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AWStats
by AWStats
What AWStats is
AWStats is free software that converts server logs into graphical reports for web, FTP, mail, and streaming activity. It reads logs from Apache, IIS, WebStar, and other web, proxy, WAP, streaming, FTP, and mail servers. Reports cover visits, unique visitors, visit duration, visitor domains and countries, browsers, operating systems, robots, search engines, keywords, phrases, HTTP errors, and user-defined URL or referrer views. AWStats can run from an operating-system command line or in a browser through CGI. Results may be dynamic CGI pages or static HTML/XHTML files; PDF export is experimental and uses third-party software. GeoIP reporting can use MaxMind databases, and a Webmin module is supplied. Plugins, configurable options and filters, and XML analysis data support customization or external processing. AWStats is distributed under GNU GPL v3 with source code included and is listed for Linux, macOS, Windows, web, and self-hosted environments. Running it requires readable server logs and the ability to execute Perl scripts. The project began in 1997; version 8.0 is identified as the original author’s last release.
Who it suits
AWStats suits administrators and hosting providers who can access server logs and run Perl scripts. It is useful when report generation from multiple log types is needed without a license fee.
What it does well
- Free GNU GPL v3 software
- Analyzes web, FTP, mail, and streaming logs
- Runs via command line or CGI
- Offers configurable plugins and filters
- Supports static and dynamic report output
What to know first
- Requires readable server logs
- Requires Perl command-line or CGI access
- PDF export is experimental
- Support responses are not guaranteed
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| AWStats | Free software under GNU GPL v3 · Unlimited log file size | Free |
As awstats.org lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
AWStats provides broad log-based reporting with flexible deployment and open-source licensing. Its setup depends on server-log access and Perl execution, while the project’s original release is version 8.0.
Facts from AWStats's own pages
- Conversion funnels
- No · awstats.org, 23 Sept 2026
- Ecommerce tracking
- No · awstats.org, 23 Sept 2026
- Event tracking
- No · awstats.org, 23 Sept 2026
- Extensibility
- AWStats supports plugins and configurable options and filters, and its analysis database can be stored as XML for external processing. · awstats.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1997 · awstats.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · awstats.org, 23 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- GeoIP reports can use MaxMind databases, and AWStats supplies a Webmin module. · awstats.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The maker says AWStats works with hosting providers that allow CGI and log access, and notes support for multi-named websites such as virtual servers used by hosting providers. · awstats.org, 12 Oct 2026
- License
- AWStats is free software distributed under GNU GPL v3, with source code included. · awstats.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Log sources
- It supports Apache, IIS, WebStar, and other web, proxy, WAP, streaming, FTP, and mail server logs. · awstats.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Output formats
- Reports can be dynamic CGI pages or static HTML/XHTML pages, with experimental PDF export through third-party software. · awstats.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Project history
- The documentation says AWStats development started in 1997 and names Laurent Destailleur as its author. · awstats.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- AWStats analyzes server logs and generates graphical web, FTP, mail, and streaming statistics reports. · awstats.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Release status
- The official site says version 8.0 is the last version released by the original author and future maintenance releases may come from the community. · awstats.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- Users need access to readable server logs and the ability to run Perl scripts from the command line or as CGI. · awstats.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Run modes
- AWStats can run from the operating system command line or through a web browser as a CGI. · awstats.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Search and errors
- Reports include search engines, keywords and phrases, HTTP errors, and user-defined reports based on URLs and referrers. · awstats.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Security
- The maker's security page reports no current alert, says its status was updated on 2016-12-03, and identifies version 7.6 or higher as safe from known exploits. · awstats.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Session recordings
- No · awstats.org, 23 Sept 2026
- Support
- The support page says responses take at least a month and are not guaranteed, and only AWStats problems not already covered in the FAQ are processed. · awstats.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Visitor reports
- Reports include visits, unique visitors, visit duration, visitor domains and countries, browsers, operating systems, and robots. · awstats.org, 12 Oct 2026
Where AWStats stands on Freedom251
- Web analytics tools#42 of 142