Plausible vs Umami
Plausible and Umami both answer the same question: how do you know what users actually do? Lightweight, cookie-free web analytics that fits on one page and stays out of consent banner territory. Open source privacy-focused analytics you can self-host on your own database, or use as a hosted service. The real split is ownership: Umami runs inside your project and leaves the operational work with you, while Plausible runs the hard parts as a service and takes a dependency in exchange.
Verdict
The real split is ownership: Umami runs inside your project and leaves the operational work with you, while Plausible runs the hard parts as a service and takes a dependency in exchange.
Pick Plausible if
- ✓Script is tiny, so it has no measurable effect on page speed scores.
- ✓No cookies or personal data, which usually removes the consent banner requirement.
- ✓The entire dashboard fits one screen that a non-technical founder can read.
Pick Umami if
- ✓Self-hosting means the raw analytics data sits in a database you already run.
- ✓Stores into Postgres or MySQL, so you can query it with plain SQL.
- ✓No licence cost at all when you supply the hosting yourself.
| Comparison | Plausible | Umami |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing shape | Paid subscription based on monthly page views, with no free tier beyond the trial. | Free if you self-host on your own infrastructure, with a paid cloud plan by event volume. |
| Frameworks | Next.js, SvelteKit, Nuxt, Laravel, Django, Rails | Next.js, SvelteKit, Nuxt, Laravel, Django, Rails |
| In one line | Lightweight, cookie-free web analytics that fits on one page and stays out of consent banner territory. | Open source privacy-focused analytics you can self-host on your own database, or use as a hosted service. |
Pricing described qualitatively because published plans change often. Checked 2026-08-23. Confirm current terms on Plausible and Umami.
Plausible
Strengths
- ✓Script is tiny, so it has no measurable effect on page speed scores.
- ✓No cookies or personal data, which usually removes the consent banner requirement.
- ✓The entire dashboard fits one screen that a non-technical founder can read.
- ✓Open source with EU hosting, which helps with data residency questions.
Tradeoffs
- ✗Aggregate only, so you can never inspect an individual user journey.
- ✗Custom events exist but the analysis depth stops well short of product analytics.
- ✗Paid from the beginning, unlike free ad-funded alternatives.
- ✗Deliberately simple, so growth teams outgrow it once questions get specific.
Umami
Strengths
- ✓Self-hosting means the raw analytics data sits in a database you already run.
- ✓Stores into Postgres or MySQL, so you can query it with plain SQL.
- ✓No licence cost at all when you supply the hosting yourself.
- ✓Multi-site and team support without paying per additional property.
Tradeoffs
- ✗Self-hosting means you own uptime, upgrades and database growth forever.
- ✗Analytics traffic writes to a database you must size and prune yourself.
- ✗Feature set trails commercial tools, especially around alerting and reporting.
- ✗Community support only, so an obscure bug can stall you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Plausible or Umami better?
Neither is better in the abstract. The real split is ownership: Umami runs inside your project and leaves the operational work with you, while Plausible runs the hard parts as a service and takes a dependency in exchange. The wrong choice here is usually recoverable, so weight speed of decision over certainty.
What is the main drawback of Plausible?
Aggregate only, so you can never inspect an individual user journey. Custom events exist but the analysis depth stops well short of product analytics.
What is the main drawback of Umami?
Self-hosting means you own uptime, upgrades and database growth forever. Analytics traffic writes to a database you must size and prune yourself.
Can you switch from one to the other later?
Usually, at a cost that grows with how much of your product leans on the analytics layer. Plan for it in the data model, not in the framework, and the switch stays survivable.