Server-Side Tracking Calculator: What to Choose?

1. Where do you spend your ad budget?

Google Ads only Facebook and Instagram only Google and Meta Also TikTok, LinkedIn or others

2. How much do you spend on ads per month?

Up to €1,000 €1,000 to €7,000 €7,000 to €25,000 Over €25,000

3. How much traffic does your website get?

Up to 20k sessions per month 20k to 100k Over 100k

4. Do you want to combine CRM or store data, such as margin or lead status?

Yes No Not sure

5. Who will look after tracking after the implementation?

I have a team or an agency Nobody, it has to run on its own

6. What percentage of visitors accept cookies in your consent banner?

95% or more 70 to 95% Below 70% Not sure

7. Do your customers often block ads, for example developers and the IT industry?

Yes No Not sure

8. What share of your traffic comes from Safari and Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac)?

Very small Medium Large Not sure

9. Do GA4 or Meta Ads Manager show fewer conversions than your store or CRM?

Yes, a big difference A little No I have not checked

Answers: 0 of 9

How the calculator works

What the recommendation is based on

The calculator uses the same rules I use in consultations. The full comparison is on the server-side tracking page.

Situation	Recommendation	Stape hosting
High cookie acceptance, audience without ad blockers, little Safari	Probably no server-side, we will check in a consultation	$0*
Lower traffic and budget, Google only	Stape Gateway	$10*/month
Lower traffic and budget, Google and Meta	Stape Gateway and Meta CAPI	about $20*/month
High traffic or budget, several platforms, CRM data	Full server-side GTM with CAPI in the container	from $20*/month

* Stape’s price as the hosting provider, not mine. As of October 2026, paid directly to Stape. I set up the account through the Stape partner programme, so you may get a partner discount.

Questions about the calculator

Is the calculator’s result binding?

No. It is an indicative recommendation. I give an exact one after a free consultation, where I look at your GA4, Meta and consent banner data.

What if the result says I do not need server-side?

Then I will tell you so. If your browser data is almost complete, it is better to invest in a correct dataLayer and Consent Mode than in a server.

Where can I check cookie acceptance and Safari share?

You will find consent acceptance in your cookie banner (CMP) dashboard. Check the Safari share in GA4: Reports, Tech, Tech details, Browser dimension.

Does the implementation include fixing the dataLayer?

No. None of the server-side setups include fixing the dataLayer. Your website must send correct browser data first, and that fix is quoted separately.

Which server-side setup is right for you? Answer 9 questions

What the recommendation is based on

Questions about the calculator

Prefer to talk instead of clicking?