Plausible Analytics vs Fathom Analytics: which should you choose?
Quick answer: Plausible Analytics is built for privacy, while Fathom Analytics suits privacy. For most users Fathom Analytics is the stronger default, but Plausible Analytics can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case. Plausible Analytics has the lower entry price.
If you're weighing Plausible Analytics against Fathom Analytics, the right answer depends on your priorities. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| Plausible Analytics | Fathom Analytics | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Web Analytics | Web Analytics |
| What it's known for | Lightweight, privacy-first, cookie-free Google Analytics alternative; open-source, EU-hosted and GDPR-friendly with a simple single-page dashboard. | Privacy-focused, GDPR/CCPA-compliant, cookie-free Google Analytics alternative with a simple dashboard and no data sampling. |
| Pricing | ~$9/mo (10k pageviews) up to higher tiers by volume; self-hosted free (open source); free trial | ~$15/mo (100k pageviews) scaling by volume; 30-day free trial |
| Best audience | Privacy-conscious site owners and small businesses wanting simple GDPR-friendly analytics. | Privacy-focused businesses wanting compliant, accurate analytics without GA complexity. |
| Best for | privacy, small-business | privacy, small-business |
| Entry price | ~$9/mo (10k pageviews) | ~$15/mo (100k pageviews) |
| Biggest strength | Privacy-first and GDPR/CCPA/PECR compliant with no cookie banner needed. | Strong GDPR/CCPA/PECR compliance with EU data isolation included. |
| Main caveat | Less granular than GA4 for deep funnel/segment analysis. | No free tier (30-day trial only). |
Features compared
The feature sets only partly overlap. Here is what each one actually gives you:
Plausible Analytics key features
- Lightweight single-page analytics dashboard
- Cookie-free, no personal data or IP storage
- Custom events and goal conversions
- Campaign/UTM tracking
Fathom Analytics key features
- Simple privacy-first single-page dashboard
- Cookie-free tracking with no IP storage
- EU Isolation (routes EU traffic to AWS Frankfurt)
- No data sampling
Pricing tiers side by side
Plausible Analytics plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | ~$9/mo (10k pageviews) | 1 site |
| Growth | ~$14/mo+ | multiple sites and team members, scales by volume |
| Self-hosted (Community Edition) | Free | AGPL-3.0, run via Docker on your own server |
Fathom Analytics plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | ~$15/mo (100k pageviews) | 50 sites included |
| Scaling | ~$60-200/mo | 1M ($60), 5M ($140), 10M ($200) pageviews |
Tiers compiled from the vendors' published plans and independent reviews; prices are approximate and change often, so confirm current figures (and your region's taxes) on each vendor's site.
Strengths compared
Where Plausible Analytics wins
A privacy-first, cookie-free GA alternative that is open source and EU-hosted.
- Privacy-first and GDPR/CCPA/PECR compliant with no cookie banner needed.
- Very lightweight script, fast page loads.
That makes it the stronger pick for privacy-conscious site owners and small businesses wanting simple GDPR-friendly analytics.
Where Fathom Analytics wins
Privacy-first analytics with built-in EU Isolation and no data sampling.
- Strong GDPR/CCPA/PECR compliance with EU data isolation included.
- No cookies, no PII, no sampling.
That makes it the stronger pick for privacy-focused businesses wanting compliant, accurate analytics without GA complexity.
Verdict: choose by fit
Both are good at the job, so let your priorities decide.
- Choose Plausible Analytics if you fit its core audience — privacy-conscious site owners and small businesses wanting simple GDPR-friendly analytics.
- Choose Fathom Analytics if you fit its core audience — privacy-focused businesses wanting compliant, accurate analytics without GA complexity.
FAQ
Is Plausible Analytics better than Fathom Analytics?
Fathom Analytics is the stronger default for most users, but Plausible Analytics can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
What is the main difference between Plausible Analytics and Fathom Analytics?
Plausible Analytics is a privacy-first, cookie-free GA alternative that is open source and EU-hosted. Fathom Analytics is privacy-first analytics with built-in EU Isolation and no data sampling.
Which is cheaper, Plausible Analytics or Fathom Analytics?
Entry pricing differs: Plausible Analytics starts at ~$9/mo (10k pageviews), while Fathom Analytics starts at ~$15/mo (100k pageviews). Compare the tiers above against your usage.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for Plausible Analytics and Fathom Analytics: