Economic factors

Economic factors

Logfile analysis is almost always performed in-house. Page tagging can be performed in-house, but it is more often provided as a third-party service. The economic difference between these two models can also be a consideration for a company deciding which to purchase.

• Logfile analysis typically involves a one-off software purchase; however, some vendors are introducing maximum annual page views with additional costs to process additional information.^{[citation needed]} In addition to commercial offerings, several open-source logfile analysis tools are available free of charge.
• For Logfile analysis you have to store and archive your own data, which often grows very large quickly. Although the cost of hardware to do this is minimal, the overhead for an IT department can be considerable.
• For Logfile analysis you need to maintain the software, including updates and security patches.
• Complex page tagging vendors charge a monthly fee based on volume i.e. number of pageviews per month collected.