Tag Manager vs Server-Side Tagging

Developers should learn and use tag managers when working on websites or apps that require frequent updates to tracking, analytics, or marketing integrations, as it streamlines deployment and minimizes code changes meets developers should use server-side tagging when building high-traffic websites or applications that require robust analytics, marketing tracking, and compliance with privacy regulations like gdpr or ccpa. Here's our take.

Tag Manager

Nice Pick

Developers should learn and use tag managers when working on websites or apps that require frequent updates to tracking, analytics, or marketing integrations, as it streamlines deployment and minimizes code changes

Pros

• It is particularly useful in e-commerce, content-heavy sites, and digital marketing campaigns where real-time data collection is critical
• Related to: google-analytics, javascript

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Server-Side Tagging

Developers should use Server-Side Tagging when building high-traffic websites or applications that require robust analytics, marketing tracking, and compliance with privacy regulations like GDPR or CCPA

Pros

• It's particularly valuable for reducing client-side bloat, preventing ad-blocker interference, and enabling more secure data handling by minimizing exposure of sensitive information to the browser
• Related to: google-tag-manager, web-analytics

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Tag Manager is a tool while Server-Side Tagging is a methodology. We picked Tag Manager based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Tag Manager wins

Based on overall popularity. Tag Manager is more widely used, but Server-Side Tagging excels in its own space.