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Software · head to head

Google Analytics vs Sage 50

Google Analytics logo

Google Analytics

Software

Get to know your customers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sage 50 logo

Sage 50

Software

Powerful desktop accounting for small businesses

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Google Analytics has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Google Analytics data retention limited to maximum 26 months on standard properties, with automatic deletion after retention period expires; Sage 50 sage 50 tiers as captured in 2022: Pro Accounting $595/year for 1 user, Premium Accounting $970/year for 1-5 users with multi-company support, Quantum Accounting $1,610/year for larger teams
  • They diverge on capability: Google Analytics covers Real-time analytics, Sage 50 covers General ledger.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Analytics and Sage 50 actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Analytics and Sage 50 differ
AttributeGoogle AnalyticsSage 50
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWindows
Founded19981981

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Google Analytics

  • Real-time analytics
  • Audience insights
  • Acquisition tracking
  • Behavior flow
  • Conversion tracking
  • Custom reports
  • Mobile analytics
  • E-commerce tracking

Only in Sage 50

  • General ledger
  • Invoicing
  • Inventory management
  • Job costing
  • Budgeting
  • Microsoft 365
  • Local encryption
  • Backup

Both cover

  • Salesforce

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Google Analytics

  • Website and web application analyticsnot Sage 50
  • Event tracking and user behaviour analysisnot Sage 50
  • Traffic source and conversion trackingnot Sage 50

Sage 50

  • Desktop accountingnot Google Analytics
  • Job costingnot Google Analytics
  • Inventory trackingnot Google Analytics

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Google Analytics

  • Data retention limited to maximum 26 months on standard properties, with automatic deletion after retention period expires
  • Large and XL properties capped at 2-month data retention only
  • Age, gender, and interest data always expire after 2 months regardless of retention settings
  • Free tier does not include GA360 advanced features

Sage 50

  • Sage 50 tiers as captured in 2022: Pro Accounting $595/year for 1 user, Premium Accounting $970/year for 1-5 users with multi-company support, Quantum Accounting $1,610/year for larger teams

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Analytics

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Analytics review.

Sage 50

$29/month
  • Pro Accounting$50/month
    • Core accounting
    • 1 user
    • Basic reports
  • Premium Accounting$85/month
    • 5 users
    • Job costing
    • Inventory

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Analytics if

  • You need real-time analytics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want audience insights.
Google Analytics review

Choose Sage 50 if

  • You need general ledger.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want invoicing.
Sage 50 review

Questions people ask

Is Google Analytics or Sage 50 better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Analytics starts at Free and Sage 50 at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Analytics or Sage 50?
Google Analytics has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Analytics and $29/month for Sage 50.
Does Google Analytics or Sage 50 run on more platforms?
Google Analytics runs on Web. Sage 50 runs on Windows.
Can I use Google Analytics for free?
Yes. Google Analytics has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sage 50 starts at $29/month.
What is Google Analytics best used for?
Google Analytics is most often used for website and web application analytics, event tracking and user behaviour analysis, traffic source and conversion tracking. Of those, website and web application analytics and event tracking and user behaviour analysis are not what Sage 50 is typically brought in for.
What can Google Analytics do that Sage 50 cannot?
Google Analytics covers Real-time analytics, Audience insights, Acquisition tracking, Behavior flow. Sage 50 covers General ledger, Invoicing, Inventory management, Job costing. Both handle Salesforce.
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Related pages

More on Google Analytics

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