Three Kinds of Server-Side Tool
"Server-side tracking" covers tools that do quite different jobs. Picking the right one starts with knowing which job you need done.
GTM Hosting
Hosts a server-side Google Tag Manager container you configure yourself. Flexible and cheap, but technical. Example: Stape.
Plug-and-Play Trackers
Send events to ad platforms server-side with little or no configuration. Example: Tracklution.
Attribution Platforms
Track first-party, attribute sales to ads, and send conversions server-side. Example: ClickMagick.
Server-Side Tools Compared
| Tool | Type | Starting price | Attribution reports | Skill needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ClickMagick | Attribution platform | $79/mo | Yes, five models | Low |
| Stape | GTM hosting | Free to 10K requests; $17/mo annual | No | High |
| Tracklution | Plug-and-play | Free to 5k events; €39.20/mo annual | Not the focus | Low |
| AnyTrack | Tag-based tracker | Free to 5,000 sessions; $100/mo | Yes | Low |
| RedTrack | Ad tracker | $118/mo (Solo) | Yes | Medium |
| Segment | Customer data platform | Free tier; scales with users | No | High |
1. ClickMagick: Best for Marketers Who Want Answers, Not Infrastructure
ClickMagick tracks visitors with first-party code on your own domain, then sends conversions to Meta, Google, TikTok and Microsoft through Audience Optimization. It also tells you which ads earned each sale, filters bots and follows buyers across devices.
ClickMagick's own position is that server-side sending alone is only part of the fix: you still need accurate first-party identification to credit the right ad. We agree, and that's why we'd pick it for most advertisers.
2. Stape: Best Value for GTM Users
Stape hosts server-side GTM containers, free up to 10,000 requests a month, then from $17 a month billed annually. It's excellent if you or your developer already know GTM. You'll still need something for attribution reports.
3. Tracklution: Best Plug-and-Play Option
Tracklution sends conversions server-side without building containers, with a free plan for 5,000 events and Grow at €39.20 a month billed annually.
4. AnyTrack and RedTrack
Both include server-side conversion sending as part of a wider tracker. AnyTrack suits affiliates; RedTrack suits media buyers. See ClickMagick vs AnyTrack and ClickMagick vs RedTrack.
5. Segment
Segment is a customer data platform for engineering-led teams routing data to many tools. Powerful, but more than most marketers need.
How to Choose
- You want to know which ads pay and fix the data: ClickMagick.
- You live in Google Tag Manager: Stape.
- You just want events flowing with minimal effort: Tracklution.
- You have engineers and many data destinations: Segment.
New to the topic? Start with our server-side tracking guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a server-side tracking tool?
It's a tool that sends conversion data to ad platforms and analytics from a server rather than only from the visitor's browser, so blockers and browser privacy limits remove less of your data.
Which server-side tracking tool is easiest?
Plug-and-play tools such as ClickMagick and Tracklution need no Google Tag Manager work. Stape is excellent value but assumes you're comfortable configuring server-side GTM.
Is server-side tracking enough on its own?
Not quite. ClickMagick argues server-side tracking alone is a partial fix, because you still need good first-party identification and attribution to know which ads earned each sale.
How much do server-side tracking tools cost?
Stape has a free tier and paid plans from $17 a month billed annually, Tracklution has a free plan and Grow at €39.20 a month billed annually, and ClickMagick starts at $79 a month with attribution included.
Do I need a developer?
For server-side GTM, often yes. For plug-and-play tools and ClickMagick, usually not.
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