Freedom251 › Web analytics tools
Shynet
What Shynet is
Shynet is free, open-source web analytics designed to work without cookies or JavaScript. It is intended for self-hosting, so users control where analytics data is kept. When JavaScript is unavailable, Shynet can use a transparent 1×1 tracking pixel, and its tracking script weighs less than one kilobyte according to the project README. Reports include hits, sessions, page-load time, bounce rate, visit duration, referrers, operating systems, browsers, general geographic location, and device type. One instance can support multiple users, with each user tracking multiple sites; administrators can share services with other users. Administrators choose per service whether to collect data from visitors who enable Do Not Track, with no collection as the default. Shynet provides API access, Django Allauth account management, and primary-key integration for associating visitors with accounts. Deployment documentation covers Docker, docker-compose, Heroku, and Kubernetes. The project recommends it for personal projects and small to medium-sized websites, noting that high-traffic use has not been tested.
Who it suits
Shynet suits personal projects and small to medium-sized websites needing self-hosted, privacy-oriented analytics. Deployment and maintenance require technical know-how.
What it does well
- Works without cookies or JavaScript
- Self-hosted control of analytics data
- Detailed traffic and device reports
- Supports multiple users and sites
- Apache License 2.0
What to know first
- Not tested with ultra-high-traffic sites
- Requires technical deployment and maintenance
- GDPR compliance depends on usage
- No event tracking
Verdict
Shynet offers self-hosted analytics with lightweight, cookie-free tracking and configurable privacy behavior. Its documented deployment options fit technical teams managing smaller sites.
Facts from Shynet's own pages
- Account integration
- Shynet offers an account management workflow powered by Django Allauth, and can associate visitors with user accounts through primary-key integration. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Analytics
- Shynet reports hits, sessions, page load time, bounce rate, visit duration, referrers, operating systems, browsers, general geographic location, and device type. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- API
- The project’s release history records that an API was added. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- API access
- Yes · github.com, 19 Sept 2026
- Compliance
- The project says GDPR compliance depends on how Shynet is used and advises users with concerns to consult a lawyer. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Creator
- The repository says Shynet was created by Miles McCain at Recurse Center. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The project documents deployment with Docker, docker-compose, Heroku, or Kubernetes, from a single machine to a larger Kubernetes cluster. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Event tracking
- No · github.com, 19 Sept 2026
- Intended users
- The project recommends Shynet for personal projects and small to medium-sized websites, and says it has not been tested with ultra-high-traffic sites. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Intended users and limits
- The README recommends Shynet for personal projects and small to medium websites, says it has not been tested with ultra-high-traffic sites, and notes deployment and maintenance require technical know-how. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- License
- Shynet is distributed under the Apache License, version 2.0. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Multiple sites and users
- One Shynet instance can support multiple users, each tracking multiple sites, and administrators can share services with other users. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Multi-site and users
- A single Shynet instance can support multiple users, each tracking multiple sites, and administrators can share services with other users. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- Shynet says it uses no cookies and lets administrators choose per service whether to collect data from visitors with Do Not Track enabled; by default it collects no data from them. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Privacy controls
- Shynet lets administrators choose per service whether to collect data from visitors with Do Not Track enabled; by default, it collects no data from them. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Product
- Shynet is open-source, self-hosted web analytics designed to work without cookies or JavaScript. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Shynet is open-source web analytics designed to work without cookies or JavaScript. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Self-hosting
- Shynet is intended to be self-hosted, so users host and control their analytics data. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Setup and support
- Deploying and maintaining Shynet requires technical know-how; the project points users to a troubleshooting guide and GitHub issues for help and bug reports. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Support
- The README directs users to its troubleshooting guide or to open an issue for bugs and feature suggestions. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Tracking
- When JavaScript is unavailable, Shynet can use a 1×1 transparent tracking pixel, and its tracking script weighs less than one kilobyte. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Tracking options
- When JavaScript is unavailable, Shynet can use a transparent 1×1 tracking pixel. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Tracking script
- The tracking script weighs less than one kilobyte, according to the project README. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Where Shynet stands on Freedom251
- Web analytics tools#62 of 142