Umami vs Simple Analytics
Umami is open-source, privacy-focused web analytics you can self-host, while Simple Analytics is privacy-first analytics that doesn't track users or use cookies. The biggest difference up front: Umami is free, while Simple Analytics starts at $9/mo. Umami is built for developers who want free, self-hosted, privacy-first analytics, whereas Simple Analytics targets privacy-conscious teams wanting ethical analytics.
| Feature | Umami | Simple Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | ✓ | — |
| Open source | ✓ | — |
| Cookieless | ✓ | — |
| Custom Events | ✓ | — |
| Events | — | ✓ |
| GDPR Compliant | — | ✓ |
| Goals | — | ✓ |
| No Cookies | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✓ | — |
| Real-Time Dashboard | ✓ | — |
| Self-Hosted | ✓ | — |
Pricing: Umami is completely free, which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Simple Analytics 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: Umami offers Cookieless, Custom Events and Open Source that Simple Analytics lacks. Simple Analytics brings Events, GDPR Compliant and Goals that Umami does not have.
Team fit: Umami is geared toward individual users and small setups, while Simple Analytics is aimed at small 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: Umami is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. Simple Analytics is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.
Where each tool shines: Umami's biggest strengths are: free and open source. easy to self-host (docker, vercel, railway). Simple Analytics's biggest strengths are: includes no cookies as a core feature, purpose-built for analytics workflows. includes gdpr compliant as a core feature, purpose-built for analytics workflows.
Watch out for: With Umami, users commonly note that requires self-hosting for free use. With Simple Analytics, the main complaint is that no free plan — you need to pay $9/mo from day one to use it.
choose Umami if
- Your profile matches its sweet spot: developers who want free, self-hosted, privacy-first analytics
- Budget is a hard constraint — Umami is free, Simple Analytics is not
- You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
- You specifically need Cookieless and Custom Events
- You care about easy to self-host (docker, vercel, railway)
choose Simple Analytics if
- You need a tool built for privacy-conscious teams wanting ethical analytics
- You specifically need Events and GDPR Compliant
- You care about includes gdpr compliant as a core feature, purpose-built for analytics workflows
- Your team size fits the small teams profile Simple Analytics is designed for
frequently asked
What is the difference between Umami and Simple Analytics?
Umami is open-source, privacy-focused web analytics you can self-host, while Simple Analytics is privacy-first analytics that doesn't track users or use cookies. The biggest difference up front: Umami is free, while Simple Analytics starts at $9/mo. Umami is built for developers who want free, self-hosted, privacy-first analytics, whereas Simple Analytics targets privacy-conscious teams wanting ethical analytics.
Should I use Umami or Simple Analytics?
Umami is the free option; Simple Analytics charges $9/mo but may offer more polish. Here is how they compare.
When should I choose Umami over Simple Analytics?
Choose Umami if Your profile matches its sweet spot: developers who want free, self-hosted, privacy-first analytics; Budget is a hard constraint — Umami is free, Simple Analytics is not; You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code; You specifically need Cookieless and Custom Events; You care about easy to self-host (docker, vercel, railway).
When should I choose Simple Analytics over Umami?
Choose Simple Analytics if You need a tool built for privacy-conscious teams wanting ethical analytics; You specifically need Events and GDPR Compliant; You care about includes gdpr compliant as a core feature, purpose-built for analytics workflows; Your team size fits the small teams profile Simple Analytics is designed for.
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