletion; operators can shorten retention (e.g. 12 weeks, 30 days, 7 days) knowing shorter values purge older events on startup. Consent banner appearance is customizable; UI locales include EN, DE, FR, ES, PT, and VI.

Stormly

  • AI agent for trends, anomalies, and root-cause style digs

    Stormly positions an AI agent that watches connected e-commerce data for trends and anomalies (for example conversion drops or product spikes), then delivers plain-language findings—often to the inbox—with root-cause style exploration for questions like mobile conversion drops or regional return spikes. AI assistant access is plan-dependent; the public DPA documents Azure OpenAI (Microsoft) handling of assistant queries with a 30-day retention window and property stripping rules. Best for merchandising and growth leads who want narrative answers without waiting on a data team.

  • SKU-aware e-commerce report library (plus custom builds)

    Ready reports target commerce questions: New Arrivals Performance (early SKU winners/laggards), Unviewed & Unsold Products, cart abandonment and revenue contribution by product/category, Conversion Journey and funnels by device/region, A/B test insights, Aha Moment Discovery, cross-selling analysis, and broader library items (retention, CLV, forecasting, SQL report, and more). Vendor materials state custom reports are included without a separate fee when a needed view is missing—useful for mid-market retailers that outgrow generic event charts.

  • Shopify, Adobe Commerce, Segment, and GTM-oriented connections

    Homepage setup emphasizes linking Shopify, Adobe Commerce, or Segment quickly, with Google Tag Manager also listed among integrations. The DPA describes additional programmatic paths (JS library, import, custom endpoints, third-party sources). Fits stores already on common commerce stacks; teams on exotic storefronts should validate event coverage and product-feed depth in a pilot before replacing an existing analytics stack.

  • End-user tracking with IP anonymization defaults

    Per the DPA, IP addresses for end-user analytics are not stored in full: the last octet is removed and geo/timezone are derived from the anonymized value. Web integrations automatically capture first-party cookie user ids, page/referrer/UTM context, and device metadata; app properties depend on client or CDP configuration. This is still full product analytics (not cookieless aggregate-only web stats)—clients remain responsible for consent banners and lawful basis for shopper tracking.

  • Public DPA, security architecture, and Dutch contracting

    B2B buyers can download a Data Processing Agreement (effective 2023-09-06) and a Security Architecture page listing subprocessors, encryption expectations, backup retention (analytics backups up to six months), and logical tenant isolation. Contracts and DPA are governed by Dutch law with Amsterdam courts. Useful for EU procurement packages—but US-group subprocessors (AWS, Vultr, Azure OpenAI) still require transfer and CLOUD Act diligence.

Assurance & compliance: Offen Fair Web Analytics vs Stormly
Assurance & complianceLogo: Offen Fair Web AnalyticsOffen Fair Web AnalyticsLogo: StormlyStormly
Independent security / architecture audit
Not found

No public third-party audit PDF found; coordinated disclosure via SECURITY.md email only.

Not found

Security Architecture describes encryption, monitoring, isolation, and vulnerability contact (security@stormly.com); no public third-party audit PDF found.

ISO 27001
Not found

No public ISO 27001 certification claim found on official site or docs.

Not found

No public ISO 27001 certificate located on official legal/security pages reviewed.

SOC 2 / SOC 3
Not found

No public SOC 2/3 report found.

Not found

No public SOC 2/3 report located on official pages reviewed.

GDPR / EU data protection
Vendor claimed

EU authors; opt-in, data minimization (no IP/UA), visitor access/erasure, short default retention, Datensparsamkeit framing. Self-host means operator remains controller—confirm your legal basis and notice.

Vendor claimed

NL entity; public privacy policy and DPA (GDPR-oriented); IP last-octet anonymization for end-user analytics; SCCs language for restricted transfers in DPA.

US CLOUD Act exposure (indicative)
Partial

EuropeanStack assessment: no known US parent; product not delivered as US-hosted vendor SaaS. Operator-chosen infrastructure (including optional Heroku/US cloud) can still create CLOUD Act paths for stored ciphertext/metadata. Not legal advice.

Partial

EU entity / no known US parent, but public client subprocessors include AWS, Vultr, and Microsoft Azure OpenAI (US-group companies). Account path historically also lists Amazon SES and Stripe. Residency claims do not remove US-group legal exposure. Indicative only—not legal advice.

Data processing agreement (B2B)
Not applicable

No multi-tenant vendor analytics processing relationship documented; operator self-hosts and is typically controller. Custom development/support via offen.software is separate from a standard SaaS DPA.

Vendor claimed

Downloadable DPA PDF linked from stormly.com/dpa (effective 6 September 2023); audit rights and subprocessor notice described; Security Architecture lists subprocessors.

EU AI Act
Not applicable

Web analytics metrics product; not an AI system product.

Partial

Product includes an AI assistant via Azure OpenAI; not positioned as a high-risk AI system marketing claim. Buyers should map AI assistant use to their own AI Act / internal AI policy—vendor does not publish a full AI Act conformity package on the pages reviewed.

Considerations & known limitations: Offen Fair Web Analytics vs Stormly
Considerations & known limitationsLogo: Offen Fair Web AnalyticsOffen Fair Web AnalyticsLogo: StormlyStormly
Opt-in undercounts absolute traffic
High

Visitors who never consent generate no events. Growth and content KPIs will not match cookieless tools or GA-style default measurement—treat as design, not a misconfiguration.

Not listed
You own uptime, backups, and secrets
Medium

No managed Offen cloud. Operators must run HTTPS/subdomain layout, set OFFEN_SECRET for stable sessions, configure SMTP for resets, and back up SQLite/SQL—plus avoid reverse proxies that log IPs if minimization is a goal.

Not listed
E2E crypto is vendor-claimed architecture
Medium

Browser-side encryption and server inability to decrypt are core claims from project docs/README, not independently audited in public materials found. Security-sensitive orgs should review source or commission assessment.

Not listed
Hosting choice reintroduces cloud jurisdiction
Medium

Self-host on US-group cloud or Heroku means CLOUD Act/subprocessor analysis shifts to your host even though Offen itself is Berlin-based OSS without a vendor SaaS region map.

Not listed
No public ISO/SOC or audit pack
Low

Procurement checklists that require vendor ISO 27001/SOC 2 will stall; evidence is open source and design docs, not cert registry entries.

Medium

Enterprise security questionnaires may stall without ISO 27001/SOC 2 packs. DPA offers information/audit rights—plan time for NDA evidence requests.

Essential metrics only
Medium

No heatmaps, session replay, advanced funnels, or product-analytics warehouse features. Wrong tool if the shortlist criterion is UX research depth rather than fair traffic statistics.

Not listed
US-group cloud and AI subprocessorsNot listed
Medium

Despite Dutch HQ and EU residency marketing, client data paths publicly include AWS, Vultr, and Microsoft Azure OpenAI. Transfer tooling (SCCs) and encryption of backups are documented, but CLOUD Act / US legal process risk remains a diligence item for sovereignty-sensitive buyers.

Azure OpenAI retains assistant context 30 daysNot listed
Medium

AI queries and aggregate report results are stored on Microsoft Azure OpenAI for 30 days per DPA. Property stripping reduces some identifiers, but misconfigured event properties could still expose sensitive content—govern AI use and property hygiene.

Controller privacy policy vs security architecture driftNot listed
Low

Privacy policy (controller, effective 2019) still emphasizes Vultr USA wording in places, while Security Architecture (client data) lists Hetzner/AWS/Vultr/Azure. Ask for a single current subprocessor and region matrix at contract time.

Not a privacy web-analytics substituteNot listed
Low

Full product analytics with cookies/identifiers for web integrations—not a cookieless aggregate counter. Consent UX remains on the client.

Fit

Offen Fair Web Analytics

Best fit when

  • Public-sector, media, NGO, or mission-driven sites that need visitor-visible transparency and strict opt-in
  • EU teams that must keep analytics off third-party trackers and can run a small always-on instance
  • Operators who want first-party subdomain cookies, CSP-aware embedding, and no IP/User-Agent collection
  • Organisations evaluating fair-processing design over maximum measurement coverage
  • Teams comfortable with SQLite or SQL self-host ops (binary or Docker) and publishing their own privacy notice

Poor fit when

  • Product or growth teams that require near-complete traffic measurement without consent friction
  • Needs for heatmaps, session replay, funnels, or ad-ecosystem attribution comparable to Hotjar/Mixpanel/GA
  • Buyers seeking a vendor-managed multi-tenant analytics cloud with SLAs and a signed vendor DPA as processor
  • Large enterprises that require public ISO 27001/SOC 2 or third-party security audit packs before shortlist

Consider instead when

  • When: You want privacy-oriented analytics with managed EU hosting and lower consent friction

    Consider: Plausible Analytics or Pirsch Analytics

    Typically optimised for simpler cookieless or low-friction models and hosted plans; less radical visitor Auditorium design than Offen.

  • When: You need EU hosted privacy analytics with operator support and less self-host burden

    Consider: Friendly Analytics

    European catalog peer oriented to hosted privacy analytics; compare consent model and feature depth to Offen’s opt-in + E2E approach.

  • When: You need deep product analytics, funnels, or session UX tooling rather than fair traffic metrics

    Consider: Hotjar, Mixpanel, or a full GA4 stack (with legal review)

    Different category: richer product/UX analytics, different jurisdiction and subprocessor profile.

Stormly

Best fit when

  • Merchandising, product, UX, and growth teams on Shopify or Adobe Commerce who need SKU, cart, and assortment analytics without a dedicated data science org
  • Retail brands that want ready e-commerce report templates (new arrivals, unviewed/unsold, funnels, A/B, aha moments) plus vendor-built custom reports
  • EU buyers who want a Dutch legal entity, Amsterdam courts, and a downloadable DPA/Security Architecture package
  • Teams that value AI-generated trend/anomaly narratives delivered to the inbox more than building every chart from a blank event schema
  • Stacks already using Segment or Google Tag Manager as the event pipe into analytics

Poor fit when

  • Publishers or marketing sites that only need lightweight privacy-friendly page analytics (not product/SKU depth)
  • Orgs that require open-source self-hosting or full control of a private analytics warehouse as the default
  • Procurement policies that forbid US-group subprocessors (AWS, Vultr, Microsoft Azure OpenAI) even when EU regions are claimed
  • Assurance programs that require public ISO 27001/SOC 2 evidence before pilot (not found on vendor pages reviewed)
  • Companies operating blockchain products/services—restricted by Stormly’s terms

Consider instead when

  • When: You only need privacy-oriented website metrics (pageviews, sources) rather than SKU-level product analytics

    Consider: Plausible Analytics, Simple Analytics, or Pirsch Analytics

    EU web-analytics peers; different category from e-commerce product analytics

  • When: You need deep general-purpose product analytics, large ecosystem, and mature multi-product SaaS event modeling

    Consider: Mixpanel or Amplitude

    US incumbents; stronger breadth, different jurisdiction and commercial model

  • When: You primarily need free/universal marketing acquisition reporting already embedded in the stack

    Consider: Google Analytics (incumbent) or dual-run GA for marketing + Stormly for product/merch

    GA is not SKU-first product analytics; Stormly is not a GA replacement for every report

Open questions for due diligence

Offen Fair Web Analytics

  • Will your traffic and KPI model tolerate opt-in-only measurement after a pilot on a non-critical property?
  • Where will you host the instance (EU on-prem/VPS vs US-group cloud), and who holds OFFEN_SECRET and DB backups?
  • Do procurement rules require third-party audits or ISO/SOC that Offen does not publish?
  • Do you need a signed vendor DPA as processor, or is controller-only self-host acceptable to counsel?
  • Is subdomain + CSP (script-src/frame-src + unsafe-inline styles for the banner) feasible on your main site?

Stormly

  • Can Stormly provide a current region map (which data classes live on Hetzner vs Vultr vs AWS) under NDA for our DPIA?
  • Are ISO 27001, SOC 2, or penetration-test summaries available on request for enterprise security review?
  • Which event properties from our Shopify/Adobe feed are excluded from Azure OpenAI prompts by default in our tenant?
  • Do custom report builds and SQL access sit only on the custom tier, and what SLAs apply?
  • Has the 2019 controller privacy policy been superseded for hosting wording relative to the Security Architecture list?