8 Best Website Analytics Tools Beyond Google Analytics in 2026
We tested 15+ analytics platforms to find the best alternatives to Google Analytics. Whether you need privacy compliance, simpler insights, or advanced features GA4 lacks, these tools offer compelling alternatives.
Plausible is the privacy-focused analytics leader. No cookies means no consent banners. The script is tiny and fast. The dashboard is beautifully simple. Self-host option available. Perfect for those who want analytics that respect visitors.
Starting price$9/mo
Strengths
No cookies
GDPR compliant
Tiny script
Simple dashboard
Self-host option
Limitations
Less detailed
No funnels
Limited segments
Basic features
Who it's for: Best for privacy-conscious websites wanting simple analytics.
Fathom offers beautiful, simple analytics with privacy at the core. The dashboard is a joy to use. EU-isolated data hosting available. Fast script that does not slow your site. Great for indie makers and small teams.
Starting price$14/mo
Strengths
Beautiful UI
Privacy-first
Fast
Simple
EU hosting
Limitations
Limited features
No product analytics
Basic only
Higher price
Who it's for: Best for makers wanting beautiful, simple, private analytics.
Mixpanel is the leader in event-based product analytics. Track user actions and build funnels. Cohort analysis shows user behavior over time. The free tier is generous. Essential for SaaS products wanting to understand user behavior.
Starting priceFree tier
Strengths
Event tracking
Funnels
Cohorts
Free tier
Product focus
Limitations
Complex setup
Learning curve
Not privacy-first
Can get expensive
Who it's for: Best for SaaS products wanting deep behavioral analytics.
Matomo is the closest GA alternative you can self-host. Full-featured analytics with 100% data ownership. GDPR compliant when self-hosted. The cloud version costs more but requires no maintenance. Best for those leaving GA but wanting similar features.
Starting priceFree
Strengths
Full-featured
Self-hosted option
Data ownership
GDPR ready
Free tier
Limitations
Dated UI
Resource heavy
Complex self-host
Learning curve
Who it's for: Best for those wanting a full GA replacement with data ownership.
PostHog is an open-source product analytics suite. Session recordings show exactly what users do. Feature flags enable experimentation. Self-host for complete control. The all-in-one approach means fewer tools to manage.
Starting priceFree tier
Strengths
Open source
Session replay
Feature flags
Self-host
All-in-one
Limitations
Complex
Resource intensive
Learning curve
Can be slow
Who it's for: Best for developers wanting open-source product analytics.
Amplitude is enterprise product analytics with experimentation. Behavioral analytics at scale. A/B testing and feature experimentation built in. The free tier is generous for startups. Often the choice as companies scale past Mixpanel.
Starting priceFree tier
Strengths
Enterprise scale
Experiments
Behavioral
Good free tier
Advanced
Limitations
Complex
Enterprise pricing
Steep learning curve
Overkill for small sites
Who it's for: Best for enterprises needing advanced product analytics.
Heap automatically captures every user interaction. No need to define events upfront. Retroactively analyze any action. Great for teams that do not know what to track yet. The auto-capture is genuinely powerful.
Starting priceFree tier
Strengths
Auto-capture
Retroactive
No setup needed
Product analytics
Good free tier
Limitations
Data volume
Can be slow
Privacy concerns
Complex queries
Who it's for: Best for teams wanting to capture everything automatically.
Simple Analytics is the most minimal option available. Just pageviews, referrers, and device stats. No tracking, no cookies, no consent needed. The dashboard fits on one screen. For those who want the absolute minimum.
Starting price$9/mo
Strengths
Most minimal
Privacy-first
No cookies
Fast
Clean
Limitations
Very basic
No events
Limited insights
Simple only
Who it's for: Best for those wanting absolute minimum analytics.
Ease of Use (15%) — Dashboard clarity and learning curve.
Pricing (15%) — Value for the features and traffic limits.
How to Choose
Choose Plausible if you need privacy + simplicity.
Choose Fathom if you need beautiful dashboard.
Choose Mixpanel if you need product analytics.
Choose Matomo if you need full GA replacement.
Choose PostHog if you need developer-focused.
Common Questions
Privacy concerns with sending data to Google. GDPR complexity requiring consent banners. GA4 learning curve frustrating many users. Wanting data ownership and simplicity. These tools offer alternatives for each concern.
Yes, but often that is enough. Cookie-free tools miss some returning visitor data. However, they typically capture 95%+ of pageviews accurately. For most sites, privacy analytics provide all the insights needed.
Often yes. Use a privacy-focused tool for general traffic and a product analytics tool for user behavior. This gives you simple insights without consent banners plus deep product understanding where users opted in.
