If you write a blog or run a static site, you’ve probably wondered if you really need Google Analytics. It’s heavy, it tracks everything, and let’s face it—it feels like inviting a surveillance van to your homepage. The good news? There are simpler, friendlier tools out there.
TL;DR: Want private, fast analytics for your blog or static website? Ditch Google Analytics. Try these minimalist platforms that respect privacy, load lightning fast, and are easy to set up. Writers, indie developers, and privacy-first site owners love them!
Why Minimal Analytics?
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Most blogs and simple websites don’t need deep marketing funnels or complex user flows. You probably just want to know:
- How many people visit your site
- Which pages they read the most
- Where they’re coming from
- What kind of magic made that one post go viral
For that, you don’t need a 30MB tracking script or twenty required cookie banners.
Here’s where minimalist, privacy-focused analytics come in. They gather just the data you actually need. They’re lightweight, cookieless, and often GDPR compliant by default. Let’s jump into the four best platforms out there.
1. Plausible Analytics
Who’s it for: Bloggers, indie makers, and anyone tired of cookie banners.
What makes it awesome:
- No cookies or tracking consent required
- Open-source and transparent
- Hosted in the EU → great for GDPR compliance
- Only 1 KB script (yes, really!)
Plausible is clean and simple. The dashboard is beautiful and easy to understand at a glance. You can see where people are coming from, what they’re reading, and how they found you—all without creepy tracking.
It integrates smoothly into any site. Just drop a small script into your site’s HTML, and you’re set.
Bonus: It lets you block known bots so your stats stay clean.
Try it at: plausible.io
2. Fathom Analytics
Who’s it for: Businesses, bloggers, and folks who want analytics without selling their soul.
What makes it awesome:
- Cookie-free and GDPR, CCPA, PECR compliant
- Very fast — loads in milliseconds
- A simple dashboard that tracks only the essentials
- Let’s you ignore spam referrers easily
Fathom is all about simplicity meets performance. It was built by indie developers fed up with bloated tools. You can even set it up to forward your data through EU servers to stay totally compliant with European privacy laws.
Image not found in postmetaPlus, the founders are vocal advocates for ethical tech. You get useful stats, and your users aren’t tracked all over the web. Win-win.
Try it at: usefathom.com
3. GoatCounter
Who’s it for: Developers, hobbyists, and open-source lovers.
What makes it awesome:
- Totally open-source and self-hostable
- Optional hosted version (with a generous free tier)
- Text-based dashboard—super lightweight
- Privacy-friendly and doesn’t require cookies
GoatCounter stands out with its no-nonsense approach. It doesn’t bother with flashy graphs or marketing fluff. Just simple numbers, clean tables, and zero fat. If you use Hugo, Jekyll, or Eleventy, you’ll love it.
You can self-host it or use their hosted version, which is free for personal use or donations welcome. That’s part of its charm—it’s made by a single dev, not a VC-funded startup.
Try it at: goatcounter.com
4. Umami
Who’s it for: Tech-savvy users who want full control without the bloat.
What makes it awesome:
- Fully open-source, MIT licensed
- Beautiful dashboard UI
- Designed for self-hosting (though cloud options exist)
- Fast and cookieless
Umami is a favorite among developers comfortable running their own servers. If you’ve already got a VPS or use services like Vercel, setting it up is a breeze using Docker.
It packs a clean, modern dashboard that’s surprisingly elegant. Great for people who like GitHub, terminal commands, and total control.
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Bonus: It supports multiple sites and users under one install.
Try it at: umami.is
How to Choose?
All four of these platforms are excellent. The right one depends on your preferences:
| Platform | Self-Hosting | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plausible | Optional | Yes | Writers, bloggers |
| Fathom | No | No | Small businesses, marketers |
| GoatCounter | Yes | Yes | Hackers, indie devs |
| Umami | Yes (recommended) | Yes | Tech-savvy DIYers |
You Probably Don’t Need Google Analytics
Unless you’re running a high-scale SaaS with churn models and conversion funnels and A/B tests, skip the monster tools. For most personal sites and blogs, Google Analytics is overkill.
These minimalist platforms give you back control, keep your site fast, and respect your readers’ privacy. Your bounce rate might even decrease just because your site loads faster!
And in case you’re wondering—yes, they can all track basic goals or events too. So you won’t be left guessing when someone clicks that newsletter link.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, keeping it simple is often smarter. These platforms strip analytics down to their core. You get:
- Speed
- Simplicity
- Privacy
- Peace of mind
So pick one, set it up in 5 minutes, and get back to writing, coding, or being awesome.
No more cookie popups. No more selling user data. Just good, clean stats.
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