Fathom vs Plausible
| Fathom Analytics | Plausible | |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy Focus | ✅ No cookies, GDPR compliant | ✅ No cookies, IP hashing for 24h only |
| Heatmaps | ❌ | ❌ |
| Session recordings | ❌ | ❌ |
| Script size | 1.6KB | <1KB gzipped |
| Data retention | Unlimited | 24 months (configurable if self-hosted) |
| Multi-site tracking | ✅ Unlimited | ✅ Traffic-based pricing per site |
| Team members | ✅ Unlimited | ✅ Unlimited |
| Funnel analysis | ❌ | ✅ Goal-based conversion tracking |
| User flow | ❌ | ❌ |
| Event tracking | ✅ Custom events via JS | ✅ Custom events via JS |
| Edge computing | ❌ | ❌ Multi-region hosting |
| Made for | Privacy-focused, simple analytics | Privacy-focused lightweight analytics |
Plausible is a minimalist analytics platform focused on providing basic pageview metrics with maximum simplicity.
While both Fathom and Plausible prioritize user privacy, their approaches and capabilities differ significantly:
Privacy & Data Collection#
Both platforms offer privacy-focused analytics, but with different approaches:
- Fathom: No cookies, GDPR compliant, no personal data storage
- Plausible: No cookies or personal data storage, IPs are hashed for 24h then discarded
Feature Comparison#
Fathom Analytics provides straightforward analytics with a focus on simplicity:
- Simple pageview tracking
- Custom event tracking
- Unlimited sites and team members
Plausible focuses on basic metrics:
- Simple pageview tracking
- Basic event goals
- Limited filtering options
- Per-site pricing model
Technical Implementation#
The technical architecture of both platforms reflects their different approaches:
- Fathom: 1.6KB script, simple and privacy-focused
- Plausible: <1KB gzipped script, EU-hosted by default with self-hosting options
When to Choose Each Platform#
Choose Fathom Analytics if you need:
- Privacy-focused analytics with minimal footprint
- Simple and straightforward interface
- Unlimited site management
- Unlimited team access
Choose Plausible if you want:
- Privacy-focused analytics with minimal footprint
- Simple but comprehensive interface
- Multi-site tracking with traffic-based pricing
- Smallest possible script size
The Future of Analytics#
As websites become more complex and user privacy more important, having comprehensive yet privacy-focused analytics becomes crucial. Both Fathom and Plausible offer solutions that prioritize user privacy while providing essential analytics features.