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Google Analytics vs Simple Analytics

Google Analytics logo

Google Analytics

All industries

Get to know your customers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Simple Analytics logo

Simple Analytics

Marketing & Analytics

Privacy-friendly analytics without cookies

From
$20/month
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: Google Analytics data retention limited to maximum 26 months on standard properties, with automatic deletion after retention period expires; Simple Analytics the free plan requires a Simple Analytics badge on your site and is limited to 1 user, 5 websites and 30 days of history
  • They diverge on capability: Google Analytics covers Audience insights, Simple Analytics covers Page view tracking.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Google Analytics and Simple Analytics differ
AttributeGoogle AnalyticsSimple Analytics
Starting priceFree$20/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
CategoryAll industriesMarketing & Analytics
Founded19982016

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

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 Google Analytics

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

Only in Simple Analytics

  • Page view tracking
  • Goal tracking
  • Privacy-focused
  • GDPR compliant
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support
  • English language support

Both cover

  • Real-time analytics

What people use each for

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

Google Analytics

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

Simple Analytics

  • Cookie-free website analytics that avoids a consent bannernot Google Analytics
  • Keeping visitor data hosted in the EU for GDPR purposesnot Google Analytics
  • Replacing or running alongside Google Analytics with a single-page dashboardnot Google Analytics

Where each one falls short

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

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

Simple Analytics

  • The free plan requires a Simple Analytics badge on your site and is limited to 1 user, 5 websites and 30 days of history
  • Data older than 30 days is automatically deleted on the free plan
  • The paid plan starts at $20 per month for 100,000 pageviews and includes only 1 user, with each extra user costing another $20 per month
  • Single Sign-On, role-based access, SOC 2 documentation, an SLA and raw data export are Enterprise features quoted only by demo request
  • On yearly plans, exceeding your estimated limit gives you one week to raise it before Simple Analytics raises it for you
  • Paying by Bitcoin adds 10% and is only offered on yearly billing
  • Bank transfer is only available for bills from $500 and adds 10% in banking and service fees
  • Unlimited pageviews on the free plan are subject to a fair use policy rather than a stated number

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Analytics

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Analytics review.

Simple Analytics

$20/month
  • Standard$20/month
    • Up to 100k page views
    • Real-time analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Analytics if

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

Choose Simple Analytics if

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

Questions people ask

Is Google Analytics or Simple Analytics better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Analytics starts at Free and Simple Analytics at $20/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Analytics or Simple Analytics?
Google Analytics has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Analytics and $20/month for Simple Analytics.
Does Google Analytics or Simple 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. Simple Analytics starts at $20/month.
What is Google Analytics best used for?
Google Analytics is most often used for website and web application analytics, event tracking and user behaviour analysis, traffic source and conversion tracking. Of those, website and web application analytics and event tracking and user behaviour analysis are not what Simple Analytics is typically brought in for.
What can Google Analytics do that Simple Analytics cannot?
Google Analytics covers Audience insights, Acquisition tracking, Behavior flow, Conversion tracking. Simple Analytics covers Page view tracking, Goal tracking, Privacy-focused, GDPR compliant. Both handle Real-time analytics.
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Related pages

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