Fathom Alternative
Love Fathom's simplicity and privacy focus? OpenPanel adds product analytics capabilities - funnels, cohorts, retention, and user identification - plus self-hosting options and a free tier.
- Open-source
- Privacy-first
- Self-hostable
- Free Tier
OpenPanel vs Fathom: Which is right for you?
Both are privacy-focused analytics platforms. Fathom focuses on simple web traffic metrics. OpenPanel adds product analytics with user identification and self-hosting.
Choose OpenPanel if...
SaaS products needing user-level analytics and retention tracking
Teams wanting self-hosting for complete data control
Startups needing a free tier to get started
Choose Fathom Analytics if...
Simple content sites and blogs wanting traffic stats only
Teams valuing Fathom's beautiful, minimal dashboard design
Users wanting excellent Google Analytics import tool
Key differences at a glance
Here's how OpenPanel and Fathom compare on key factors.
| Feature | OpenPanel | Fathom Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| Analytics Depth | Web + Product Analytics | Web Analytics Only |
| Self-Hosting | Full self-hosting available | Cloud-only (no self-host option) |
| Free Tier | 10,000 events/month free | No free tier (7-day trial only) |
| User Identification | Yes - Track individual users | No - Anonymous aggregate only |
| Cookie-Free | Yes (by default) | Yes (by default) |
| Page Views & Visitors | ||
| Traffic Sources | ||
| Geographic Data | Both offer country and region-level data | |
| Device & Browser | ||
| UTM Campaign Tracking | ||
| Real-Time Dashboard | ||
| Custom Event Tracking | Fathom events count toward pageview quota | |
| Funnel Analysis | Fathom tracks simple conversions but no multi-step funnels | |
| Retention Analysis | Fathom's anonymous model doesn't support retention | |
| User Profiles | Fathom intentionally doesn't track individual users | |
| Cohort Analysis | Fathom provides aggregate data only | |
| User Path Analysis | Fathom shows top pages but not user journeys | |
| A/B Testing | Fathom is analytics-only, no experimentation | |
| Revenue Tracking | Fathom supports event values in cents | |
| Email Reports | Both offer scheduled email reports | |
| Dashboard Sharing | Both support public and private dashboard sharing | |
| Google Analytics Import | Fathom has a well-regarded GA importer | |
| Ad-Blocker Bypass | Both support custom domains to bypass blockers | |
| Cookie-Free by Default | Both are cookieless by default | |
| No Consent Banner Required | Both claim no consent needed for basic analytics | |
| GDPR Compliant | ||
| EU Data Residency | Fathom has EU Isolation enabled by default for all customers | |
| Self-Hosting Option | Fathom is cloud-only; Fathom Lite is legacy and uses cookies | |
| Data Processing Agreement | ||
| REST API | Fathom has a comprehensive API | |
| Data Export | CSV export available on both | |
| WordPress Plugin | Fathom has official WordPress plugin | |
| NPM Package | fathom-client package available |
Feature comparison
Both are privacy-focused, but with different capabilities and depths.
Page Views & Visitors
Traffic Sources
Geographic Data
Device & Browser
UTM Campaign Tracking
Real-Time Dashboard
Custom Event Tracking
Funnel Analysis
Technical comparison
For developers evaluating analytics tools, here's the technical breakdown.
| Feature | OpenPanel | Fathom Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| SDK Size | 2.3 KB (gzipped) | ~2 KB (gzipped) |
| Platforms |
|
|
| Open Source | Yes - MIT License | No - Closed sourceFathom Analytics is closed-source. Fathom Lite (legacy) is open-source but limited and uses cookies. |
| Self Hosting | Docker (simple single-container setup) | Not available (cloud-only service) |
| Database | ClickHouse | Proprietary cloud infrastructure (serverless on AWS) |
| Data Retention | Unlimited (self-hosted), configurable (cloud) | Forever (as long as you're a customer) |
| Language | TypeScript/Node.js | Unknown (closed-source) |
Pricing comparison
Fathom has no free tier. OpenPanel offers free cloud and self-hosting.
OpenPanel
Event-based, transparent
Simple pricing with 10,000 free events per month.
All features included at every tier.
Self-host for free with unlimited events.
Fathom Analytics
Pageview-based with 7-day trial
100K pageviews: $15/month ($150/year).
Up to 50 sites included.
All features included.
Custom events count as pageviews.
Annual billing saves 2 months.
Fathom has no free tier and never does discounts.
Migrating from Fathom to OpenPanel
Both use lightweight scripts and simple event tracking, making migration straightforward.
Install OpenPanel SDK
Add the OpenPanel SDK to your application. Both use lightweight scripts, so the transition is straightforward.
Map Events
Fathom's trackEvent() becomes OpenPanel's op.track(). Event values translate directly.
Set Up User Identification (New)
Unlike Fathom, OpenPanel can identify users. Add op.identify() calls to unlock retention, cohorts, and user profiles.
Configure Product Analytics (New)
Set up funnels, retention reports, and cohorts. These features aren't available in Fathom.
Remove Fathom Script
Once verified, remove the Fathom tracking script. Both are cookie-free so no consent changes needed.
SDK Compatibility
Both use simple event tracking APIs. Fathom's trackEvent() becomes OpenPanel's op.track().
Historical Data Import
Most teams start fresh with OpenPanel and run both tools in parallel briefly.
Where OpenPanel is a better fit than Fathom
Choose OpenPanel when you need product analytics beyond simple web traffic.
SaaS Products Needing User Analytics
Fathom shows aggregate website traffic. If you need to understand individual user journeys, retention, and behavior within your product, OpenPanel adds these capabilities while staying privacy-friendly.
Teams Who Want Self-Hosting
Fathom is cloud-only with no self-hosting option. If data sovereignty or compliance requirements mean you need to host your own analytics, OpenPanel provides full self-hosting in a single Docker container.
Startups Needing a Free Tier
Fathom has no free option, requiring a minimum $15/month commitment. OpenPanel offers 10,000 free events monthly, perfect for early-stage products or side projects.
Mobile App Analytics
Fathom is designed for websites and doesn't provide native mobile SDKs. OpenPanel offers native iOS, Android, and React Native SDKs with full product analytics capabilities.
Teams Needing Funnel Analysis
Fathom tracks simple conversions but doesn't offer multi-step funnel analysis. If understanding conversion paths matters, OpenPanel provides detailed funnel visualization.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about switching from Fathom to OpenPanel.
Related resources
Explore more comparisons and guides to help you choose the right analytics tool
Ready to make the switch?
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