EventDash vs Google Analytics
GA4 is free and deeply tied to Google ads. EventDash is a paid, smaller product-analytics tool that does not use cookies and does not feed an ad network.
GA4 is free, unlimited, and built for ads measurement. EventDash is paid, smaller, and built for product funnels without Google’s stack. We do not claim GA is illegal in the EU. The table is ads-and-volume versus product steps — not hosting regions.
eventda.sh/dashboard/apps/demo-shop
Top pages
- /pricing1,240
- /signup890
- /764
- /docs/quickstart412
Goals
signup_clicked31 · 3.7%pricing_viewed58 · 6.9%docs_install22 · 2.6%
eventda.sh/dashboard/apps/demo-shop/funnels
Overall conversion
18.0%
- 1. View pricing1,840
58.0% dropped (1,068)42.0% continued
2. Start signup772 · 42.0% of start57.1% dropped (441)42.9% continued
3. Account created331 · 18.0% of start
| Criterion | EventDash | Google Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Product and conversion questions on your own site | Marketing measurement inside Google’s ecosystem |
| Cost | Free 10k events, then $19/mo | Free (Google 360 is enterprise) |
| Cookies / consent | No cookies. Session storage still exists — see privacy docs. | Cookies and consent banners in the EU for typical setups |
| Complexity | One script, HTML attributes, one dashboard | Events, parameters, explorations, and property config |
| Data use | Your workspace only | Google’s terms; used with ads products |
| Legal status in the EU | Privacy-first design. Not a CNIL exemption claim. | Usable with consent and a valid transfer mechanism. Not “illegal” as a category. |
Pick EventDash if
Choose EventDash if GA4 feels like a reporting product you never learned, you want funnels without a tag maze, or you want analytics that is not part of Google’s advertising stack.
Pick Google Analytics if
Choose Google Analytics if you need free unlimited volume, Google Ads attribution, or BigQuery export. GA4 is the default for a reason; EventDash is not a full replacement for an ads measurement stack.
Going deeper
What GA4 is optimized for
GA4 is a marketing measurement suite: ads attribution, free volume, BigQuery export, and deep exploration. If paid acquisition is the job, EventDash is not a drop-in replacement.
What product teams actually ask
Indie SaaS teams often need a readable funnel and a few goals—not event parameters and explorations. EventDash answers “which step died?” with HTML attributes and a small dashboard, without joining Google’s ads stack.
Cookies, consent, and honesty
Typical GA4 setups imply cookies and consent banners in the EU. EventDash sets no cookies and filters PII, but still uses localStorage for sessions. That can simplify privacy posture; it is not legal advice and does not auto-remove every banner if other scripts remain.
Questions
Is Google Analytics illegal in the EU?
No. We do not claim that. Several authorities criticized older GA setups and US transfers. GA4 can be used with consent and current transfer rules. EventDash is an alternative if you want a smaller, non-Google tool — not a legal ruling.
Can I drop my cookie banner if I switch from GA4?
Not automatically. EventDash does not set cookies, but it does use localStorage for sessions. Whether you still need a banner depends on your lawyers and your other scripts. Do not treat this page as legal advice.
Is EventDash a Google Analytics alternative for small teams?
Yes when the job is product funnels and goals without ads attribution. No when you need free unlimited volume, Google Ads linking, or BigQuery-centric reporting.
How hard is migration from GA4?
Install the EventDash script, remap key conversions to data-ed-goal or SDK events, and rebuild one activation funnel. You will not port GA4 explorations one-for-one—and that is usually the point.
More comparisons: all vs pages · EventDash homepage · HTML attributes · cookieless funnels guide · glossary