Plausible vs Countly
Plausible is privacy-friendly, lightweight web analytics. No cookies, GDPR-compliant out of the box, while Countly is open-source product analytics for mobile, web, and desktop with crash reporting. The biggest difference up front: Countly is free, while Plausible starts at $9/mo. Plausible is built for privacy-conscious sites that want simple, clean analytics, whereas Countly targets mobile app teams wanting open-source analytics.
| Feature | Plausible | Countly |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | — | ✓ |
| Open source | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cookieless | ✓ | — |
| Crash Reports | — | ✓ |
| Goal Tracking | ✓ | — |
| Lightweight Script | ✓ | — |
| Mobile Analytics | — | ✓ |
| Privacy First | ✓ | — |
| Push Notifications | — | ✓ |
| Self-Hosted | ✓ | — |
| Surveys | — | ✓ |
Pricing: Countly is completely free, which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Plausible starts at $9/mo. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.
Feature gaps: Plausible offers Cookieless, Goal Tracking and Lightweight Script that Countly lacks. Countly brings Crash Reports, Mobile Analytics and Push Notifications that Plausible does not have.
Team fit: Plausible is geared toward small teams teams, while Countly is aimed at mid-size teams teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.
Open source: Both Plausible and Countly are open source, so self-hosting and code audits are on the table with either choice.
Where each tool shines: Plausible's biggest strengths are: privacy-first — no cookies, no consent banners needed. lightweight script under 1kb. Countly's biggest strengths are: open source and transparent. includes mobile analytics as a core feature, purpose-built for analytics workflows.
Watch out for: With Plausible, users commonly note that much less feature-rich than google analytics. With Countly, the main complaint is that may lack some advanced features.
choose Plausible if
- You need a tool built for privacy-conscious sites that want simple, clean analytics
- You specifically need Cookieless and Goal Tracking
- You care about lightweight script under 1kb
- Your team size fits the small teams profile Plausible is designed for
choose Countly if
- You need a tool built for mobile app teams wanting open-source analytics
- Budget is a hard constraint — Countly is free, Plausible is not
- You specifically need Crash Reports and Mobile Analytics
- You care about includes mobile analytics as a core feature, purpose-built for analytics workflows
- Your team size fits the mid-size teams profile Countly is designed for
frequently asked
What is the difference between Plausible and Countly?
Plausible is privacy-friendly, lightweight web analytics. No cookies, GDPR-compliant out of the box, while Countly is open-source product analytics for mobile, web, and desktop with crash reporting. The biggest difference up front: Countly is free, while Plausible starts at $9/mo. Plausible is built for privacy-conscious sites that want simple, clean analytics, whereas Countly targets mobile app teams wanting open-source analytics.
Should I use Plausible or Countly?
Countly is the free option; Plausible charges $9/mo but may offer more polish. Here is how they compare.
When should I choose Plausible over Countly?
Choose Plausible if You need a tool built for privacy-conscious sites that want simple, clean analytics; You specifically need Cookieless and Goal Tracking; You care about lightweight script under 1kb; Your team size fits the small teams profile Plausible is designed for.
When should I choose Countly over Plausible?
Choose Countly if You need a tool built for mobile app teams wanting open-source analytics; Budget is a hard constraint — Countly is free, Plausible is not; You specifically need Crash Reports and Mobile Analytics; You care about includes mobile analytics as a core feature, purpose-built for analytics workflows; Your team size fits the mid-size teams profile Countly is designed for.
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