EU-hosted analytics, without visitor tracking
Fathom is a simple, privacy-friendly analytics tool, but it is hosted outside the EU and uses identifiers to recognize visitors. Simple Analytics is EU-hosted and avoids visitor identifiers entirely.
No credit card required EU-hosted, no tracking
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At first glance, the dashboards look similar
Both tools give you simple website analytics. The difference is where your data is hosted and whether visitors are identified underneath.
Both are simple dashboards
Page views, sources, top pages, devices, countries. The essentials on one screen.
Both are privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternatives
No ads business. No behavioral profiles. Just website analytics.
The real difference is EU hosting and visitor identification
Hosting affects jurisdiction. Visitor identification affects what privacy questions you need to answer. For EU teams, both can matter.
Why EU teams choose Simple Analytics over Fathom
Similar simplicity, but with EU hosting, no visitor identifiers, and a stricter privacy model.
EU-hosted by design
Your analytics data is processed and stored in the European Union.
No visitor identifiers
We do not identify returning visitors, even with hashed identifiers or rolling windows.
No personal data collection
We avoid collecting personal data instead of collecting and transforming it.
Easier compliance conversations
Easier to explain to legal, clients, procurement, or privacy teams.
Clearer data handling
Clearer answers on where data is hosted, what is collected, and whether visitors are identified.
Same simplicity, stricter privacy model
A simple dashboard with EU hosting, no visitor identifiers, and no personal data collection behind it.
EU hosting changes the compliance conversation
For EU companies, agencies, and compliance-sensitive teams, where analytics data is hosted affects vendor reviews, client questions, and legal comfort.
Fathom
Hosted outside the EU
- Tracks users using identifiers
- Processes user-related data
- Hosted outside the European Union
- Data processed in non-EU jurisdictions
Hosted in the EU
- Does not track users
- Does not store personal data
- Hosted in the EU
- Data is processed and stored in the European Union
Visitor identifiers vs no visitor identifiers
Fathom uses identifiers to recognize visitors. Simple Analytics avoids visitor identifiers entirely, which makes the privacy model easier to explain and approve.
Fathom vs Simple Analytics
Where the two tools differ on hosting, visitor identifiers, and compliance simplicity.
| Fathom | Simple Analytics | |
|---|---|---|
| EU-hostedWhere analytics data is processed and stored | ✓ | |
| Data jurisdictionWhich jurisdiction applies to analytics data | Non-EU | EU |
| EU compliance postureGDPR alignment by default | ✓ | |
| Recognizes returning visitorsUses identifiers to recognize visitors | ✓ | |
| Collects or transforms personal dataHashed identifiers can still create privacy questions | ✓ | |
| Visitor identifiersWhether the tool uses identifiers to recognize visitors | Identifier-based | None |
| Ease of useSimple dashboard for website analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lightweight scriptSmall script for fast page loads | ✓ | ✓ |
If EU hosting is not important for your team, Fathom can be a good fit. If you need EU-hosted analytics without visitor identifiers, Simple Analytics is the clearer choice.
Which privacy and hosting model fits your team?
Both tools are simple and privacy-friendly. The difference is whether EU hosting and avoiding visitor identifiers matter for your team.
Choose Simple Analytics
- You need analytics data hosted in the EU
- You want a privacy model that is easy to explain to legal, clients, or procurement
- You want analytics without visitor identifiers
- You want to avoid collecting personal data altogether
- You want clear answers on hosting, data handling, and visitor identification
- You want fewer grey areas in privacy reviews
Choose Fathom
- EU data hosting is not important for your team
- You are comfortable with analytics data being hosted outside the EU
- You are comfortable with visitor identifiers
- You prefer Fathom’s product, pricing, or ecosystem
EU-hosted analytics, without tracking
EU-hosted. No tracking. No personal data.
Start for freeEU-hosted No tracking No credit card
Frequently asked questions
How is Simple Analytics different from Fathom?
Both tools offer simple, privacy-focused dashboards. The differences are tracking and hosting. Fathom uses identifiers to recognize visitors and is hosted outside the EU. Simple Analytics doesn’t identify users at all and runs entirely on European-owned infrastructure.
Isn’t Fathom already privacy-friendly?
Fathom is more privacy-friendly than traditional analytics, but it still processes user-related data through identifiers. Under GDPR, that’s still personal data. Simple Analytics avoids that category entirely.
Why does EU hosting matter?
Where your data is stored determines which laws apply. Hosting outside the EU brings in US data regulations and opens questions like Schrems II. EU hosting on European-owned infrastructure removes those questions for European companies.
What does ‘no tracking’ actually mean?
We don’t store IPs, we don’t hash them, we don’t generate visitor identifiers, and we don’t recognize returning visitors. Each pageview is independent.
Do I lose features by switching?
The core feature set is similar: pageviews, sources, top pages, devices, countries, events, and goals. You also get raw data access and EU-hosted infrastructure.
Where is my data stored?
All data is processed and stored within the European Union, on European-owned infrastructure. We don’t use US cloud providers.
Can I import my Fathom data?
We don’t have a one-click Fathom import yet. You can export your historical data from Fathom and contact support to discuss bringing it into Simple Analytics.
How does the script size compare?
Both tools ship a lightweight script. The performance difference is minimal. The data model and hosting are where the two diverge.
Can I try it for free?
Yes. We offer a 14-day free trial with no credit card required, plus a free plan for small personal projects.