GoatCounter vs Plausible — Which One Wins?
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of GoatCounter and Plausible to help you pick the right tool for your workflow.
Quick Verdict
Plausible takes the lead with a 4.5 rating and is best for privacy-conscious websites that want essential analytics without cookies or consent banners.. GoatCounter (4.0) is the better pick if you need personal sites and blogs wanting free, simple analytics.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | GoatCounter | Plausible |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★★★★ 4.0(19) | ★★★★★ 4.5(145) |
| Pricing Model | open-source | paid |
| Starter Price | $15/mo (commercial) | $9/mo (up to 10K monthly visitors) |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | web | web |
| Learning Curve | easy | easy |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Personal sites and blogs wanting free, simple analytics | Privacy-conscious websites that want essential analytics without cookies or consent banners. |
| Verdict | situational | recommended |
Feature Checklist
| Feature | GoatCounter | Plausible |
|---|---|---|
| Page view tracking | — | |
| Referrer data | — | |
| No cookies | — | |
| Self-hostable | — | |
| Custom events | — | |
| Cookie-free analytics | — | |
| GDPR/CCPA compliant by default | — | |
| Under 1KB script size | — | |
| Single-page dashboard | — | |
| Open source and self-hostable | — | |
| Goal and event tracking | — |
GoatCounter
Pros
- ✓Free for non-commercial use
- ✓Extremely lightweight
- ✓No cookies or tracking
Cons
- ✕Very minimal features
- ✕No custom events
- ✕Basic referrer data only
Plausible
Pros
- ✓No cookies, no consent banners — privacy by default
- ✓Lightest analytics script at under 1KB
- ✓Single-page dashboard shows essential metrics clearly
Cons
- ✕Much less capable than GA4 for marketing analytics
- ✕No audience building or remarketing integrations
- ✕Paid cloud hosting required (self-hosting is free)
The Bottom Line
Both GoatCounter and Plausible are solid tools in the Analytics & Data space. Plausible edges ahead with a stronger overall rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and is the better choice for privacy-conscious websites that want essential analytics without cookies or consent banners.. However, if you prioritize personal sites and blogs wanting free, simple analytics, GoatCounter is worth serious consideration. We recommend trying the free tier or trial of each before committing.