In 2005 Google bought web analytics solution Urchin and used it as the base for Google Analytics. Since then Google turned Google-Analytics into it’s flag product and Urchin development got less attention. In March 2012 Google announced the closing of Urchin.

Since then, Urchin users have been looking for other solutions. Why not use Google Analytics?
Because there are some important differences between these two tools apart from the fact that Google Analytics and Urchin aren’t compatible.

Data collection
Google Analytics uses ‘Page Tagging’ and works with a JavaScript tracker that is added to the user’s pages. Urchin could also parse web server log files, which allows for reporting of some additional metrics, such as: site errors and search engine crawler activity. (read this article on the differences of these methods).

Data storage
The Google Analytics tracker sends data directly to a centralized server. While Urchin kept Data local on the server.

Especially hosting / service providers using Urchin to host their clients statistics, Google Analytics falls short because:
– GA and Urchin are not compatible, history data is lost.
– There is no reliable method to automatically insert the JS tag in the web page source.
– Data privacy is more and more a hot topic.

Logaholic the perfect Urchin replacement; one of the few web analytics packages that processes log files, supports a JS Tag and can be installed locally.

Stop searching for the Urchin alternative you have found it. Logaholic does it all and more:
Highly scalable, seamlessly integrates in any size organizatioin or network.
Fast, reliable, feature rich, has an intuitive UI, offering a level of sophistication far beyond the capabilities of traditional log analyzers like AWStats, Analog Webalizer, including Urchin.

By reading this article on Page tagging vs log file analysis, you’ll learn that either method has its merrits. Logaholic supports both methods and can run in “Hybrid” mode complimenting web server log file data with JS Tag specific visitor data, resulting in even more accurate analytics.

Recently Logaholic has welcomed many ex- Urchin users and hosters, confirmation of a sitll high and growing demand for Log-Analyzers. We will continue improving our product enabling a more accurate focus on improving your business without the need for setup woes or other technical requirements.

Regards,
The Logaholic team