Single Grain
Single Grain keeps publishing AI-for-marketing how-tos, not product changes
Comparison · Marketing
Open Web Analytics vs SE Ranking
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Open Web Analytics and SE Ranking — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Open Web Analytics vs SE Ranking: at a glance
| Feature | Open Web Analytics | SE Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Marketing | Marketing |
| Velocity score | 5.0 | 0.0 |
| Sparks · 30d | 0 | 0 |
| Top themes | web-analytics, self-hosted, security, php | seo, local seo, ai-answers, mcp |
| Last editorial update | 1d ago | 11d ago |
| Website | Visit → | — |
What is Open Web Analytics?
Open Web Analytics 1.14.7 ships unspecified security fixes and a field-clearing command.
Open Web Analytics is a self-hosted web analytics tool. Release 1.14.7 includes security fixes it does not describe, recommends upgrading, needs no schema changes and adds a clear-field-values CLI command with a dry-run mode. It follows a run of 1.14 patches that closed cross-site record access, restored heatmaps broken since 1.10.1 and 1.13.0, and fixed relative date periods that covered the wrong days.
What is SE Ranking?
SE Ranking opens its Local Marketing data through 15 API endpoints and MCP.
SE Ranking is an SEO platform moving into AI-answer visibility, with the AI Results Tracker, SE Visible, a hosted MCP server and Claude SEO Skills. In September it released a Local Marketing API with 15 read-only endpoints covering local rankings, reviews, listings, audits and Google Business Profile metrics, also reachable through MCP.
Open Web Analytics vs SE Ranking: editorial side-by-side
Open Web Analytics
5.0MARKETING
Open Web Analytics 1.14.7 ships unspecified security fixes and a field-clearing command.
◆ Current state
Open Web Analytics is a self-hosted web analytics tool. Release 1.14.7 includes security fixes it does not describe, recommends upgrading, needs no schema changes and adds a clear-field-values CLI command with a dry-run mode. It follows a run of 1.14 patches that closed cross-site record access, restored heatmaps broken since 1.10.1 and 1.13.0, and fixed relative date periods that covered the wrong days.
◆ Where it's heading
The 1.14 line is cleanup after the large 1.11 to 1.13 rework (date partitioning, a job scheduler, custom reports and new admin URLs), with fixes landing every few days. The 1.13.0 notes describe it as preparation for a 2.0 branch, so the patch stream is clearing debt before that.
◆ Prediction
Expect more 1.14.x patches for regressions and access checks. The entries say a 2.0 branch is coming but give no date or scope.
SE Ranking
0.0MARKETING
SE Ranking opens its Local Marketing data through 15 API endpoints and MCP.
◆ Current state
SE Ranking is an SEO platform moving into AI-answer visibility, with the AI Results Tracker, SE Visible, a hosted MCP server and Claude SEO Skills. In September it released a Local Marketing API with 15 read-only endpoints covering local rankings, reviews, listings, audits and Google Business Profile metrics, also reachable through MCP.
◆ Where it's heading
SE Ranking keeps exposing each product area through its API and MCP server so agencies can pull data into AI assistants and dashboards. Local SEO is the latest area to follow.
◆ Prediction
Expect further product areas to get API and MCP coverage, alongside updates to the AI visibility trackers.
Alternatives to Open Web Analytics and SE Ranking
Other Marketing products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Open Web Analytics or SE Ranking.
Demand Gen Report
Demand Gen Report covers Salesforce's AI sales agent research and click-free measurement.
Metricool
Metricool's feed is all how-to guides, now including one for its ChatGPT connection.
Swello
Swello adds a notification center for approvals, mentions and expired logins.
SocialBee
SocialBee retires category sequencing and Next Posts in its first product change in months.
Umbraco CMS
Umbraco 19 reaches its first release candidate on .NET 11 GA.
See all Open Web Analytics alternatives → · See all SE Ranking alternatives →
Recent activity from Open Web Analytics and SE Ranking
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 1d agoOpen Web AnalyticsSecurity fixes and a command to clear stored field values
- 12d agoOpen Web AnalyticsRelative date periods fixed, including an eight-day 'last seven'
- 13d agoOpen Web AnalyticsHeatmaps show clicks again after a 1.13.0 regression
- 13d agoOpen Web AnalyticsHeatmap overlay link restored and limited to the site's domain
- 22d agoOpen Web AnalyticsURL filter truncation and proxy sign-in fixes
- 22d agoOpen Web AnalyticsFix lets per-site users stop reading other sites' records
- 2mo agoSE RankingLocal Marketing API: 15 endpoints, also via MCP
- 4mo agoSE RankingSE Visible adds Competitor Gap Analysis for AI-answer citations
- 4mo agoSE RankingAI Results Tracker adds Prompt Groups for managing prompts at scale
- 4mo agoSE RankingAPI credits on every plan, plus seven Claude SEO Skills
- 6mo agoSE RankingNew Release: SE Ranking API — Remote MCP Server ⚡
- 6mo agoSE RankingNew Release: SE Ranking API — Remote MCP Server
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Open Web Analytics and SE Ranking?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Open Web Analytics is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 5.0 vs 0.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.
Is Open Web Analytics better than SE Ranking?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Open Web Analytics is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 5.0 vs 0.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Marketing products to evaluate alongside.
What are the best alternatives to Open Web Analytics?
Top Open Web Analytics alternatives in Marketing are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Open Web Analytics alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/open-web-analytics for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to SE Ranking?
Top SE Ranking alternatives in Marketing are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "SE Ranking alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/se-ranking for the full list with editorial commentary on each.