W3Counter
W3Counter is a free and paid web analytics service from Awio Web Services LLC (United States), in operation since 2005. It offers a small JavaScript tracker that captures page views, sessions, geolocation, referrers and devices. Free plans display a public counter and aggregate the data into market share statistics. Paid plans offer private analytics and longer retention. Despite its lightweight footprint, W3Counter sets cookies, transfers data to the US and requires consent under the ePrivacy Directive.
What does W3Counter do?
What W3Counter is and how it works
W3Counter is a long running web analytics service operated by Awio Web Services LLC in the United States, available since 2005. Publishers add a small JavaScript or counter image to their pages, and Awio captures and processes visitor metrics. Free accounts get a small public counter and contribute to global market share statistics published by Awio (browser shares, OS shares, geo distribution). Paid plans offer private analytics, longer retention and access to detailed visitor logs.
What data and cookies W3Counter collects
W3Counter writes cookies on the w3counter.com domain (or as first party on the publisher domain when using server side proxy) and captures IP address, user agent, geolocation inferred from IP, browser version, OS, screen resolution, language, referrer URL, full URL of every page viewed and time on page. Free accounts also expose anonymous aggregated stats on a public counter, which is visible to any site visitor or third party.
GDPR and ePrivacy implications
W3Counter writes non strictly necessary cookies and transfers personal data to the United States, which puts it squarely under Article 5(3) ePrivacy and Article 6 GDPR. Prior consent is required. The free plan adds an additional concern: the public counter exposes aggregate stats to anyone, which can be at odds with reasonable visitor expectations. Most EU supervisory authorities would treat W3Counter the same way as Google Analytics for compliance purposes.
Consent requirements
Treat W3Counter as Analytics or Marketing in your consent management platform and block the tracker until the visitor opts in. Document the categories of data collected, the US destination, the SCCs in place, and any public counter exposure on the free plan. Inform visitors clearly that some aggregate data is shared with Awio for market share publication.
Data transfers to the United States
Awio Web Services is based in the United States and processes all data on US infrastructure. Transfers rely on Standard Contractual Clauses under Art. 46(2)(c) GDPR. Run a Transfer Impact Assessment, document supplementary measures and consider whether the lightweight functionality justifies the US transfer when EU based alternatives like Matomo, Plausible or Fathom (Canada) are available.
Practical compliance steps
Sign or accept the Awio Web Services DPA, gate the tracker behind your consent management platform, prefer paid plans without public counter exposure, list W3Counter in your cookie policy and record of processing activities, run a Transfer Impact Assessment, set short retention where possible, and consider migrating to EU based analytics if the lightweight feature set does not justify the compliance overhead.
W3Counter and the GDPR
W3Counter is classified as “Analytics”. On a site that targets European visitors, it must only load after the visitor consents, and it must be listed in your cookie policy.
- Legal basis
- Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR) for tracking cookies and behavioural analytics
- Risk level
- medium
- Applicable regulations
- GDPR, ePrivacy Directive (Cookie Law), CCPA
Impact assessment (DPIA)
W3Counter processes IP address, user agent, geolocation inferred from IP, screen resolution, language, referrer, full URL of every page viewed and time on page. Free plans aggregate data into public market share statistics that may include site specific stats visible to anyone. Key DPIA considerations: (1) US transfer with Standard Contractual Clauses; (2) public counter and public stats expose visitor counts and patterns to anyone, which may violate site visitor expectations; (3) IP based geolocation can identify natural persons in low traffic contexts; (4) free plan terms may grant broader data usage rights to Awio (aggregated stats, market reports); (5) cookies have long lifetimes (typically 1 year) which may exceed what is necessary for basic analytics.
Sample text for your banner
We use W3Counter, a US based analytics service, to measure website traffic. W3Counter places cookies on your device and transfers your IP address, browser and visit data to Awio Web Services LLC in the United States. You can withdraw your consent at any time via our cookie settings.
What W3Counter sets and contacts
- Tracking method
- JavaScript tracker (w3counter.js) and counter image (1 pixel beacon)
- Server location
- United States (Awio Web Services LLC)
- Data transferred outside the EU
- W3Counter is operated by Awio Web Services LLC, a US company. Servers are hosted in the United States. Transfers rely on Standard Contractual Clauses under Article 46(2)(c) GDPR. For free public stats, traffic data may also be aggregated and displayed publicly.
Cookies set (2)
| Name | Type | Duration | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| w3c_id | Analytics | 1 year | Persistent visitor identifier used by W3Counter to recognise returning visitors and attribute multi visit sessions. |
| w3c_sid | Analytics | Session | Session identifier used to group page views within a single browsing session for the W3Counter dashboard. |
Third-party domains contacted (2)
w3counter.coma1.awsstatic.com
Frequently asked questions about W3Counter
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What cookies does W3Counter set?
W3Counter writes cookies on the w3counter.com domain to identify visitors and link them to your account, plus aggregated public statistics. Cookie lifetimes are typically 1 year. When proxied through your domain, the cookies become first party but the data still goes to Awio in the US.
Is consent required before W3Counter loads?
Yes. The tracker writes non strictly necessary cookies and transfers personal data to the United States, both of which require prior consent under Article 5(3) ePrivacy and the GDPR.
What is the legal basis for processing data through W3Counter?
Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR). Some publishers attempt legitimate interest, but the combination of cookie placement, US transfer and public stat exposure makes that defence weak. Consent is the safest basis.
Does W3Counter transfer data to the United States?
Yes. Awio Web Services LLC is based in the United States and operates all infrastructure there. Transfers rely on Standard Contractual Clauses under Article 46(2)(c) GDPR. A Transfer Impact Assessment is required.
Do I need a DPIA for W3Counter?
A DPIA is recommended whenever you combine analytics with US transfers and public stat exposure (free plan). For paid plans used as basic analytics without public counter, a documented assessment is usually sufficient.
How do I implement W3Counter in a GDPR compliant way?
Sign or accept the Awio DPA, gate the tracker behind consent, prefer paid plans without public counter, list W3Counter in your cookie policy and record of processing activities, run a Transfer Impact Assessment, set short retention where possible.
What are alternatives to W3Counter?
EU based or cookieless analytics like Matomo (France), Plausible (Estonia), Snoobi (Finland), Fathom Analytics (Canada) and Piwik PRO (Poland) avoid the US transfer concern and offer better compliance posture for the same basic functionality.
How should my cookie policy describe W3Counter?
List W3Counter by name and Awio Web Services LLC as the processor, the cookies set, the data collected (IP, browser, geolocation, page URL, time on page), the US destination, the SCCs in place and, if you use the free plan, the public counter exposure. Add a link to the W3Counter privacy notice.
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