[Week 6] Learning Mixpanel: Choosing Client vs Server vs Hybrid tracking method
Introduction
Welcome to Week 6 of Learning Mixpanel. I'm Ansh, a Mixpanel Certified Partner. I’ve had the privilege of working with 60+ startups, helping them set up their analytics infrastructure and gain actionable insights using Mixpanel.
Curious about my work? Check out my website for case studies, testimonials, and more details about what I do.
Today, I’m going to talk about the different methods that you can use to send data to Mixpanel, which ones you should use, and the pros/ cons of each.
Let’s get into it
Choosing the tracking method for data implementation
If your preferred consumption is audio visual - access the video on Youtube.
Before setting up any product analytics tool, the first thing to consider is, "What method will you use to track data?"
There are 3 approaches to tracking, each with its own pros and cons. Let's dive in.
Client-side tracking
Client-side tracking collects and sends data from the user's browser directly to the Mixpanel server.
It captures user interactions with your product through tracking code on your site or app.
Server side tracking
Server-side tracking sends data from your server to the Mixpanel server, without relying on the user's browser.
It records events directly from the backend of your product.
Hybrid tracking
Hybrid tracking combines both client-side and server-side tracking.
The server logs what it can, while the client captures real-time events like user clicks and page views. Though it's a more complex setup, it ensures that no event is missed. It gives you a complete data picture, blending the strengths of both methods.
Comparison: Client vs Server side tracking
What should you choose?
Opt for client-side → if you want detailed user interaction insights and easy integration with multiple analytics platforms, and if you prefer not to spend time setting up servers.
Opt for server-side → if your main concerns are data privacy, bypassing ad blockers, and improving site performance.
Opt for hybrid → if you want to avoid data loss while also capturing detailed user interaction data.
Setting up proxy for Client side tracking
Client side tracking usually has a lot of data loss, especially on the web due to Ad- blockers. Hence, it’s recommended to setup a proxy which will help bypass Ad- blockers.
Here’s a quick link by Mixpanel on how to setup a proxy.
Mixpanel learning course
Every week, I’m going to talk about one topic from Mixpanel. If you’d like to access everything at once, take a look at my course on Mixpanel.
The course is a comprehensive deep dive into Mixpanel, covering each feature with relevant, practical examples.
By the end of the course, you'll become a Mixpanel expert—equipped with the knowledge and confidence to navigate and use the platform like a pro.
Having worked with 60+ startups, I’ve structured this course to focus on what actually gets used in Mixpanel and how.
Each chapter includes a video tutorial and a written document (with visuals) so you can choose the learning format that suits you best—video, text, or both!