Plausible Alternatives: 10 Privacy-First Analytics Tools

Plausible won a lot of fans by making analytics simple and privacy-friendly. If you're comparing options, you might want a free plan for a hobby site, a self-hosted tool for full control, or more detail than a one-page dashboard gives you.

The ten tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, many of them small or open-source projects. Each description comes from the tool's own site, read this week. If you're still deciding what to measure, my guide to using product analytics helps you pick the right questions.

Plausible alternatives at a glance

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes free use or a free plan, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated on the pages we read.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Counter.dev	Simple analytics	Personal sites and side projects	Yes
Fathom Analytics	Privacy analytics	Agencies with many client sites	Trial only
GoatCounter	Open source analytics	Non-commercial and hobby sites	Yes
Matomo	Full analytics suite	Owning all your data	Yes
Pirsch	Privacy analytics	A readable privacy-friendly dashboard	Trial only
Piwik PRO	Privacy analytics suite	Detailed analytics with privacy controls	Trial only
Simple Analytics	Privacy analytics	Running alongside GA4	Yes
Swetrix	Cookieless analytics	Developers who like open source	Trial only
Umami	Open source analytics	Self-hosting on your own server	Yes
Usermaven	Attribution analytics	Knowing which channels convert	No

Ten Plausible alternatives to consider

Counter.dev

Best for: Bloggers and indie makers who want a free, privacy-friendly view of visits without any setup headache.

Fathom Analytics

Best for: Agencies and businesses that want simple, privacy-first website analytics they can roll out across many client sites.

GoatCounter

Best for: Hobby and non-commercial sites that want the lightest possible analytics without tracking personal data.

Matomo

Best for: Organisations that want a full Google Analytics style suite they can host themselves and keep every record.

Pirsch

Best for: Site owners who want a privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative with a simple dashboard they can read at a glance.

Piwik PRO

Best for: Organisations that need detailed, full-fidelity analytics while running privacy-compliant campaigns and activating their own data.

Simple Analytics

Best for: Marketing teams that want to run privacy-first analytics next to GA4 and send missing traffic data into their systems.

Swetrix

Best for: Developers and SaaS teams who want cookieless, open-source analytics with a quick setup and a real-time dashboard.

Umami

Best for: Technical founders who want to self-host lightweight web and product analytics on their own server.

Usermaven

Best for: SaaS and ecommerce marketers who want privacy-friendly analytics plus attribution to see which channels convert.

What the ICO says about cookies

Here's the rule that shapes most analytics decisions in the UK. The ICO says you must tell people if you set cookies, explain what they do and get the user's consent, with an exception for cookies essential to a service someone asked for.

Cookie-free analytics tools help, but you still need to check how each one handles personal data before you decide what your banner needs. Read each tool's documentation on IP addresses, data storage location and whether any identifiers are kept.

Hosted, self-hosted or full suite?

Hosted tools are the simplest: add a script and you're done. Self-hosted tools run on your own server, which gives you complete control of the data but means you're responsible for updates and uptime. Full analytics suites offer funnels, segments and detailed reports closer to Google Analytics, sometimes with privacy controls built in.

If you just want to know which pages people read and where they came from, a lightweight hosted tool is plenty. If you need ecommerce funnels or detailed campaign reporting, look at the fuller suites.

Switching analytics without losing history

1. Export key reports from your current tool before you switch.
2. Run the new tool alongside the old one for a few weeks.
3. Compare visits and top pages so you understand any differences.
4. Update your privacy notice to describe the new tool.
5. Set up goals or events for the actions that matter to you.
6. Remove the old script once you're confident in the new numbers.

Questions to ask before choosing

• Where is data stored? Check the region and the hosting provider.
• What's counted as a visit? Definitions vary between tools.
• Can I export my data? You should be able to take it with you.
• Does it work with my site builder? Check plugins and setup guides.

When a privacy-first tool isn't enough

If you run ad campaigns across many channels or need detailed ecommerce reporting, a simple dashboard may leave gaps. In that case, look at the fuller suites on this list, or pair a lightweight tool with the reporting inside your ad platforms and online store.

Self-hosting is a commitment

Running analytics on your own server gives you total control, but it also means you're responsible for updates, security and keeping the data safe. If nobody on your team enjoys server work, a hosted plan from the same open-source project often gives you the best of both: open code you can inspect and someone else handling the upkeep.

Do you make a privacy-first analytics tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on Plausible alternatives

Pick the simplest tool that answers the questions you ask every week. Most small businesses look at the same handful of numbers: visits, top pages, sources and conversions. Anything more is nice to have, and a cleaner dashboard means you'll look at it every week.

Expect numbers to differ between tools. Different tools count visits differently, and privacy-first tools often show different totals to traditional analytics. Focus on trends rather than exact matches. My roundup of data analytics tools covers what to do with the data once you have it.

Frequently asked questions

What is Plausible?

It's a lightweight, privacy-friendly website analytics tool that shows visits, pages and sources on a simple dashboard.

Is there a free alternative to Plausible?

Yes. Several tools on this list are open source or describe free use for small or non-commercial sites. Check the table.

Do I need a cookie banner for analytics?

The ICO says you need consent for cookies that aren't essential, so check how each tool works and take advice if you're unsure.

Can I host analytics on my own server?

Yes. Several open-source tools on this list can be self-hosted, which keeps data on infrastructure you control.

Why don't my analytics numbers match?

Tools count visits in different ways, so small differences are normal. Watch the trends rather than exact totals.

Can privacy-first analytics track conversions?

Most let you track goals or events, such as sign-ups or purchases, without detailed personal tracking.