Privacy-first web analytics
Fathom vs Simple Analytics: which should you use in 2026?
Updated
Key takeaways: Fathom vs Simple Analytics
Pick Fathom if…
- You run lots of sites — 50 included, pageviews shared across them.
- You want simple per-event values for conversions (e.g. revenue on a signup event).
- You want your full data history kept while subscribed.
- You're in North America and prefer a USD-priced Canadian vendor.
Pick Simple Analytics if…
- Data must stay in the EU at rest; Simple Analytics uses only EU subprocessors.
- You want to start free (5 sites, 30-day history).
- You want multi-step funnels and custom metadata on events.
- You want an AI assistant for your stats.
Fathom vs Simple Analytics at a glance
Facts from each vendor's public pages, checked October 2026.
| Feature | Fathom | Simple Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| Company | FathomCanadian; since 2018 | Simple AnalyticsDutch (Amsterdam); since 2018 |
| Price | FathomFrom $15/mo (100K pageviews) | Simple AnalyticsFree plan; paid from €20/mo (100K datapoints) |
| Trial | Fathom7 days, card required | Simple Analytics14 days, no card |
| Sites | Fathom50+ on every plan | Simple Analytics10 on self-serve plan (5 on free) |
| Seats | FathomFull user accounts in progress, per Fathom | Simple Analytics1 included; +€20/mo per user |
| Data location | FathomEU traffic anonymized on EU servers; stored on US infrastructure | Simple AnalyticsNetherlands and Germany only |
| Cookies / consent | FathomNo cookies | Simple AnalyticsNo cookies |
| Events | FathomName + value; no custom properties | Simple AnalyticsEvents with metadata; automated events |
| Funnels | FathomNo | Simple AnalyticsYes (built on goals) |
| Search Console | FathomYes | Simple AnalyticsNot found in docs |
| Open source | FathomNo | Simple AnalyticsNo (scripts MIT) |
Fathom vs Simple Analytics for GDPR
Both are cookie-free and say they need no consent banner. The difference is location. Simple Analytics keeps analytics data in the EU using only EU subprocessors. Fathom routes EU visitors through an EU CDN to EU servers, strips the IP, and stores the anonymized result on US infrastructure; its view is that this data is no longer personal. If your procurement checklist asks "is analytics data stored in the EU?", Simple Analytics answers yes outright.
Fathom vs Simple Analytics pricing at three traffic levels
Monthly billing as of October 2026 (Fathom in USD by pageviews; Simple Analytics in EUR by datapoints):
| Monthly traffic | ≤ 100K/mo | 1M/mo | 10M/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fathom | ≤ 100K/mo: $15 | 1M/mo: $60 | 10M/mo: $200 |
| Simple Analytics | ≤ 100K/mo: €0 (free, fair use) · €20 | 1M/mo: €60 | 10M/mo: €160 |
Both give two months free on yearly billing. Fathom's price includes 50 sites; Simple Analytics' self-serve plan includes 10 sites and one user.
Setting up Fathom vs Simple Analytics
Both are a single script with plugins or guides for WordPress, Webflow, Ghost, Next.js, Nuxt and Tag Manager. Both import GA4 history (Simple Analytics imports pageview-level data but not events). Simple Analytics offers a data proxy (to reduce ad-blocker loss) on its Enterprise plan.
Fathom vs Simple Analytics: events, funnels and reporting
Both dashboards fit on one screen, but they go to different depths once you track more than pageviews. Fathom keeps events deliberately simple: an event has a name and an optional value, which works well for counting signups or summing order values, but you can't break events down by properties such as plan or button. It adds milestones (annotations), saved views, shared dashboards (public or password-protected), unlimited email reports, bot filtering, an API and CSV export.
Simple Analytics lets you attach metadata to events, build multi-step funnels on top of goals, and capture some events automatically (outbound links, downloads, email clicks). It also has annotations, email reports, embeddable charts and an AI assistant that answers questions about your stats. Its raw-data Export API is listed on Enterprise rather than the self-serve plan.
- Need per-event properties or funnels? Simple Analytics.
- Need one plan across dozens of client sites? Fathom.
- Need data at rest strictly in the EU? Simple Analytics.
- Need Google Search Console data in the dashboard? Fathom.
Who each one is for
Fathom suits agencies, freelancers and portfolio owners with many sites who want one plan. Simple Analytics suits EU organizations with strict vendor rules, and small sites that want to start free.
Switching between Fathom and Simple Analytics
No direct importer exists between them. Both export CSV and both import GA4. Run both scripts for a few weeks, re-create goals and events, then remove the old one.
Fathom vs Simple Analytics: frequently asked questions
Is Fathom or Simple Analytics cheaper?
For one small site, Simple Analytics (free plan). For many sites, Fathom, since $15/mo covers 50 sites; Simple Analytics' paid plan covers 10.
Does Fathom store data in the EU?
Partly. Fathom processes EU visitors on EU servers and strips IPs there, but stores the anonymized data on US infrastructure. Simple Analytics stores data in the EU only.
Does Fathom have funnels?
No, Fathom doesn't offer funnels as of October 2026. Simple Analytics offers multi-step funnels built on goals.
Do Fathom and Simple Analytics need cookie banners?
Both say no, since neither uses cookies or collects personal data.
Which has a free plan?
Simple Analytics, with 5 websites and 30 days of history. Fathom has only a 7-day trial that requires a card.
Can I add teammates?
Simple Analytics charges €20/mo per extra user. Fathom says fully functional user accounts are still in progress, though shared dashboards are available.
Sources and methodology
Prices and features were checked on each vendor's public pages in October 2026. Vendors change plans often — confirm on the official pricing page before you buy. VisitTrack publishes this comparison and competes with some of these tools; we have no affiliate relationship with either vendor.
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