Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Plausible · 📊 analytics
Plausible vs GoatCounter
Even simpler than Plausible, which is either refreshing or a warning. Here is how GoatCounter ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Plausible ($9/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
GoatCounter
$0.00/mo
Plausible vs GoatCounter Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-10
| Dimension | Plausible (Paid) | GoatCounter (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $9 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $108 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $108) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $540 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $540) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $1,080 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,080) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Local or hosted (your machine or their cloud) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hosteddocker to self-host |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 5.8k (active aug 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Plausible to GoatCounter
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
It is even simpler, but gives up Plausible's more polished goals, revenue, funnels, team controls and reporting.
How to deploy GoatCounter
Create a hosted account or run the single static binary or Docker image
What it takes to run
None for hosted use; self-hosting needs a reachable binary or container plus a public URL and TLS
Where your data lives
A self-hosted instance uses SQLite by default or PostgreSQL; the hosted service stores analytics on GoatCounter's infrastructure and supports JSON and CSV exports
Why fork GoatCounter instead of vibe-coding a Plausible clone?
Basic pageview/event analytics are easy, and Plausible's own code is open source; the paid value is hosted reliability, maintenance, and support.
Plausible vs GoatCounter FAQ
Is GoatCounter a good free alternative to Plausible?+
Yes. GoatCounter is a verified open-source (FOSS) replacement for Plausible. Even simpler than Plausible, which is either refreshing or a warning.
What is the catch when switching from Plausible to GoatCounter?+
It is even simpler, but gives up Plausible's more polished goals, revenue, funnels, team controls and reporting.
How much do you save switching from Plausible to GoatCounter?+
Plausible costs $9/mo ($108/yr) per seat, whereas GoatCounter is $0/mo. Switching saves $108/yr for a solo user, $540/yr for a 5-person team, and $1,080/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host GoatCounter instead of Plausible?+
Install: Create a hosted account or run the single static binary or Docker image. Setup: None for hosted use; self-hosting needs a reachable binary or container plus a public URL and TLS
