Simple Analytics is a privacy-first web analytics solution designed as a robust alternative to Google Analytics. It caters to businesses and individuals who prioritize data privacy and strict compliance with global regulations such as GDPR, PECR, and CCPA.

Key Features

• Privacy protection is the core business model, ensuring no personal data is ever stored and eliminating the need for cookie banners.
• Offers a simple, intuitive UI for quick and easy access to essential website insights.
• Integrates AI chat functionality, allowing users to converse with their analytics data instead of digging through reports.
• Includes a comprehensive Goals-tracker and Events Explorer to monitor important conversions and user actions.
• Features a lightweight tracking script that enhances website speed and SEO performance.
• EU-based and hosted servers ensure data residency within the European Union, adhering to high privacy standards.

Use Cases

Simple Analytics is ideal for organizations committed to protecting their website visitors' privacy and navigating complex data protection laws. With regulatory bodies in countries like France and Austria already deeming Google Analytics non-compliant with GDPR, Simple Analytics provides a legally sound and ethical alternative. It empowers businesses to gather accurate website performance data without resorting to intrusive tracking methods, making it perfect for those who wish to avoid annoying cookie banners and uphold ethical data practices.

Beyond compliance, it's a powerful tool for understanding user behavior. Users can track specific events like downloads or outbound link clicks, monitor conversion funnels, and automate the sharing of performance reports via email, streamlining internal communication and decision-making processes.

Pricing Information

Simple Analytics offers a "Free forever" plan suitable for hobby projects, which includes tracking for up to 5 sites with a 30-day data history. For more extensive needs, paid plans are available: "Simple," "Team," and "Enterprise." Pricing scales with monthly pageviews, with options for monthly or annual billing (annual plans offer a discount equivalent to two months free). All new users can start with a 14-day free trial, no credit card required, to explore all features before committing to a plan.

User Experience and Support

The platform boasts a simple, easy-to-use dashboard that provides instant insights into visitor numbers, traffic sources, and on-site activities. The AI chat feature significantly simplifies data analysis, allowing users to ask questions and receive tailored insights. Support is available via email for paid plans, and the platform offers mobile accessibility through iPhone widgets and a dark mode for comfortable night-time use.

Technical Details

Simple Analytics is designed from the ground up to be privacy-friendly. It explicitly states that it never stores any personal data, IP addresses, or uses fingerprinting techniques, relying instead on browser referrers for unique visitor identification. All collected data, though minimal and non-personal, is encrypted both in transit and at rest. The company and its servers are based in the Netherlands, ensuring adherence to stringent EU privacy regulations and providing a secure physical location for data storage.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: 100% GDPR, PECR, and CCPA compliant by design; eliminates the need for cookie banners; privacy-first business model; intuitive and simple UI; AI-powered analytics insights; lightweight script improves website speed and SEO; EU-based and hosted servers; users retain full ownership of their data; accurate tracking (less affected by ad blockers).
• Cons: Requires a paid subscription for advanced features and longer data retention (though a free plan exists); specific deep customization options might differ from more complex tools like Google Analytics; the "unlimited pageviews" on the free plan is subject to a fair use policy.

Conclusion

Simple Analytics stands out as a leading ethical and compliant alternative for web analytics, providing essential insights without compromising visitor privacy. Its commitment to data protection, combined with a user-friendly interface and AI capabilities, makes it an excellent choice for any organization seeking accurate analytics in a privacy-conscious world. Explore Simple Analytics today to gain valuable data while respecting your users' rights.