Webalizer vs Awstats - difference in unique visitors - GoFuckYourself.com

Snake Doctor · 02-08-2009, 10:27 PM

I'm wondering if someone can explain to me the difference between unique visitors as calculated by webalizer vs those calculated by awstats.

Both programs are reading from the same logs.

On 3 different sites, I'm getting these numbers on average daily visits

awstats/webalizer

259/353

470/825

551/766

These are all wordpress sites, if that matters.

For webalizer I'm using the yellow "visits" number. For awstats I'm using the yellow "visits" number also.

Which of these numbers is the right one in terms of eyeballs on my sites each day?

Iron Fist · 02-08-2009, 10:33 PM

If your selling your site, the higher number is correct...

chupachups · 02-08-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snake Doctor

I'm wondering if someone can explain to me the difference between unique visitors as calculated by webalizer vs those calculated by awstats.

Both programs are reading from the same logs.

On 3 different sites, I'm getting these numbers on average daily visits

awstats/webalizer

259/353

470/825

551/766

These are all wordpress sites, if that matters.

For webalizer I'm using the yellow "visits" number. For awstats I'm using the yellow "visits" number also.

Which of these numbers is the right one in terms of eyeballs on my sites each day?

I left webalizer long time ago, far too simple an inaccurate, and eventually got a "clone" of awstats custom coded. Find the awstats documentation - there are detailed info on how they count uniques and so on.

doridori · 02-08-2009, 10:40 PM

the general concensus is awstat is RELATIVELY better compared to webalizer. i haven't seen anyone using webalizer figures for promoting their sites.

Snake Doctor · 02-08-2009, 11:00 PM

I wonder if maybe webalizer counts the bots and whatnot as visits and that's why the count is higher?

Or maybe awstats uses 30 day uniques and webalizer resets daily or something.

Phil21 · 02-08-2009, 11:12 PM

depends entirely on how you configure each piece of software.

Webalizer counts a "visit" as an IP seen in X period of time. I believe 8 hours is the default for this? I could be mistaken.

That means, if I load your site at noon, and then at 9pm, I am counted as two "visits". This makes logical sense to me, at least. To calculate visits from log files, you have to have an arbitrary cutoff of "how long of a period of inactivity re-sets the "visit" counter for this IP?"

I would assume AWStats has a similar setting. Make sure these both match, and re-run stats. If they are not within a couple visits of eachother, then obviously one or the other (or both) is calculating wrong

-Phil

pamon · 02-09-2009, 02:46 AM

yeah, use awstats here.

V_RocKs · 02-09-2009, 03:59 AM

Use neither.. Just guestimate.

Sam Granger · 02-09-2009, 04:13 AM

Think awstats doesnt count google spiders etc as UV... Could be mistaken though.

kowalsky · 02-09-2009, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snake Doctor

I wonder if maybe webalizer counts the bots and whatnot as visits and that's why the count is higher?

Or maybe awstats uses 30 day uniques and webalizer resets daily or something.

I think you right, at least it´s what I realized with webalizer and my wordpress sites, I think it counts bots, but I am not really sure...

seeandsee · 02-09-2009, 06:27 AM

it's hard to say, add GA and statcounter to pages, see what you get then.

02-08-2009, 10:27 PM	#1
Snake Doctor I'm Lenny2 Bitch Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: On top of my soapbox Posts: 13,449	Webalizer vs Awstats - difference in unique visitors I'm wondering if someone can explain to me the difference between unique visitors as calculated by webalizer vs those calculated by awstats. Both programs are reading from the same logs. On 3 different sites, I'm getting these numbers on average daily visits awstats/webalizer 259/353 470/825 551/766 These are all wordpress sites, if that matters. For webalizer I'm using the yellow "visits" number. For awstats I'm using the yellow "visits" number also. Which of these numbers is the right one in terms of eyeballs on my sites each day? __________________ sig too big

02-08-2009, 10:33 PM	#2
Iron Fist Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 23,400	If your selling your site, the higher number is correct... __________________ i like waffles

02-08-2009, 11:00 PM	#5
Snake Doctor I'm Lenny2 Bitch Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: On top of my soapbox Posts: 13,449	I wonder if maybe webalizer counts the bots and whatnot as visits and that's why the count is higher? Or maybe awstats uses 30 day uniques and webalizer resets daily or something. __________________ sig too big

02-08-2009, 11:12 PM	#6
Phil21 Confirmed User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ICQ: 25285313 Posts: 993	depends entirely on how you configure each piece of software. Webalizer counts a "visit" as an IP seen in X period of time. I believe 8 hours is the default for this? I could be mistaken. That means, if I load your site at noon, and then at 9pm, I am counted as two "visits". This makes logical sense to me, at least. To calculate visits from log files, you have to have an arbitrary cutoff of "how long of a period of inactivity re-sets the "visit" counter for this IP?" I would assume AWStats has a similar setting. Make sure these both match, and re-run stats. If they are not within a couple visits of eachother, then obviously one or the other (or both) is calculating wrong -Phil __________________ Quality affordable hosting.

02-09-2009, 02:46 AM	#7
pamon Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 3,103	yeah, use awstats here. __________________ Email: [email protected] Skype: davidamodt. / TG: Davidamodt US Adult Content & Porn Writer Project/Sites/Tubes/Reviews & More

02-08-2009, 10:40 PM	#4
doridori So Fucking Banned Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Canadia Posts: 2,222	the general concensus is awstat is RELATIVELY better compared to webalizer. i haven't seen anyone using webalizer figures for promoting their sites.

02-09-2009, 03:59 AM	#8
V_RocKs Damn Right I Kiss Ass! Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Cowtown, USA Posts: 32,391	Use neither.. Just guestimate.

02-09-2009, 04:13 AM	#9
Sam Granger Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NL (Eindhoven), CZ(Prague), FR(Concarneau) Posts: 3,958	Think awstats doesnt count google spiders etc as UV... Could be mistaken though. __________________ [img]http://**************/sig/fhv3_j2_624x80_2.gif[/img] $35-40 Per Signup, 60-70% Rev Share, over 80 Sites, Exclusive Sites, tons of free content 14,000+ Free hosted Galleries, RSS feeds, Domain Hosting, Embedded Flash Movies Join Fetish Hits now! ICQ:** 358652230

02-09-2009, 06:27 AM	#11
seeandsee Check SIG! Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Europe (Skype: gojkoas) Posts: 50,945	it's hard to say, add GA and statcounter to pages, see what you get then. __________________ BUY MY SIG - 50$/Year Contact here