Plausible vs Fathom
Plausible is privacy-friendly, lightweight web analytics. No cookies, GDPR-compliant out of the box, while Fathom is simple, privacy-focused website analytics. GDPR, CCPA, and PECR compliant. Plausible comes in cheaper, but price alone does not tell the full story. Plausible is built for privacy-conscious sites that want simple, clean analytics, whereas Fathom targets businesses that want simple analytics without privacy headaches.
| Feature | Plausible | Fathom |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | — | — |
| Open source | ✓ | — |
| Cookieless | ✓ | ✓ |
| EU Isolation | — | ✓ |
| Event Tracking | — | ✓ |
| Goal Tracking | ✓ | — |
| Lightweight Script | ✓ | — |
| Privacy First | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self-Hosted | ✓ | — |
| Uptime Monitoring | — | ✓ |
Pricing: Plausible starts at $9/mo. Fathom starts at $14/mo. Plausible is the more affordable option.
Feature gaps: Plausible offers Goal Tracking, Lightweight Script and Self-Hosted that Fathom lacks. Fathom brings EU Isolation, Event Tracking and Uptime Monitoring that Plausible does not have. Both share Cookieless and Privacy First.
Team fit: Plausible is geared toward small teams teams, while Fathom is aimed at individual users and small setups. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.
Open source: Plausible is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. Fathom is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.
Where each tool shines: Plausible's biggest strengths are: privacy-first — no cookies, no consent banners needed. lightweight script under 1kb. Fathom's biggest strengths are: privacy-compliant out of the box. simple, one-page dashboard.
Watch out for: With Plausible, users commonly note that much less feature-rich than google analytics. With Fathom, the main complaint is that more expensive than plausible.
choose Plausible if
- You need a tool built for privacy-conscious sites that want simple, clean analytics
- You want to save on per-user costs — Plausible is $5.00/user/mo cheaper
- You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
- You specifically need Goal Tracking and Lightweight Script
- You care about lightweight script under 1kb
choose Fathom if
- Your profile matches its sweet spot: businesses that want simple analytics without privacy headaches
- You specifically need EU Isolation and Event Tracking
- You care about simple, one-page dashboard
- Your team size fits the individuals profile Fathom is designed for
frequently asked
What is the difference between Plausible and Fathom?
Plausible is privacy-friendly, lightweight web analytics. No cookies, GDPR-compliant out of the box, while Fathom is simple, privacy-focused website analytics. GDPR, CCPA, and PECR compliant. Plausible comes in cheaper, but price alone does not tell the full story. Plausible is built for privacy-conscious sites that want simple, clean analytics, whereas Fathom targets businesses that want simple analytics without privacy headaches.
Should I use Plausible or Fathom?
Plausible gives you open source and self-hosting; Fathom is a managed service. Which trade-off works for you?
When should I choose Plausible over Fathom?
Choose Plausible if You need a tool built for privacy-conscious sites that want simple, clean analytics; You want to save on per-user costs — Plausible is $5.00/user/mo cheaper; You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code; You specifically need Goal Tracking and Lightweight Script; You care about lightweight script under 1kb.
When should I choose Fathom over Plausible?
Choose Fathom if Your profile matches its sweet spot: businesses that want simple analytics without privacy headaches; You specifically need EU Isolation and Event Tracking; You care about simple, one-page dashboard; Your team size fits the individuals profile Fathom is designed for.
related comparisons
Google Analytics vs Plausible · Plausible vs Umami · Plausible vs PostHog · Plausible vs Mixpanel · Plausible vs Amplitude · Plausible vs Hotjar · Plausible vs Heap · Plausible vs Pirsch