Plausible vs Fathom Analytics
Plausible and Fathom Analytics are both privacy-first web analytics platforms that provide cookie-free tracking with GDPR compliance. This comparison focuses on practical differences without recommending one over the other.
This page compares Plausible and Fathom Analytics across pricing, features, reporting capabilities, and privacy implementation.
Overview
Plausible emphasizes lightweight script size and open-source transparency. Fathom Analytics offers email reporting and uptime monitoring as differentiating features.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Plausible | Fathom Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $9/month | $14/month |
| Free Plan | No | No |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open Source | Yes | No |
| Self-Hosting | Yes | No |
| Email Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Uptime Monitoring | No | Yes |
| Cookie-Free Tracking | Yes | Yes |
Key Differences
Features
Plausible provides an open-source codebase with self-hosting options for complete data control. Fathom Analytics includes built-in uptime monitoring and advanced email reporting with customizable schedules.
Pricing
Plausible starts at $9/month with pricing based on monthly page views. Fathom Analytics starts at $14/month with similar usage-based pricing tiers.
Privacy Implementation
Both platforms offer cookie-free tracking and GDPR compliance. Plausible’s open-source nature allows code audit and verification, while Fathom emphasizes simplicity in privacy compliance.
User Interface
Plausible provides a minimalist dashboard focused on essential metrics. Fathom Analytics offers similar simplicity with additional visual reporting enhancements.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Plausible | Fathom Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| Script Size | < 1KB | ~3KB |
| Deployment | Self-hosted or Cloud | Cloud only |
| Open Source | Yes (AGPL) | No |
| API Access | Full REST API | Full REST API |
| Data Export | CSV, API | CSV, API |
| Custom Events | Yes | Yes |
| Goal Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Uptime Monitoring | No | Yes |
| Data Retention | Unlimited (cloud), Configurable (self-hosted) | Unlimited |
Data Handling
Plausible
- EU-based company with EU data processing
- Open-source code available for privacy audit
- Self-hosted option for complete data ownership
- No cookies required for GDPR compliance
Fathom Analytics
- Canadian company with privacy-first design
- EU isolation option for European data residency
- SOC 2 Type II certification
- No cookies or personal data collection
Implementation Considerations
- Plausible script is significantly smaller (< 1KB) for minimal page load impact
- Fathom includes uptime monitoring without additional tools
- Both require minimal configuration for basic analytics
- Goal tracking and custom events available on both platforms
- Self-hosting Plausible requires technical infrastructure management
Related Pages
Use-Case Fit
- Open-source requirement: Plausible offers source code access and self-hosting
- Uptime monitoring needs: Fathom includes website monitoring in analytics package
- Budget-conscious privacy analytics: Plausible’s lower starting price suits smaller sites
- Email report scheduling: Both offer reports; Fathom provides more scheduling flexibility
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Plausible open source?
Plausible is fully open source under the AGPL license, allowing self-hosting and code inspection for privacy verification.
Does Fathom Analytics support uptime monitoring?
Fathom Analytics includes built-in uptime monitoring to track website availability alongside traffic analytics.
Which platform has a lower starting price?
Plausible starts at $9/month compared to Fathom’s $14/month, both based on monthly page view limits.
Can I self-host Fathom Analytics?
Fathom Analytics is cloud-only and does not offer self-hosting. Plausible supports self-hosting for teams requiring on-premise deployment.
Which tool has better GDPR compliance?
Both Plausible and Fathom Analytics are GDPR compliant with cookie-free tracking. Plausible’s open-source code allows independent privacy verification.
How do script sizes compare?
Plausible has a significantly smaller script (under 1KB) compared to Fathom (~3KB). Both are lightweight compared to Google Analytics but Plausible offers slightly better page load performance.
Can I track custom events with both tools?
Both platforms support custom event tracking and goal conversions. Implementation requires adding JavaScript calls for specific user actions.
Which platform has better API access?
Both offer full REST API access for data retrieval and integration. API capabilities are comparable for common use cases like dashboards and reporting.