Plausible vs Matomo: Which Privacy-First Analytics Fits Your Site?
Read time: 8 min | Updated: January 2026
TL;DR: Go with Plausible if you want simple, fast, privacy-by-default analytics. Pick Matomo if you need advanced stuff like heatmaps, funnels, or you’re migrating from Google Analytics. For 90% of sites, Plausible is the better choice.
Google Analytics is annoying. Cookie banners here, consent popups there, and you still never know: Is this even legal?
I switched last year. First to Plausible, then out of curiosity I tested Matomo too. Both are solid EU alternatives - but for completely different use cases. Here’s what I learned.
The Quick Version
| Plausible | Matomo | |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Estonia 🇪🇪 | New Zealand (EU servers available) |
| GDPR hassle-free | ✅ Yes, out of the box | ⚠️ Yes, but config needed |
| Cookies | None | Optional (default: on) |
| Script size | ~1 KB | ~22 KB |
| Price (Cloud) | From €9/month | From €19/month |
| Learning curve | 5 minutes | A few hours |
| Self-Hosting | Yes | Yes |
Plausible: The Minimalist’s Choice
Plausible launched in Estonia in 2019 and does exactly one thing: Simple analytics without the privacy stress.
The dashboard is a single page. Seriously. No nested menus, no 47 different reports. You see visitors, top pages, traffic sources, done.
What I like:
The script is tiny. 1 KB vs Google Analytics’ 45 KB. My Lighthouse scores measurably improved after switching.
No cookies means: No cookie banner needed. That alone is gold. Less friction for visitors, less legal risk for you.
Data is stored in Frankfurt. Not Virginia, not Ireland. Frankfurt. For EU compliance, that’s a big difference.
What’s annoying:
No heatmaps. No session recordings. No funnels. If you want to know where people click, not just that they click, you need an additional tool.
E-commerce tracking is basically non-existent. For an online shop, I wouldn’t recommend Plausible.
Pricing (as of January 2026):
| Pageviews | Price/month |
|---|---|
| 10K | €9 |
| 100K | €19 |
| 1M | €69 |
| Self-hosted | Free |
Matomo: The Feature Beast
Matomo (formerly Piwik) is the veteran. On the market since 2007, over 1 million websites use it. The European Commission uses Matomo. That says something.
The thing can do everything Google Analytics can. Heatmaps, session recordings, A/B tests, funnel analysis, e-commerce tracking. Really everything.
What convinced me:
You can import your Google Analytics data. If you have years of historical data and don’t want to start from zero - that’s a killer feature.
Segmentation is powerful. Custom dimensions, cohort analysis, roll-up reporting for multiple sites. For data teams that want to go deep: Paradise.
What bothered me:
The interface feels like 2015. Functional, sure. But after Plausible’s clean UI, Matomo was a culture shock.
22 KB script size. Not tragic, but noticeable on mobile connections.
GDPR compliance requires configuration. By default, Matomo sets cookies. You have to actively enable the cookieless variant. Missed that on my first setup - happens easily.
Pricing (as of January 2026):
| Plan | Price/month | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted | Free | Everything, but you host |
| Cloud Essential | €19 | 50K Hits |
| Cloud Business | €29 | 100K Hits |
| Enterprise | On request | For the big ones |
The Direct Comparison
Privacy & GDPR
Plausible wins here clearly. No cookies, no personal data, no config needed. You install the script and you’re done. Period.
Matomo can be just as private, but you have to configure it right. Anonymized IPs, cookies disabled, consent options set. Doable, but work.
Features
Matomo is in a different league. If you need heatmaps, session recordings, or real e-commerce analytics - Plausible simply can’t do that.
Plausible has everything 90% of sites need. But only that.
Performance
Plausible is 20x smaller. In a page-speed-obsessed world, that’s relevant. Especially for mobile.
Ease of Use
Plausible you’ll get in 5 minutes. Seriously.
Matomo takes a few hours to find your way around. And then more time for all the reports and segments.
Self-Hosting
Both offer it. Matomo runs on standard PHP/MySQL stack - easier to host. Plausible needs Docker and ClickHouse - more RAM-hungry, but more modern stack.
My Recommendation
For most people: Plausible.
Seriously. If you don’t know for sure that you need heatmaps or funnel analysis, start with Plausible. It’s simpler, faster, cheaper, and you won’t waste time on config you don’t need.
You can always switch to Matomo later if features are missing. The other way around is more annoying.
Choose Matomo if:
- You run an e-commerce shop
- You’re migrating from Google Analytics and want to keep historical data
- Your team already works with complex analytics tools
- You need heatmaps or session recordings
Choose Plausible if:
- You have a blog, SaaS landing page, or company site
- You want privacy without configuration
- Page speed matters to you
- You don’t want to spend time learning a new tool
FAQ
Do I really not need a cookie banner with Plausible?
Correct. Plausible collects no personal data and sets no cookies. GDPR consent obligations don’t apply here.
Can I migrate from Google Analytics to Matomo?
Yes. Matomo has a Google Analytics importer. Historical data can be transferred.
Which is better for SEO?
Matomo has built-in keyword tracking. Plausible shows referrer data but no dedicated SEO features. For serious SEO you need a separate tool like Ahrefs or Semrush anyway.
Can I use both at the same time?
Technically yes, but why? Double scripts, double overhead. Pick one.
Which has better support?
Both good on paid plans. Matomo has the bigger community due to its longer history.
Try Them
Both have free trials:
- Plausible: 30 days free - no credit card required
- Matomo: Self-hosted free or 21-day cloud trial
See also:
Last updated: January 2026
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