Best Analytics & CDP (2026)
Ranked picks for analytics & cdp. No "it depends."
Fathom
Privacy analytics. Simpler than Plausible, less flexible.
Full Rankings
Privacy analytics. Simpler than Plausible, less flexible.
Why we picked it
Fathom is the simpler alternative to Plausible, with a cleaner dashboard and easier setup, but it sacrifices flexibility in data customization and integrations. It's the right choice if you want privacy-first analytics with minimal configuration, but Plausible offers more control and export options for the same price.
→ Use it when you need straightforward, privacy-focused analytics without complex setup and don't require advanced data manipulation or custom events.
Pros
- +Very simple
- +Privacy-first
- +Good support
Cons
- -Less features
- -Pricier
- -No self-host
Google Analytics for people who hate tracking, complexity, and privacy violations.
Why we picked it
Plausible is the only analytics tool that delivers meaningful traffic data without tracking individuals or slowing down your site. Its 1KB script beats Google Analytics on page speed, and the dashboard shows exactly what matters — pageviews, referrers, and goals — without any of the marketing fluff. Fathom is the closest competitor, but Plausible’s self-hosted option and open-source codebase give it the edge for teams that want full data control.
→ Use it when you need simple, privacy-first analytics that load fast, don't require cookie banners, and give you just enough data to make content decisions without drowning in vanity metrics.
Pros
- +Privacy-first
- +No cookies
- +Simple UI
- +EU-hosted option
- +Privacy-first design with no cookies or personal data collection
- +Lightweight and fast, adding minimal load to your site
- +Simple, intuitive dashboard that shows exactly what you need
- +Open-source and transparent, so you can self-host or audit the code
Cons
- -Less detailed
- -No funnels
- -Pricier for high traffic
- -Limited advanced features compared to giants like Google Analytics
- -Smaller ecosystem and fewer integrations with other tools
Head-to-head comparisons
Missing a tool?
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