Plausible alternatives: 4 free & open-source picks
Compare recorded free and open-source options, their capabilities and operating requirements. Source dates are shown below; licenses, hosted limits and project activity can change.
The closest broad substitute: simple traffic analytics, events and goals with your data attached.
licenseMIT
runsyour machine or their cloud
installCreate an Umami Cloud account or deploy the Node application with Docker Compose and PostgreSQL
dataA self-hosted deployment stores analytics and account data in PostgreSQL; Umami Cloud stores it in Umami's managed service
the catch vs PlausibleIt is the closest broad substitute, but its conversion, revenue and reporting workflow is less mature and opinionated than Plausible's.
setupNone for hosted signup; self-hosting requires Docker or Node hosting and a PostgreSQL database
facts verified 2026-08-10
Plausible without the hosted bill; you keep the core dashboard and inherit the Compose stack.
licenseAGPL-3.0+
runsyour server
installDeploy the Community Edition with the official Docker Compose installer
dataAccount and configuration records live in PostgreSQL and analytics events live in ClickHouse on the user's server
the catch vs PlausibleIt preserves the core dashboard but loses managed hosting, commercial support and cloud-only business features.
setupDocker Compose, roughly 2 GB of RAM, a domain with DNS and TLS, and backups for PostgreSQL and ClickHouse
facts verified 2026-08-10
Plausible's core plus replay and funnels, in exchange for a busier dashboard.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installUse the hosted service or deploy the free self-hosted edition with Docker Compose
dataThe self-hosted stack uses PostgreSQL for application data, ClickHouse for analytics and Redis for queues and cache; hosted data lives in Rybbit's cloud
the catch vs PlausibleIt is newer and busier, and replay and funnels add more privacy and operational surface than Plausible's deliberately narrow product.
setupThe indefinitely free path is self-hosting, which requires Docker Compose, a domain, secrets and enough resources for three data services
facts verified 2026-08-10
Even simpler than Plausible, which is either refreshing or a warning.
runsyour machine or their cloud
installCreate a hosted account or run the single static binary or Docker image
dataA self-hosted instance uses SQLite by default or PostgreSQL; the hosted service stores analytics on GoatCounter's infrastructure and supports JSON and CSV exports
the catch vs PlausibleIt is even simpler, but gives up Plausible's more polished goals, revenue, funnels, team controls and reporting.
setupNone for hosted use; self-hosting needs a reachable binary or container plus a public URL and TLS
facts verified 2026-08-10
latest recorded source check 2026-08-10 · check current terms at the source
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umami | MIT | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 38,073 | 2026-08 |
| Plausible Community Edition | AGPL-3.0+ | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 28,377 | 2026-08 |
| Rybbit | AGPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | web, ios, android, self-hosted | 12,600 | 2026-08 |
| GoatCounter | open source | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 5,800 | 2026-08 |
They pay because analytics must be boring, fast, and legally safer without ops. The recorded subscription totals $108 a year before any costs of an alternative.
Questions about these alternatives
Is there a free alternative to Plausible?
Yes: Umami, Plausible Community Edition, Rybbit and 1 more. These are recorded free or open-source options. Compare their feature limits, licenses, hosting costs and current availability before choosing.
Should I just build my own Plausible?
Our verdict is YES. Basic pageview/event analytics are easy, and Plausible's own code is open source; the paid value is hosted reliability, maintenance, and support. Review the scope, implementation prompt and trade-offs in the Plausible build guide.
