View access statistics with AWStats

AWStats processes the web server logs to create access reports. It can help you see requested pages, transfer, referrers and activity by period without installing tracking code on the website.

Open the report

1. In cPanel, look for AWStats.
2. Select the domain and, when they appear separately, the HTTP or HTTPS report you want to view.
3. Choose the month or period and check the date of the last update.

If it is not collecting data yet, check the Metrics Editor. On our services it may be disabled at first. The information is processed in batches, not in real time; look at the date shown instead of assuming an immediate update.

Interpret what you see

A request is not a visit: a single page can load many images and files. Robots and automated access also reach the server, even though the tool tries to classify them. Visits and unique visitors are estimates based on its processing rules.

Use trends over comparable periods and check pages, response codes and transfer. An increase in requests may come from a crawler or from large files, without meaning more customers.

Differences from Analytics or Matomo

Tools with tracking code observe browser events and can be affected by consent, blockers and configuration. AWStats observes the server logs available. Neither method is automatically more accurate for every question.

If you use a CDN, some responses never reach the origin and others may show addresses or behaviour shaped by the proxy. Do not expect every figure to match across providers.

The AWStats reference in cPanel describes how to access it and its options. To investigate a specific request, use the access logs; the aggregated report does not replace the detail of that request.

Access and retention

View the report through authorised access to cPanel. Do not publish statistics directories or copy credentials into links to open them from outside. Before disabling processing, keep the reports you need and review the log file policy separately.