Softwr

Mobile Development · head to head

Kotlin Multiplatform vs Matomo

Kotlin Multiplatform logo

Kotlin Multiplatform

Mobile Development

JetBrains-funded technology for sharing Kotlin business logic across iOS, Android, web, desktop and server

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Matomo logo

Matomo

Marketing

Privacy-focused web analytics

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Kotlin Multiplatform it shares logic, not UI, by default, so a team expecting a Flutter-style single UI codebase has to also adopt Compose Multiplatform, which is newer and less proven on iOS than on Android.; Matomo the self hosted Community Edition is free but excludes A/B testing, heatmaps, session recording, cohorts, crash analytics and multi channel attribution, all of which are paid plugins
  • They diverge on capability: Kotlin Multiplatform covers Shared Kotlin logic, Matomo covers Web analytics.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kotlin Multiplatform and Matomo actually diverge.

Attributes where Kotlin Multiplatform and Matomo differ
AttributeKotlin MultiplatformMatomo
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefreemium
PlatformsiOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, WebWeb, On-premise
CategoryMobile DevelopmentMarketing
FoundedUnknown2007

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Kotlin Multiplatform

  • Shared Kotlin logic
  • Native UI retained
  • Compose Multiplatform (optional)
  • IDE tooling
  • Gradle-based builds
  • Incremental adoption

Only in Matomo

  • Web analytics
  • Real-time reports
  • Custom dimensions
  • Goal tracking
  • E-commerce tracking
  • Google Search Console
  • Privacy-focused
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

Kotlin Multiplatform

  • A company with existing separate native iOS and Android codebases wanting to stop duplicating business logic and networking codenot Matomo
  • A team that wants shared logic but is not willing to compromise on fully native UI per platformnot Matomo
  • An organisation already using Kotlin on the backend that wants to reuse the same models and validation on mobile clientsnot Matomo
  • A team evaluating Compose Multiplatform for UI sharing but wanting the option to fall back to native UI per screennot Matomo

Matomo

  • Privacy focused web analytics as an alternative to Google Analyticsnot Kotlin Multiplatform
  • Self hosting analytics so visitor data stays on owned infrastructurenot Kotlin Multiplatform

Where each one falls short

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

Kotlin Multiplatform

  • It shares logic, not UI, by default, so a team expecting a Flutter-style single UI codebase has to also adopt Compose Multiplatform, which is newer and less proven on iOS than on Android.
  • iOS interop relies on Kotlin/Native compiling to a framework consumed from Swift, and debugging across that boundary is more friction than debugging pure Swift or pure Kotlin.
  • Because logic-sharing is the whole premise, teams still need genuine iOS and Android UI expertise on staff; it does not reduce the native skills bar the way a full cross-platform UI framework aims to.
  • Build times and tooling maturity for multiplatform Gradle projects lag behind single-platform Kotlin or Swift projects, and multiplatform-specific build errors are less well documented.
  • JetBrains funds it as part of the broader Kotlin investment, so its roadmap priority competes internally with IntelliJ, Android Studio and other JetBrains commitments rather than having dedicated headcount the way Flutter has at Google.

Matomo

  • The self hosted Community Edition is free but excludes A/B testing, heatmaps, session recording, cohorts, crash analytics and multi channel attribution, all of which are paid plugins
  • Premium plugin bundles for self hosted installs run from 275 EUR a month for 4 users to 3,400 EUR for 50
  • Cloud pricing is banded by monthly hits, and anything above 10 million requires contacting sales
  • Self hosting places all operation and upgrades on the operator while still needing paid plugins for the advanced features

Pricing, plan by plan

Kotlin Multiplatform

Free
  • Kotlin MultiplatformFree
    • Apache 2.0 licensed, unlimited apps
    • IDE tooling in the free Android Studio and free-tier IntelliJ IDEA Community
    • No paid Kotlin Multiplatform edition exists

Matomo

Free
  • Self-hostedFree
    • Open-source
    • Full analytics
    • Privacy-focused

Which should you pick?

Choose Kotlin Multiplatform if

  • You need shared kotlin logic.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, Web.
  • You also want native ui retained.
Kotlin Multiplatform review

Choose Matomo if

  • You need web analytics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, On-premise.
  • You also want real-time reports.
Matomo review

Questions people ask

Is Kotlin Multiplatform or Matomo better?
Neither clearly leads. Kotlin Multiplatform starts at Free and Matomo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kotlin Multiplatform or Matomo?
Kotlin Multiplatform starts at Free and Matomo at Free.
Does Kotlin Multiplatform or Matomo run on more platforms?
Kotlin Multiplatform runs on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, Web. Matomo runs on Web, On-premise.
Can I use Kotlin Multiplatform for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Kotlin Multiplatform best used for?
Kotlin Multiplatform is most often used for a company with existing separate native ios and android codebases wanting to stop duplicating business logic and networking code, a team that wants shared logic but is not willing to compromise on fully native ui per platform, an organisation already using kotlin on the backend that wants to reuse the same models and validation on mobile clients, a team evaluating compose multiplatform for ui sharing but wanting the option to fall back to native ui per screen. Of those, a company with existing separate native ios and android codebases wanting to stop duplicating business logic and networking code and a team that wants shared logic but is not willing to compromise on fully native ui per platform are not what Matomo is typically brought in for.
What can Kotlin Multiplatform do that Matomo cannot?
Kotlin Multiplatform covers Shared Kotlin logic, Native UI retained, Compose Multiplatform (optional), IDE tooling. Matomo covers Web analytics, Real-time reports, Custom dimensions, Goal tracking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kotlin Multiplatform: Does Kotlin Multiplatform replace my native UI code?

Not by default. It shares business logic and data layers; UI stays native per platform unless you separately adopt Compose Multiplatform.

Matomo: How much does Matomo cost?

Matomo Cloud starts at EUR 29 per month for the Starter plan, which covers 50,000 hits per month. Matomo On-Premise has a free Community edition, with paid bundles from EUR 275 per month for up to 5M hits and 4 users.

Source
Kotlin Multiplatform: Is there a paid version?

No. It is Apache 2.0 licensed and free, funded by JetBrains as part of the Kotlin project.

Matomo: Is Matomo free?

The On-Premise Community edition is free forever with unlimited users and hits, supported through the forum only. Matomo Cloud is a paid service, though a free trial with access to all core features is offered.

Source
Kotlin Multiplatform: Do I need Compose Multiplatform to use it?

No, they are separate. You can share only logic and keep fully native UI on each platform indefinitely.

Matomo: What is the difference between Matomo Cloud and On-Premise?

Cloud plans include hosting, maintenance, automatic updates and daily backups, priced by monthly hits from EUR 29. On-Premise is self-hosted, free in its Community edition, with paid bundles adding support and higher user counts.

Source
Matomo: How many hits do the Matomo On-Premise bundles cover?

The Team bundle covers up to 5M hits per month and 4 users at EUR 275 per month. Business covers up to 30M hits and 20 users at EUR 1,450. Enterprise covers up to 100M hits and 50 users at EUR 3,400.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Kotlin Multiplatform

More on Matomo

Keep looking

Other head to heads