Glass vs Fathom
| Glass Analytics | Fathom | |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy Approach | ✅ Zero cookies | ✅ No cookies |
| Heatmaps | ✅ | ❌ |
| Session recordings | Coming soon! | ❌ |
| Script size | 2.5KB | 1.6KB |
| Data retention | ✅ Unlimited | ❌ Limited by plan |
| Real-time data | ✅ | ✅ Real-time |
| Funnel analysis | ✅ Advanced | ❌ Basic |
| User flow | ✅ Real-time | ❌ |
| Uptime monitoring | ❌ | ✅ |
| Email reports | Coming soon! | ✅ |
| Edge computing | ✅ | Regional hosting |
| Made for | 🫵 You | Basic tracking |
Fathom Analytics offers a simple, privacy-focused alternative to Google Analytics, while Glass Analytics provides a more comprehensive solution for understanding user behavior.
Privacy & Compliance#
Both platforms prioritize privacy but take different approaches:
- Glass: Zero-cookie approach with advanced session anonymization
- Fathom: No-cookie approach with EU isolation, requiring consent in some cases
Feature Comparison#
Glass Analytics provides a full suite of analytics tools:
- Complete user behavior analysis
- Heatmaps and scroll tracking
- Advanced funnel analysis
- Real-time user flow visualization
- Unlimited sites and team members
Fathom focuses on basic analytics:
- Simple pageview tracking
- Basic goal tracking
- Site uptime monitoring
- Email reports
Technical Implementation#
The platforms differ in their technical architecture:
- Glass: 2.5KB script with edge computing and distributed architecture
- Fathom: 1.6KB script with regional hosting options
Data Access & Retention#
Glass Analytics offers more comprehensive data access:
- Real-time data access
- Unlimited historical data
- Advanced filtering and segmentation
- Custom event tracking
Fathom provides basic data access:
- Real-time data access
- Limited historical data based on plan
- Basic filtering options
When to Choose Each Platform#
Choose Glass Analytics if you need:
- Comprehensive user behavior insights
- Heatmaps and advanced tracking
- Advanced funnel analysis
- Multiple site management
- Unlimited team access
Choose Fathom if you want:
- Basic pageview analytics
- Minimalist dashboard
- Included uptime monitoring
- Automated email reports
The Future of Analytics#
As businesses demand more insights while respecting user privacy, Glass Analytics offers the perfect balance - comprehensive features with strict privacy standards. While Fathom excels at basic analytics, Glass provides the detailed insights needed for modern web optimization.