Webalizer vs. Awstats

crimsonbook · 11-21-2009, 11:52 PM

Which of the 2 is more accurate in your opinion? I find that Webalizer shows a considerably higher number of visits compared to Awstats. Thoughts?

crimsonbook · 11-23-2009, 05:59 AM

Seriously? Nobody at all??

LesleyJohnston · 11-23-2009, 06:06 AM

I would definitely recommend installing Google Analytics to your website instead of using these stats as it will give you a more indepth understanding of who your visitors are, where they are coming from and which pages on your website are the most popular and how your visitors are flowing through your website or where they are bouncing (leaving from the same page they landed on).

If you need help installing Google Analytics on your website and need a little bit of background about this, let me know as I have a free report on it that I can send you - no sign up required!!

Lesley

DogScout · 11-23-2009, 06:44 AM

Any using JS can be blocked. I read (somewhere) there is an ad blocking FF plug-in that blocks adsense ads. It also blocks Google Analytics from what I read. Don't know how accurate that was, but my Google analytics is always 2/3rds of any other monitoring code.

So I really have no idea as to exact number of visitors, 3 counters give 3 different results. (with Google being the lowest.)

Paul Buckley · 11-23-2009, 06:54 AM

I install Google Analytics on most of the sites I build and manage primarily so that I can have a quick look at them all from one "dashboard".

That being said, I'm well aware of the limitations and inaccuracies og GA so when I want to drill down into traffic stats for a particular site, I use AWSTATS.

Luke Graham · 11-23-2009, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crimsonbook

Which of the 2 is more accurate in your opinion? I find that Webalizer shows a considerably higher number of visits compared to Awstats. Thoughts?

It depends on your definition of 'accurate'.

Webalizer doesn't [1] differentiate between 'human' visitors and bots. Awstats does, or at least, tries too.

There was a section in the awstats that showed the bot traffic somewhere too, so the total of the both should be comparable. Some prefer awstats for this reason, although others dont due to the resources it uses to process
log files.....

So - both are accurate. webalizer is corerctly reporting the number of visits, it is merely including any visit to your website.

Google Analytics on the other hand, will probably give you another figure altogether.....

[1] This certainly used to be the case when i did support, which was a couple of years back now.

Cyrus · 11-23-2009, 07:46 AM

I am using http://www.modlogan.org/, its similar to webalizer.

11-23-2009, 11:41 AM

AWSTATS is tied into your servers actual log files and as such will be 100% accurate. Webalizer I feel is very limited when it comes to tracking. AWSTATS gives you all the stats you need and you do not need any third party stats.

Keep in mind unless you have a stats program installed on your server, using those third party stats system such as google, it could be costing your visitors because many times they keep the site from loading in a responsive manner and many visitors may not wait around...

James

Luke Graham · 11-23-2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRichJerksNet

AWSTATS is tied into your servers actual log files and as such will be 100% accurate.
James

As does webalizer...... which, therefore, is also 100% accurate

Mike Shain · 11-23-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRichJerksNet

AWSTATS is tied into your servers actual log files and as such will be 100% accurate. Webalizer I feel is very limited when it comes to tracking. AWSTATS gives you all the stats you need and you do not need any third party stats.

Keep in mind unless you have a stats program installed on your server, using those third party stats system such as google, it could be costing your visitors because many times they keep the site from loading in a responsive manner and many visitors may not wait around...

James

That is my thoughts exatcly. I have always Awstats and feel its the best program for me. I have never been a real fan of Google Analytics and most of the time when I visit a site the site takes awhile to load and when you look at the status bar it shows Loading Google Analytics or something to that effect.

Bottom line is to use what works for you and provides the necessary bells and whistles.

11-23-2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaos69

As does webalizer...... which, therefore, is also 100% accurate

You are correct but it lacks a great deal of information....

@ Mike Shain - Yeah that is what my point is with google, I never use such tools from google because frankly you have only but a few seconds to get your visitors attention (targeted or not) and I do not want any distractions.

If I see that loading in the browser and it takes more than a few seconds then I close the window and move on. I am sure many others do the same..

James

crimsonbook · 11-27-2009, 10:33 AM

Awesome! Thanks for the feedback guys

bbrock32 · 11-27-2009, 02:58 PM

Another vote for awstats

George Langer · 06-13-2011, 08:40 AM

As written above both tools use different ways of measuring and so does Google Analytics.
I did the same thing (mistake in fact) when I started online - trying to solve the problem of "exact" numbers but after a while I found out that the exact numbers are not important at all!

What matters is looking at TRENDS and this is of crucial importance. When analysing your website's statistics you should focus on things like comparing effectiveness of different traffic sources, behaviour of visitors, bounce rate,... in the longer term.

Best regards.
George

Velant · 09-14-2011, 10:14 AM

I use GA, Awstats and Munin. Don't have experience with webalizer. Awstats is great, but GA for me is more transparent and easy to use. However, I suspect that if you use GA Google may spy on you and this might affect you and your sites on the same account in various ways. Although it's only a speculation, opportunity is there, so I am a bit wary about installing GA on the most valuable sites.

thecableguy · 09-14-2011, 10:33 AM

Yeah another one for Awstats.

But you have to scroll to the bottom of the page to see the actual searches. The numbers at the top reflects the bots and image file downloads. Try one of those directory submitters and watch your "hit" counter go crazy, but scroll to the bottom and view the search phrases and you'll see very different numbers in the amount of searches.

11-21-2009, 11:52 PM	#1
crimsonbook Newbie Warrior Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 130 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts	Webalizer vs. Awstats Which of the 2 is more accurate in your opinion? I find that Webalizer shows a considerably higher number of visits compared to Awstats. Thoughts?

11-23-2009, 05:59 AM	#2
crimsonbook Newbie Warrior Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 130 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Webalizer vs. Awstats Seriously? Nobody at all??

11-23-2009, 06:06 AM	#3
LesleyJohnston Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Buckingham, UK Posts: 68 Thanks: 46 Thanked 96 Times in 15 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Webalizer vs. Awstats I would definitely recommend installing Google Analytics to your website instead of using these stats as it will give you a more indepth understanding of who your visitors are, where they are coming from and which pages on your website are the most popular and how your visitors are flowing through your website or where they are bouncing (leaving from the same page they landed on). If you need help installing Google Analytics on your website and need a little bit of background about this, let me know as I have a free report on it that I can send you - no sign up required!! Lesley

11-23-2009, 06:44 AM	#4
DogScout Self Unemployed War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 2,343 Thanks: 697 Thanked 628 Times in 373 Posts Social Networking	Re: Webalizer vs. Awstats Any using JS can be blocked. I read (somewhere) there is an ad blocking FF plug-in that blocks adsense ads. It also blocks Google Analytics from what I read. Don't know how accurate that was, but my Google analytics is always 2/3rds of any other monitoring code. So I really have no idea as to exact number of visitors, 3 counters give 3 different results. (with Google being the lowest.)
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11-23-2009, 06:54 AM	#5
Paul Buckley Dumb Irish Kid War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Temple, TX , USA. Posts: 954 Thanks: 45 Thanked 69 Times in 39 Posts Contact Info	Re: Webalizer vs. Awstats I install Google Analytics on most of the sites I build and manage primarily so that I can have a quick look at them all from one "dashboard". That being said, I'm well aware of the limitations and inaccuracies og GA so when I want to drill down into traffic stats for a particular site, I use AWSTATS.
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11-23-2009, 07:46 AM	#7
Cyrus Active Warrior Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Warrior Forum Posts: 47 Thanks: 5 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Contact Info	Re: Webalizer vs. Awstats I am using http://www.modlogan.org/, its similar to webalizer.
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11-23-2009, 11:41 AM	#8
TheRichJerksNet Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Webalizer vs. Awstats AWSTATS is tied into your servers actual log files and as such will be 100% accurate. Webalizer I feel is very limited when it comes to tracking. AWSTATS gives you all the stats you need and you do not need any third party stats. Keep in mind unless you have a stats program installed on your server, using those third party stats system such as google, it could be costing your visitors because many times they keep the site from loading in a responsive manner and many visitors may not wait around... James
TheRichJerksNet Guest Posts: n/a

11-27-2009, 10:33 AM	#12
crimsonbook Newbie Warrior Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 130 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Webalizer vs. Awstats Awesome! Thanks for the feedback guys

11-27-2009, 02:58 PM	#13
bbrock32 HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 159 Thanks: 1 Thanked 33 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Webalizer vs. Awstats Another vote for awstats

06-13-2011, 08:40 AM	#14
George Langer Active Warrior Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 67 Thanks: 3 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Webalizer vs. Awstats As written above both tools use different ways of measuring and so does Google Analytics. I did the same thing (mistake in fact) when I started online - trying to solve the problem of "exact" numbers but after a while I found out that the exact numbers are not important at all! What matters is looking at TRENDS and this is of crucial importance. When analysing your website's statistics you should focus on things like comparing effectiveness of different traffic sources, behaviour of visitors, bounce rate,... in the longer term. Best regards. George
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09-14-2011, 10:14 AM	#15
Velant HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: London, UK Posts: 135 Thanks: 1 Thanked 17 Times in 17 Posts	Re: Webalizer vs. Awstats I use GA, Awstats and Munin. Don't have experience with webalizer. Awstats is great, but GA for me is more transparent and easy to use. However, I suspect that if you use GA Google may spy on you and this might affect you and your sites on the same account in various ways. Although it's only a speculation, opportunity is there, so I am a bit wary about installing GA on the most valuable sites.
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09-14-2011, 10:33 AM	#16
thecableguy Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: , , . Posts: 1,186 Thanks: 62 Thanked 92 Times in 84 Posts	Re: Webalizer vs. Awstats Yeah another one for Awstats. But you have to scroll to the bottom of the page to see the actual searches. The numbers at the top reflects the bots and image file downloads. Try one of those directory submitters and watch your "hit" counter go crazy, but scroll to the bottom and view the search phrases and you'll see very different numbers in the amount of searches.