Are you frustrated with Google Analytics, especially GA4? I’ve been there too. It’s confusing, and the stats often don’t feel right. So, I decided to look for better options. After testing several tools, here are my top 5 picks (in no particular order), along with my honest thoughts.
Table of Contents
1. Plausible IO
After trying several tools, Plausible became my favorite. It’s a paid tool, but the pricing is reasonable. If your website gets up to 150,000 pageviews, you’ll pay about €25/month (~$27). Websites with fewer than 75,000 pageviews pay even less. They also offer a discount for yearly payments.
What I love about Plausible:
- The stats are clear and structured, like the old Google Analytics (UA).
- Real-time data updates work perfectly, just like GA/UA.
- Small stats difference compared to GA/UA. GA4 always gave me strange numbers.
- The dashboard is fantastic. It’s so easy to find every stat you need within seconds. Once I got used to it, I could navigate faster than with GA/UA.
- Privacy-focused: No cookies, no personal data collection, and everything is stored in Europe. It’s fully GDPR-compliant.
- The script is lightweight, which is great if you’re running it alongside GA4.
- Their support team is amazing. I always got a reply within minutes.
Downsides:
- No mobile app. But I got creative and used a dedicated browser (Firefox) to check my stats. It works like a mobile app when you add a shortcut to your home screen.
- If you were a stats junkie like me, you might start checking your numbers every 20 minutes again! 😉
Verdict: Plausible is one of the most powerful alternatives to Google Analytics. You can start with their 30-day free trial (no credit card needed), and chances are you'll want to switch to their yearly plan just like many others. Once you get used to it, you’ll likely find yourself rarely needing to touch the GA4 dashboard again.
2. Piwik Pro
Piwik Pro is a great free option for smaller websites. It’s free if you don’t exceed 400,000 actions per month (around 250,000–350,000 pageviews).
What I liked:
- It’s highly customizable. You can adjust settings like whether cookies are used.
- They offer a lightweight tracking script, which keeps your site fast.
- Ideal for those looking for a solid free alternative.
Verdict: If you’re on a budget, Piwik Pro is a solid choice. Just avoid their bulky script and opt for the lightweight one instead.
3. Clicky
Clicky is a reliable option for real-time analytics. It’s been around for years and focuses on detailed, live visitor data.
What’s good:
- Excellent real-time tracking features.
- Easy to see what’s happening on your site at any moment.
What’s not so good:
- The interface looks a bit old-fashioned compared to newer tools like Plausible.
Verdict: If you’re into real-time tracking and don’t mind a dated interface, Clicky is worth exploring.
4. Fathom Analytics
Fathom is another privacy-friendly analytics tool that keeps things simple. It’s not free, but it offers transparent pricing and a clean interface.
Highlights:
- Focused on simplicity and ease of use.
- Privacy-first design, similar to Plausible.
Verdict: I liked Plausible’s dashboard and features more but if you’re after a straightforward tool, Fathom is a great choice.
5. Matomo
Matomo is one of the most popular Google Analytics alternatives, but it wasn’t for me.
What I liked:
- Tons of features and flexibility.
- A mobile app (though I didn’t enjoy using it).
What I didn’t like:
- It reminded me too much of GA4. The stats weren’t as straightforward as I wanted.
- It’s expensive. For my site with 120,000 monthly pageviews, I would’ve had to pay €60/month. That was just too much for my budget.
Verdict: Matomo is powerful, but it’s better suited for larger websites with bigger budgets.
Final Thoughts
Considering all the pros and cons, Plausible IO seems to be a clear winner, followed closely by Piwik Pro for its free tier and flexibility. Plausible stands out for its simplicity, real-time stats, privacy compliance, and reasonable pricing. Piwik Pro, on the other hand, offers a great free option for smaller websites and is highly configurable.
Ultimately, the right choice depends on your website’s needs and budget. If you’re unsure, start with a free trial or a free tier to see what works best for you. Once you find a tool that fits, analytics will become a valuable asset rather than a burden. Happy tracking! 😊
About the Author:
Atanu Das is a professional content writer who is actively writing SEO-optimized content. For the last four years, he has been writing creative content on WordPress, WooCommerce, Google Merchant, eCommerce, and other topics. He is currently working as a content writer at Webappick - a giant WordPress Plugin development company.