Mirage Analytics vs Matomo
Matomo is the respected open-source veteran. Mirage is the zero-configuration French alternative. Here is where each one wins, honestly.
Contents
The 30-second verdict
Matomo
The historic open-source alternative (since 2007, 1.4 million installations). Data on your server (self-hosted) or in Germany (Cloud from €22/month). Consent exemption possible but demanding; heatmaps and session recording are paid add-ons. "Free" self-hosting really costs €30–120/month all-in.
Mirage Analytics
Cookieless, consent-exempt by design — no configuration, no misconfiguration risk. Hosted in France, replay/heatmaps/A/B testing included, from €19/month (excl. VAT). No self-hosted option: that is the honest trade-off.
Detailed comparison
| Mirage Analytics | Matomo | |
|---|---|---|
| CNIL banner exemption | By design, zero configuration | Possible, strict setup required |
| E-commerce tracking in exempt mode | ✓ | No (forbidden by the CNIL guide) |
| Hosting | France (Scaleway) | Germany (Cloud) or self-hosted |
| Open source / self-hosted | ✕ | ✓ |
| Session replay included | ✓ | Paid add-on (~€229/year) |
| Heatmaps included | ✓ | Paid add-on, default limits |
| Server maintenance required | ✕ | Self-hosted: 1–3 h/month |
| Realistic all-in price | From €19/month (excl. VAT) | €22–79/month (Cloud) · €30–120/month (self-hosted) |
Consent exemption, for real
The shortcut "Matomo = no banner" is wrong. Matomo can qualify for the consent exemption, provided you apply the precise configuration documented by the CNIL: IP anonymisation, visitor logs disabled, visible opt-out, no User ID, no cross-domain tracking, no e-commerce tracking, cookies capped at 13 months.
That is the Matomo paradox: compliant if configured correctly, but amputated (goodbye e-commerce tracking) — or complete, but with a banner. In practice, many instances believe they are exempt while their setup fails one condition or another.
Mirage avoids the dilemma: measurement is anonymous by design, exemption depends on no setting, and conversion tracking works in exempt mode. Details in our guide: the consent exemption for analytics tools.
Matomo's real prices
Matomo Cloud: from €22/month for 50,000 hits, hosted in Germany. Watch the add-ons: heatmaps and session recording are billed separately, with default limits (1,500 heatmap page views, 150 recordings). An e-commerce site at 200,000 page views lands around €79/month on the Business plan.
Self-hosted Matomo: free software, paid operations — server (€10–50/month), installation (2–4 h), maintenance (1–3 h/month), premium plugins (heatmaps ~€229/year, funnels, attribution: €100–500/year). Realistic total: €30–120/month.
Mirage: from €19/month (excl. VAT), replay, heatmaps and A/B testing included, zero maintenance.
Which one for you?
Pick Matomo if…
- Self-hosting is a non-negotiable requirement
- You have the technical team to install, configure and maintain it
- Open source (GPLv3) is a criterion of your software policy
Pick Mirage if…
- You want the consent exemption without configuration risk
- You want replay, heatmaps and A/B testing without add-ons or plugins
- You prefer a tool that runs itself, hosted in France
- You track e-commerce conversions without a banner
FAQ
Is Matomo exempt from cookie consent (CNIL)?
Yes, but under strict conditions documented by the CNIL: IP anonymisation (at least 2 bytes), visitor logs disabled, visible opt-out, no User ID or cross-domain tracking, no e-commerce tracking in exempt mode, cookies capped at 13 months. Misconfigured, Matomo is not exempt — and many instances wrongly believe they are.
Is self-hosted Matomo really free?
The software is free (GPLv3); running it is not: €10–50/month for a server, 2–4 hours to install, 1–3 hours of monthly maintenance, and €100–500/year in premium plugins (heatmaps ~€229/year, funnels, attribution). A realistic total cost of ownership: €30–120/month.
When should I pick Matomo over Mirage?
If self-hosting is an absolute requirement (internal policy, regulated sector demanding physical control of the server) and you have the technical resources to run it. That is Matomo's genuine strength, which Mirage does not offer.
Can I migrate from Matomo to Mirage Analytics?
Yes, by swapping the tracking script. Historical data cannot be transferred; we recommend 2–4 weeks running both in parallel to validate consistency before switching off the old tool.