Comparison
Cool Analytics vs Vercel Web Analytics
Built-in analytics for sites hosted on Vercel. Here's how Vercel Web Analytics stacks up against Cool Analytics, honestly — including when it's the better pick.
The short version
Pick Cool Analytics if you want cookieless analytics you can read at a glance — a live map, every visitor's journey and plain-English insights — from $3/mo. Pick Vercel Web Analytics if your site is on Vercel and you only need basic numbers.
Feature comparison
| Cool Analytics | Vercel Web Analytics | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | From $3/mo (10k events) | Hobby included; Pro $0.03 per 1k events |
| Free tier | 7-day free trial | yes (Hobby, 50k events) |
| Cookies / consent banner | No cookies, no consent banner needed | No cookies |
| Script size | ~3 KB | Small |
| Realtime view | Limited | |
| Per-visitor journeys | ||
| Plain-English insights | ||
| Custom events & revenue | Pro only | |
| Self-hosting | ||
| Data retention | 1–5 years, by plan | 1 month (Hobby), 12 months (Pro) |
Where Vercel Web Analytics is strong
- Zero setup for Vercel projects.
- Lives next to your deployments.
Where it falls short
- Only works for sites on Vercel.
- Hobby stops collecting at its cap and keeps one month.
- UTM parameters need a paid add-on.
Why people switch to Cool Analytics
- Works on any host — move hosts without losing analytics.
- UTMs, events and revenue included on every size.
- Years of history instead of one month.
When Vercel Web Analytics is the better choice
- Your site is on Vercel and you only need basic numbers.
We don't do funnels, heatmaps, session replay, A/B tests or self-hosting. If you need those, a broader tool is a better fit.
Switching takes a minute
Add one line to your site's <head>, run both tools side by side for a few days if you like, then remove the old one. Step-by-step guides: Next.js, WordPress, Shopify, Webflow and more.
FAQ
Can I use Cool Analytics on a Vercel-hosted Next.js site?
Yes. Add our Script tag to app/layout.tsx — route changes are tracked automatically.
Does Vercel Analytics track UTM parameters?
Per Vercel's docs, UTM parameters are part of the paid Web Analytics Plus add-on. Cool Analytics includes them on every plan.
Last checked 2026-10-11. Vercel Web Analytics details from vercel.com; prices change, so check their site before deciding. Looking for more options? See the best Vercel Web Analytics alternatives.
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