Cabin Analytics alternative
Love Cabin's carbon-conscious approach and privacy focus? OpenPanel adds deeper product analytics—self-hosting, mobile SDKs, user identification, funnels, and retention analysis—while staying open source and lightweight.
- Open-source
- Self-hostable
- Mobile SDKs
- Product analytics
OpenPanel vs Cabin: Which is right for you?
Both platforms prioritize privacy and lightweight tracking. The key differences are depth of analytics, self-hosting capabilities, and platform support.
Choose OpenPanel if...
Teams requiring self-hosting for data ownership and compliance
SaaS products needing user-level analytics and retention tracking
Mobile app analytics with native iOS and Android SDKs
Choose Cabin Analytics if...
Teams prioritizing carbon footprint tracking and environmental responsibility
Simple web analytics without user identification requirements
Ultra-lightweight tracking (1KB script) for performance
Key differences at a glance
Here's how OpenPanel and Cabin compare on the factors that matter most.
| Feature | OpenPanel | Cabin Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hosting | Yes, completely free | No (cloud only) |
| Product analytics | Funnels, retention, cohorts | Web analytics only |
| User identification | Yes, track individual users | No (anonymous only) |
| Mobile SDKs | iOS, Android, React Native | Web only |
| Open source | Yes (MIT) | Partial (client only) |
| Page views & visitors | ||
| Traffic sources | ||
| Geographic data | OpenPanel offers country, region, city. Cabin country only | |
| Device & browser stats | ||
| UTM tracking | ||
| Real-time data | Cabin doesn't offer real-time monitoring | |
| Bounce rate | ||
| Page load time | ||
| Event tracking | Cabin custom events require Pro plan | |
| Funnels | ||
| Retention analysis | ||
| User profiles | Cabin is anonymous only | |
| Cohorts | ||
| User identification | Cabin is strictly anonymous by design | |
| User path analysis | ||
| A/B testing | ||
| Carbon footprint tracking | Unique Cabin feature | |
| Renewable energy hosting | Cabin runs on 100% renewable energy | |
| Custom properties | ||
| Public dashboards | ||
| Email reports | ||
| Self-hosting | ||
| Cookie-free tracking | ||
| GDPR compliant | ||
| CCPA compliant | ||
| No IP tracking | ||
| No consent banner required | ||
| REST API | Cabin API requires Pro plan | |
| Data export | ||
| Mobile SDKs | Cabin is web-only |
Feature comparison
OpenPanel covers product analytics and web analytics, while Cabin focuses on simple web metrics with unique carbon tracking.
Page views & visitors
Traffic sources
Geographic data
Device & browser stats
UTM tracking
Real-time data
Bounce rate
Page load time
Technical comparison
For developers evaluating analytics tools, here's how the implementations compare.
| Feature | OpenPanel | Cabin Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| SDK size (JS) | ~2.3 KB gzipped | ~1 KB gzippedCabin has the lighter script |
| Supported platforms |
|
|
| Open source | Yes (MIT) | Partial (client only) |
| Self-hosted deployment | Docker, simple setup | Not available |
| Database | ClickHouse + PostgreSQL | Proprietary |
| Data retention | Unlimited (self-hosted) | 30 days free, unlimited Pro |
Pricing comparison
Both offer generous free tiers with different pricing models—event-based vs flat monthly.
OpenPanel
Event-based, transparent
Start at $2.50/month for 5,000 events.
Self-host for free with unlimited events.
No limits on users, dashboards, or features at any tier.
Cabin Analytics
Flat monthly pricing
Free tier: 1 website, 30-day retention, unlimited pageviews.
Pro: $19/month for unlimited sites, unlimited retention, custom events, API access.
Migrating from Cabin to OpenPanel
Switching from Cabin to OpenPanel is straightforward for basic tracking, with added capabilities for product analytics.
Install OpenPanel SDK
Add the OpenPanel SDK to your application. The script is slightly larger (~2.3KB) but still lightweight.
Map custom events
If you use Cabin custom events (Pro), translate them to OpenPanel format. cabin.event('signup') becomes op.track('signup', {properties}).
Add user identification
Unlike Cabin which is anonymous, OpenPanel supports user identification. Add op.identify() calls to unlock user profiles and retention analysis.
Set up funnels and retention
Create funnels and retention reports in OpenPanel—features not available in Cabin.
Remove Cabin script
Once verified, remove the Cabin tracking script. Both are cookie-free so no consent flow changes needed.
SDK Compatibility
Both use similar event tracking patterns. OpenPanel adds user identification capabilities not available in Cabin.
Historical Data Import
Cabin doesn't provide data export on the free plan. Historical data migration requires Pro plan export.
Where OpenPanel is a better fit than Cabin
OpenPanel shines when you need deeper product analytics and platform flexibility beyond simple web tracking.
Teams requiring self-hosting
Cabin is cloud-only. If you need data on your own infrastructure for compliance or security, OpenPanel provides full self-hosting with Docker.
SaaS products needing user-level analytics
Cabin anonymizes all visitors. If you need to track logged-in users, analyze retention, or build cohorts, OpenPanel provides these capabilities.
Mobile app analytics
Cabin is web-only. OpenPanel provides native iOS, Android, and React Native SDKs with full product analytics capabilities.
Teams needing funnel analysis
Track user flows through signup, onboarding, or purchase processes with OpenPanel's funnel analysis.
Products requiring A/B testing
OpenPanel includes built-in experimentation capabilities. Cabin is analytics-only.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about switching from Cabin to OpenPanel.
Related resources
Explore more comparisons and guides to help you choose the right analytics tool
Other comparisons
Ready to make the switch?
Test OpenPanel free for 30 days, you'll not be charged anything unless you upgrade to a paid plan.
Start with OpenPanel