Plausible is privacy-friendly. We go one step further.
Plausible counts visitors with a hashed identifier that resets every 24 hours. Simple Analytics does not create visitor identifiers at all, so your analytics is easier to explain, audit, and approve.
No credit card required No tracking, ever
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At first glance, they look the same
Both tools give you a simple analytics dashboard. The difference is not what the dashboard looks like. It is how the data is collected underneath.
Both have simple dashboards
Page views, sources, top pages, devices, countries. The essentials on one screen.
Both are alternatives to Google Analytics
No ads business, no behavioral profiles fed back into a marketing graph. Just website analytics.
Both are privacy-friendly
Plausible is a strong privacy-friendly analytics tool. Simple Analytics takes a stricter approach by avoiding visitor identifiers entirely.
The difference is how visitors are counted
Plausible derives a daily identifier from the IP address, User-Agent, site, and a salt that rotates every 24 hours. Simple Analytics does not derive a visitor identifier at all.
Why teams choose Simple Analytics over Plausible
Same simple dashboard, stricter data model. No visitor identifiers, not even daily ones.
No visitor identifiers
We do not derive an identifier from the IP address or User-Agent, not even one that resets daily. Session starts are calculated from the context of each pageview instead.
IP addresses are dropped
IP addresses are dropped, not stored or hashed into an identifier.
Easier privacy reviews
Fewer grey areas when legal, clients, or procurement ask how analytics data is collected.
Raw data access
Use the dashboard for simple reporting, or export raw data when you need more flexibility.
Clearer privacy story
No cookies, no identifiers, no personal data. Easier to explain internally and externally.
Hashed identifiers vs no identifiers
Plausible’s daily hashing is a real privacy improvement over persistent cookies. Simple Analytics skips the identifier step entirely.
Plausible
Counts visitors with a daily hashed identifier
- Derives an identifier from IP address, User-Agent, site, and a daily salt
- The salt rotates every 24 hours, so the identifier does not persist across days
- Recognizes repeat pageviews from the same visitor within a day
- Aggregated API access
No tracking, no personal data
- Does not derive visitor identifiers
- Does not store or hash IP addresses
- Calculates session starts from pageview context
- Aggregated dashboard plus raw data access
Plausible describes its daily identifier in its data policy. How Simple Analytics calculates sessions without any identifier is explained in Sessions without consent.
Side by side: Plausible vs Simple Analytics
Where the two tools differ. A daily identifier on one side, no identifier on the other.
| Plausible | Simple Analytics | |
|---|---|---|
| Recognizes repeat visits within a dayPlausible: through a daily hashed identifier. Simple Analytics: no identifier; session starts are calculated from the referrer of each pageview | ✓ | |
| Recognizes visitors across daysNeither tool creates a persistent identifier | ||
| Uses hashed identifiersPlausible hashes IP address and User-Agent with a salt that rotates every 24 hours. Raw values are not stored | ✓ | |
| Uses the IP address as analytics inputPlausible hashes it into the daily identifier. Simple Analytics drops it | ✓ | |
| Visitor identifiersPlausible: daily, hashed. Simple Analytics: none | Daily, hashed | None |
| Raw data accessBeyond aggregated dashboards | ✓ | |
| Cookie-free by default | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lightweight script | ✓ | ✓ |
| Event and goal tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | ✓ |
Comfortable with a daily hashed identifier and want open source? Plausible fits. Want no visitor identifiers at all? Simple Analytics is the stricter choice.
Which privacy model fits your team?
Both tools are privacy-friendly. The difference is whether a hashed identifier that resets every 24 hours is acceptable to you, or you want to avoid visitor identifiers entirely.
Choose Simple Analytics
- You want analytics without visitor identifiers
- You want to avoid collecting personal data altogether
- You need a privacy model that is easy to explain to legal, clients, or procurement
- You want raw data access alongside a simple dashboard
- You want to keep hashed IP addresses and pseudonymous identifiers out of your privacy reviews
Choose Plausible
- You want an open-source analytics product
- You are comfortable with a hashed identifier that resets every 24 hours
- You want unique-visitor counts based on recognizing repeat visits within a day
- You want to self-host your analytics
- You want a privacy-friendly tool and accept a short-lived pseudonymous identifier
Analytics without tracking
No tracking. No personal data. Full clarity.
Start for freeFree 14-day trial No credit card No tracking
Frequently asked questions
How is Simple Analytics different from Plausible?
Both tools offer simple, privacy-focused dashboards. The difference is how visitors are counted. Plausible derives a hashed identifier from the IP address, User-Agent, site, and a salt that rotates every 24 hours, so it can recognize repeat visits within a day but not across days. Simple Analytics does not derive a visitor identifier at all: IP addresses are dropped, and session starts are calculated from the referrer of each pageview.
Isn’t Plausible already privacy-friendly?
Yes. Plausible’s daily-rotating identifier is a real improvement over persistent cookies, and raw IP addresses are not stored. It still starts from an identifier derived from the IP address and User-Agent. Whether that is acceptable depends on your privacy review. Simple Analytics avoids the question by not deriving an identifier.
What does ‘no tracking’ actually mean?
We don’t store or hash IP addresses, we don’t derive visitor identifiers, and we can’t recognize a visitor who comes back, not even within the same day. Unique pageviews and session starts are calculated from the context of each pageview, mainly the referrer.
Why does a daily identifier matter?
For most teams it’s a small detail. For regulated industries, public sector, healthcare, and any organization with strict privacy reviews, it’s the difference between explaining an identifier and its safeguards, and having no identifier to explain.
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, which Plausible’s API limits to aggregated metrics.
Is Simple Analytics open source?
No. Simple Analytics is a hosted product, not open source. If self-hosting and source access are requirements, Plausible is a better fit.
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 Plausible data?
We don’t have a one-click Plausible import yet. You can export your historical data from Plausible 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 is 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.