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.
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 Comparison 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.