Sonar is cookieless website analytics. The Sonar script doesn't set cookies or use local storage, and it doesn't track people across different websites. It tells visits apart using the visitor's IP address and browser details on our servers, so you still see visitors, sources, journeys and conversions, and visitors who would decline a cookie banner are counted too.
What "cookieless" means in Sonar
- Nothing is stored on the visitor's device. No cookies, no local storage, no identifiers in the browser.
- No cross-site tracking. Sonar only sees visits to your own website. We don't build profiles across sites or sell data.
- Visits are told apart on the server, from the IP address and browser details. A visit ends after 30 minutes without activity.
- You stay in control. For your visitors' data, you're the controller and Sonar is your processor. Processor terms are part of our terms of service, and we'll sign a separate data processing agreement if you need one. See our privacy policy.
Sonar does process IP addresses, which count as personal data under UK and EU GDPR. That's what lets it estimate country and city and tell visits apart. Cookieless doesn't mean data-free, and we won't pretend it does.
What you still get
| Sonar, without cookies | |
|---|---|
| Visitors, page views and sources | ✓ |
| Campaigns and UTM tags | ✓ |
| Every visit as a journey, with a replay | ✓ |
| Enquiries and orders linked to their visit | ✓ |
| Click and scroll heatmaps | ✓ |
| Returning visitors | Recognised on the same network and browser, or when you name them |
| Cross-device tracking | No, by design |
Because nothing is stored in the browser, a returning visitor on a new network looks like a new visitor until you name them. That's the trade-off for not using cookies.
Do I still need a cookie banner?
Sonar won't be the reason you need one. But whether your website needs a banner depends on everything else it runs, such as Google Analytics, advertising pixels, embedded videos or chat widgets. If Sonar is your only analytics and nothing else sets non-essential cookies, you may not need one. Check with whoever advises you on privacy.
Getting started
Create a free account, add your website and paste one script tag into your site's <head>, or use the WordPress plugin. It takes a few minutes, and the free plan needs no card.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sonar GDPR compliant?
Sonar is built for UK and EU GDPR: it sets no cookies, doesn't track people across websites, and acts as your processor, with processor terms in our terms of service. Compliance also depends on how you use it and what else your site runs, so we can't promise it for your whole website.
Does Sonar store IP addresses?
Yes. Sonar uses the IP address to estimate location and tell visits apart, and to recognise visitors you choose to name. It's covered in our privacy policy.
How does Sonar count unique visitors without cookies?
From the IP address and browser details, on our servers. Nothing is stored in the visitor's browser.
Can visitors opt out?
Visitors who block scripts or use tracker-blocking extensions won't be counted. You can also exclude IP addresses, such as your own office, so your visits don't count.
Is it free?
Starter is free for 1 website and up to 10,000 visits a month. Pro is £49 a month, with a 14-day free trial. See pricing.