AAltSwitch

Directory/Google Analytics

Best Google Analytics alternatives

GA4 is free but privacy-heavy and complex. Privacy-first and self-hosted analytics are the top switches for indie hackers and EU sites.

6 alternatives

Plausible

Paid

Lightweight, privacy-friendly analytics — no cookies needed.

Pros

  • Privacy-first, no cookies
  • Tiny script
  • Simple dashboard

Cons

  • Less deep than GA4 explorers
  • Paid (no huge free cloud)
  • Fewer marketing funnels

Best for: Indie hackers and EU sites that want simple ethical analytics.

Pricing notes: Paid cloud by pageviews; self-host CE available.

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Umami

Open Source

Simple, fast, open-source web analytics.

Pros

  • Simple OSS analytics
  • Easy self-host
  • Privacy friendly

Cons

  • Fewer advanced reports
  • You run the box
  • Cloud is newer

Best for: Devs who want GA-lite they can deploy in minutes.

Pricing notes: OSS free; Umami Cloud paid. Self-host = VPS cost.

Self-host tip: spin up containers on Railway or DigitalOcean (our referral links).

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Matomo

Open Source

Full-featured open-source analytics you own.

Pros

  • GA-depth on your infra
  • Privacy controls
  • Plugins/marketplace

Cons

  • Heavier to run
  • UI denser
  • Plugin costs possible

Best for: Orgs needing serious analytics with data ownership.

Pricing notes: OSS On-Premise free; Matomo Cloud paid. Some plugins paid.

Self-host tip: spin up containers on Railway or DigitalOcean (our referral links).

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Fathom

Paid

Simple privacy-first analytics with a clean dashboard.

Pros

  • Dead-simple privacy analytics
  • Fast UI
  • Cookie-free positioning

Cons

  • Paid only (cloud)
  • Limited advanced analysis
  • Less customizable than OSS

Best for: Agencies/sites that want Plausible-like simplicity with Fathom brand.

Pricing notes: Paid by pageviews; no free forever cloud tier.

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PostHog

Freemium

Product analytics, feature flags, and session replay in one.

Pros

  • Product analytics + flags + replay
  • Generous free cloud
  • Self-host option

Cons

  • Broader than “web stats”
  • Can be overwhelming
  • Resource-heavy if self-hosted

Best for: Product teams replacing GA + separate event tools.

Pricing notes: Generous free tier then usage-based; OSS self-host possible.

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GoatCounter

Open Source

Simple open-source web statistics, privacy-friendly.

Pros

  • Ultra-simple privacy stats
  • OSS
  • Low overhead

Cons

  • Minimal feature set
  • Not product analytics
  • Sparse UI

Best for: Personal blogs and tiny sites that just need counts.

Pricing notes: Free for non-commercial; paid/commercial and self-host options.

Self-host tip: spin up containers on Railway or DigitalOcean (our referral links).

Visit website →

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