Plausible vs Fathom Analytics

Who This Page Is For

You’re comparing these tools because you want simple, privacy-first analytics and you’re deciding between:

• Open-source with self-hosting option (Plausible) vs Proprietary cloud-only (Fathom)
• Smaller script (Plausible: under 1KB) vs Bundled uptime monitoring (Fathom)
• Lower price ($9/mo Plausible) vs SOC 2 certification ($14/mo Fathom)

Both are excellent privacy-first tools. The differences are in the details.

The Core Tradeoff

Plausible is open-source (AGPL) with self-hosting option. Under 1KB script. EU-based. $9/month starting.

Fathom is proprietary but includes uptime monitoring. ~3KB script. SOC 2 Type II certified. Canadian company with EU isolation. $14/month starting.

The decision: Do you need open-source/self-hosting (Plausible) or SOC 2 certification/uptime monitoring (Fathom)?

Quick Decision

Choose Plausible when:

• Open-source code audit matters
• Self-hosting option is valuable
• Smallest possible script (under 1KB) is important
• $9/mo vs $14/mo price difference matters
• EU-based company is preferred

Choose Fathom when:

• SOC 2 Type II certification is required
• Uptime monitoring bundled with analytics is valuable
• Proprietary vs open-source doesn’t matter
• You prefer cloud-only (no self-hosting to manage)
• Canadian company with EU isolation works

Consider alternatives when:

• You need more detailed analytics → Matomo
• You need product analytics → PostHog
• Budget is primary concern → Umami (free self-hosted)

Comparison Snapshot

The Key Differences

Open Source vs Proprietary

Plausible: Fully open source under AGPL. You can audit the code, verify privacy claims, and self-host. The trade-off: AGPL requires sharing modifications if you distribute.

Fathom: Proprietary, closed-source. You trust Fathom’s privacy claims without code audit. The trade-off: SOC 2 Type II certification provides third-party verification.

Bottom line: If code audit matters, Plausible. If third-party security certification matters, Fathom.

---

Self-Hosting

Plausible: Self-hosting available. Deploy on your servers for complete data control. Requires infrastructure management.

Fathom: Cloud-only. No self-hosting option. Simpler but you depend on Fathom’s infrastructure.

Bottom line: If self-hosting is required, Plausible is your only choice.

---

Script Size

Plausible: Under 1KB — smallest in the privacy analytics category.

Fathom: ~3KB — still lightweight, but 3x larger than Plausible.

Bottom line: Both are much lighter than GA4 (~45KB), but Plausible wins on page load impact.

---

Uptime Monitoring

Plausible: No uptime monitoring. You’d need a separate tool (UptimeRobot, Pingdom).

Fathom: Built-in uptime monitoring. Track site availability alongside analytics.

Bottom line: If you need uptime monitoring, Fathom bundles it. With Plausible, add a separate tool.

---

Compliance Certifications

Plausible: No SOC 2 certification. Relies on open-source transparency and EU data handling.

Fathom: SOC 2 Type II certified. Third-party audit of security practices.

Bottom line: If procurement requires SOC 2, Fathom has it. Plausible’s approach is “audit the code yourself.”

Technical Specifications

Pricing Comparison

Plausible is ~$5/mo cheaper at equivalent tiers. Self-hosting Plausible eliminates subscription costs (pay infrastructure only).

Honest Limitations

Plausible Limitations

• No SOC 2 certification (open-source is the trust model)
• No uptime monitoring (need separate tool)
• Self-hosting requires infrastructure work
• AGPL license has sharing requirements

Fathom Limitations

• No self-hosting option
• Larger script (~3KB vs under 1KB)
• No code audit possible (proprietary)
• Higher starting price ($14/mo vs $9/mo)

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has better page load performance?

Plausible — under 1KB vs Fathom’s ~3KB. Both are lightweight, but Plausible wins on pure script size.

Can I self-host Fathom?

No. Fathom is cloud-only. If self-hosting matters, choose Plausible.

Which has better GDPR compliance?

Both are GDPR compliant with cookie-free tracking. Plausible is EU-based; Fathom offers EU isolation. Both work for GDPR.

Does Fathom really include uptime monitoring?

Yes. Fathom monitors your site’s availability and alerts you to downtime — bundled with analytics at no extra cost.

Which is better for enterprise procurement?

Fathom’s SOC 2 Type II certification often satisfies enterprise security reviews. Plausible relies on open-source transparency.

Is Plausible really open source?

Yes, under AGPL license. You can audit the code and self-host. AGPL requires sharing modifications if you distribute.

Bottom Line

Related Pages

• Plausible alternatives — Broader options
• Privacy-focused analytics tools — Full comparison
• Matomo vs Plausible — More features vs simplicity
• Analytics tools category — All analytics tools