Overview
Catchpoint's node-based tests use agent software to replicate user actions and collect performance data while Catchpoint Real User gathers performance data beaconed from real users.
Real User Measurement uses the Navigation Timing API to gather performance metrics from actual user sessions on a webpage. However, if a browser does not support the API, Catchpoint uses a heuristic approach by utilizing a cookie to provide as much timing information as possible. Catchpoint gathers site analytic information such as bounce rate, page views, browser types, ISP, and geographical location of the end user.
Google Analytics lets you see what traffic is flowing to your website in real time. You can see how the users got there and what path they take through your site and which pages are popular. Catchpoint Real User and Google Analytics use similar measurements
Comparison Table
| Catchpoint Real User Metric | Google Analytics Site Speed Metric |
|---|---|
| Document Complete: Time elapsed from sending the request to onload event | Avg Page Time: Average amount of time it takes that page to load from the initiation to the page view. |
| Response: Time elapsed from the request being issued to the server responding with the last byte for the root request. Includes response time for redirects. | Avg Page Download Time: Time to download your page |
| Currently we do not have a metric that splits redirection time from overall response time. In the Waterfalls we break out the reponse time for each redirect. | Avg Redirection Time: Time spent in redirection before fetching the page. If there are no redirects, the value for this metric is expected to be 0. |
| DNS: Time taken for the client to resolve the DNS for the root request. Includes DNS time for redirects. | Avg Domain Lookup Time: Average amount of time spent in DNS lookup for the page |
| Connect: Time taken to establish a connection with the server for the root request. Includes connect time for redirects. | Avg Server Connection Time: Time needed for the user to connect to your server |
| Wait: Time elapsed from sending the request to receiving the first byte of response to the root request. Includes wait time for redirects. | Avg Server Response Time: Time for your server to respond to a user request, including the network time from the user’s location to your server |
Catchpoint is a great complement to your Google Analytics because you can analyze several metrics to gauge the users’ experience and find any problems. In addition, you can easily correlate the data collected from Real User and Tests in one interface, providing a clear understanding of what impact a performance problem has on your site’s visitors.