GoatCounter

Application128MB+ RAM

Lightweight privacy-friendly web analytics platform

Download Server Compass Install GoatCounter to server

applicationanalyticsgoatcounteropen-sourceself-hosteddocker

Deploy GoatCounter in 3 Steps

Connect Your VPS

Add your server credentials to Server Compass

Select GoatCounter

Choose from our template library

Deploy & Configure

Fill in settings and click Deploy

No Docker knowledge required

Step-by-step deployment guide

Deploy GoatCounter on a VPS with Server Compass

Use the GoatCounter template in Server Compass to deploy a self-hosted privacy-friendly analytics app on your VPS, then verify the setup page loads.

About 10 minutesBrowser verified

Step 1

Open the server Apps tab

Select the tutorial-vps VPS, open the Apps tab, and start a new app deployment. Keep sensitive server details hidden before capturing or sharing screenshots.

Server Compass Apps tab before creating a GoatCounter app

Step 2

Choose an app template

Click New App and choose the template deployment path so Server Compass can load the built-in catalog.

Choosing to deploy an app from a Server Compass template

Step 3

Search for GoatCounter

Use the template picker search to find GoatCounter in the Server Compass template catalog.

Searching for GoatCounter in the Server Compass template picker

Step 4

Select the GoatCounter template

Choose the GoatCounter template. Server Compass fills the analytics service, persistent data volume, health check, and public web port.

GoatCounter template selected in Server Compass

Step 5

Review the GoatCounter settings

Confirm the app name and compose service. In this run, the app was named goatcounter-demo and used host port 4014.

Reviewing GoatCounter project settings and compose service

Step 6

Deploy GoatCounter

Review the generated compose settings, confirm the GoatCounter web port is available, and click Deploy.

Reviewing GoatCounter web port before deployment

Step 7

Watch the deployment progress

Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the GoatCounter image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.

Server Compass deploying the GoatCounter template on the VPS

Step 8

Confirm GoatCounter is running

After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the GoatCounter app is marked Running with its application URL available.

GoatCounter template running in the Server Compass Apps tab

Step 9

Open GoatCounter in the browser

Open the application URL in a browser. The GoatCounter setup page confirms the analytics app is reachable.

The deployed GoatCounter web UI loaded in a browser

After GoatCounter Opens

Create the first site/account with a strong password before public use.
Use HTTPS when collecting production analytics.
Back up the GoatCounter data volume because it stores analytics history.
Add the generated tracking script only after confirming the site settings.
Test with a harmless pageview before deploying to production.
Restrict administration behind a reverse proxy, VPN, or firewall if needed.
Keep the GoatCounter image updated for application and dependency fixes.

Verified Result

The GoatCounter web interface loaded successfully from the deployed container.

Download Server Compass Docs

GoatCounter deployment questions

What does the GoatCounter template deploy?

It deploys GoatCounter as a single-container privacy-friendly web analytics service with persistent storage.

Which port did the tutorial use?

The tutorial used host port 4014, which maps to the GoatCounter web UI on container port 8080.

Does GoatCounter need setup after deployment?

Create the first site/account, then add the generated tracking script to a harmless test page before production use.

Should this become a blog post?

No. The deployment guide should live on the GoatCounter template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.

After Deployment

After deploying GoatCounter with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup

Open GoatCounter at http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:{{PORT}}

Create the first site/account

Add the generated tracking script to your website

Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.

GoatCounter FAQ

Common questions about self-hosting GoatCounter

How do I deploy GoatCounter with Server Compass?

Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select GoatCounter from the templates list. Fill in the required configuration and click Deploy. The entire process takes under 3 minutes.

What are the system requirements for GoatCounter?

GoatCounter requires a minimum of 128MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 1024MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.

Can I migrate my existing GoatCounter data?

Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard GoatCounter backup and restore procedures.

How do I update GoatCounter to the latest version?

Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest GoatCounter image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.

Is GoatCounter free to self-host?

GoatCounter is open-source software. You only pay for your VPS hosting (typically $5-20/month) and optionally Server Compass ($29 one-time). No subscription fees or per-seat pricing.

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Ready to Self-Host GoatCounter?

Download Server Compass and deploy GoatCounter to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.

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