Advantage to using urchin 6 instead of Google analytics

[jpietrowiak]

Just wondering if there is any reason to use Urchin 6 instead of using google analytics. Can not find that much out there on the differences. I see they enable a few features that google does not. Is it worth the costs to use the extra features as well as keep data private (if it really is since google owns it).

Thanks for your opinions

[ogletree]

Urchin reads log files. This is slightly more accurate than Google Analytics. You can get real time stats when GA does not update until the next day. I don't think Google has access to your data either. Here is the list from urchin.

* Not necessary to tag web pages with JavaScript code ("IP+useragent" tracking, though much less accurate, can be used instead.)
* Control the processing schedule of traffic logs, including the option to process data immediately
* Can re-process and post-process data, which can't be done with Google Analytics
* View all website traffic, including images, downloads, robots, status codes (e.g. 404s, 500s), and referral errors, including outdated links
* Create customized reporting for different types of visitation data
* Report data can be easily audited by 3rd parties

[jpietrowiak]

When you say it reads log files. I assume you mean website server log files? So you would not need to put the tracking code on your website then and yet get the same results.

I'm also kindof surprised at the price tag of $3000. What would be the reason they would offer it at such a high price and then offer it for free?

[ogletree]

All your questions are answered in that list above.