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Fathom Analytics vs Google Analytics

Fathom Analytics logo

Fathom Analytics

Software

Website analytics made simple

From
$14/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Google Analytics logo

Google Analytics

Software

Get to know your customers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Google Analytics has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Fathom Analytics there is no free tier, only a 7 day trial; Google Analytics data retention limited to maximum 26 months on standard properties, with automatic deletion after retention period expires
  • They diverge on capability: Fathom Analytics covers Page view tracking, Google Analytics covers Audience insights.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fathom Analytics and Google Analytics actually diverge.

Attributes where Fathom Analytics and Google Analytics differ
AttributeFathom AnalyticsGoogle Analytics
Starting price$14/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
Founded20141998

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Fathom Analytics

  • Page view tracking
  • Goal tracking
  • Referrer tracking
  • Privacy-focused
  • GDPR compliant
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support
  • 20+ languages language support

Only in Google Analytics

  • Audience insights
  • Acquisition tracking
  • Behavior flow
  • Conversion tracking
  • Custom reports
  • Mobile analytics
  • E-commerce tracking
  • Google Ads

Both cover

  • Real-time analytics

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Fathom Analytics

  • Privacy-focused web analytics without cookie bannersnot Google Analytics
  • A lightweight Google Analytics replacementnot Google Analytics
  • Tracking many sites from one accountnot Google Analytics
  • Long-term historical reporting while subscribednot Google Analytics

Google Analytics

  • Website and web application analyticsnot Fathom Analytics
  • Event tracking and user behaviour analysisnot Fathom Analytics
  • Traffic source and conversion trackingnot Fathom Analytics

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Fathom Analytics

  • There is no free tier, only a 7 day trial
  • Priced on pageviews, from $45 a month at the 500,000 pageview level
  • Custom events count against the pageview allowance rather than being tracked separately
  • Site allowances come in packs, with additional 50-site packs at $10 a month
  • Data is retained forever only while the subscription is active

Google Analytics

  • Data retention limited to maximum 26 months on standard properties, with automatic deletion after retention period expires
  • Large and XL properties capped at 2-month data retention only
  • Age, gender, and interest data always expire after 2 months regardless of retention settings
  • Free tier does not include GA360 advanced features

Pricing, plan by plan

Fathom Analytics

$14/month
  • Starter$14/month
    • Unlimited page views
    • 1 site
    • Real-time analytics

Google Analytics

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Analytics review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Fathom Analytics if

  • You need page view tracking.
  • You also want goal tracking.
Fathom Analytics review

Choose Google Analytics if

  • You need audience insights.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want acquisition tracking.
Google Analytics review

Questions people ask

Is Fathom Analytics or Google Analytics better?
Neither clearly leads. Fathom Analytics starts at $14/month and Google Analytics at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fathom Analytics or Google Analytics?
Google Analytics has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $14/month for Fathom Analytics and Free for Google Analytics.
Does Fathom Analytics or Google Analytics run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Google Analytics for free?
Yes. Google Analytics has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Fathom Analytics starts at $14/month.
What is Fathom Analytics best used for?
Fathom Analytics is most often used for privacy-focused web analytics without cookie banners, a lightweight google analytics replacement, tracking many sites from one account, long-term historical reporting while subscribed. Of those, privacy-focused web analytics without cookie banners and a lightweight google analytics replacement are not what Google Analytics is typically brought in for.
What can Fathom Analytics do that Google Analytics cannot?
Fathom Analytics covers Page view tracking, Goal tracking, Referrer tracking, Privacy-focused. Google Analytics covers Audience insights, Acquisition tracking, Behavior flow, Conversion tracking. Both handle Real-time analytics.
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Related pages

More on Fathom Analytics

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