Simple Analytics Alternative
Love Simple Analytics' privacy focus and clean dashboard? OpenPanel adds product analytics capabilities - funnels, cohorts, retention, and user identification - plus self-hosting options and longer data retention on the free tier.
- Open-source
- Privacy-first
- Self-hostable
- Product Analytics
OpenPanel vs Simple Analytics: Which is right for you?
Both are privacy-focused analytics platforms. Simple Analytics 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
Projects needing longer free-tier data retention (vs 30 days)
Choose Simple Analytics if...
Simple content sites and blogs wanting traffic stats only
Teams valuing the AI assistant for conversational analytics queries
Users wanting Mini Websites feature to see exact referring pages
Key differences at a glance
Here's how OpenPanel and Simple Analytics compare on key factors.
| Feature | OpenPanel | Simple Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| Analytics Depth | Web + Product Analytics | Web Analytics Only |
| Self-Hosting | Full self-hosting available | Cloud-only (no self-host option) |
| Free Tier Data Retention | Full data retention | 30-day retention only |
| User Identification | Yes - Track individual users | No - Anonymous aggregate only |
| AI Assistant | Coming Soon | Yes - Chat with analytics |
| Page Views & Visitors | ||
| Traffic Sources | Both track referrers and traffic sources | |
| Geographic Data | Simple Analytics uses timezone instead of IP for location | |
| Device & Browser | ||
| UTM Campaign Tracking | ||
| Real-Time Dashboard | ||
| Custom Event Tracking | Both support custom events | |
| Funnel Analysis | Simple Analytics has basic goals but no multi-step funnels | |
| Retention Analysis | Simple Analytics' anonymous model doesn't support retention | |
| User Profiles | Simple Analytics intentionally doesn't track individual users | |
| Cohort Analysis | Simple Analytics provides aggregate data only | |
| User Path Analysis | Simple Analytics shows top pages but not user journeys | |
| A/B Testing | Simple Analytics is analytics-only, no experimentation | |
| AI Chat Assistant | Simple Analytics AI lets you chat with your analytics | |
| Email Reports | Both offer scheduled email reports | |
| Dashboard Sharing | Both support public and private dashboard sharing | |
| Google Analytics Import | Simple Analytics has a GA import tool | |
| Ad-Blocker Bypass | Simple Analytics requires Team plan for this feature | |
| Cookie-Free by Default | Both are cookieless by default | |
| No Consent Banner Required | Both claim no consent needed for basic analytics | |
| GDPR Compliant | Both designed with GDPR compliance in mind | |
| EU Data Hosting | Simple Analytics data never leaves Netherlands/EU | |
| Self-Hosting Option | Simple Analytics is cloud-only | |
| HIPAA Compliant | Simple Analytics claims HIPAA compliance (no PHI collected) | |
| REST API | Simple Analytics offers Stats API and Export API | |
| Data Export | Both support CSV export | |
| WordPress Plugin | Both have WordPress integrations | |
| NPM/JavaScript SDK | Both provide JavaScript integration options |
Feature comparison
Both are privacy-focused, but with different capabilities and feature sets.
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 | Simple Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| SDK Size | 2.3 KB (gzipped) | 1.9 KB (light) / 3.7 KB (full) gzipped |
| Platforms |
|
|
| Open Source | Yes - MIT License | No - Closed source (only tracking scripts MIT)Simple Analytics is closed-source (only their tracking scripts are MIT licensed on GitHub) |
| Self Hosting | Docker (simple single-container setup) | Not available (cloud-only service) |
| Database | ClickHouse | Proprietary (hosted on Worldstream/Leaseweb servers in Netherlands) |
| Data Retention | Unlimited (self-hosted), configurable (cloud) | 30 days (free), 3 years (Simple), 5 years (Team) |
| Language | TypeScript/Node.js | Unknown (closed-source) |
Pricing comparison
Simple Analytics has a free tier but with limited data retention. OpenPanel offers full retention on free tier.
OpenPanel
Event-based, transparent
Simple pricing with 10,000 free events per month.
All features included at every tier.
Full data retention even on free tier.
Simple Analytics
Datapoint-based with limited free tier
Free: Unlimited pageviews, 30-day retention, 5 sites, 1 user.
Simple ($15/month): 10 sites, 3-year retention.
Team ($40/month): 20 sites, 5-year retention, 2+ users, export API. 50% discount for nonprofits.
Migrating from Simple Analytics 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
Simple Analytics custom events translate directly to OpenPanel's op.track() calls.
Set Up User Identification (New)
Unlike Simple Analytics, 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 Simple Analytics.
Remove Simple Analytics Script
Once verified, remove the Simple Analytics tracking script. Both are cookie-free so no consent changes needed.
SDK Compatibility
Both use simple event tracking APIs.
Historical Data Import
Most teams start fresh with OpenPanel and run both tools in parallel briefly.
Where OpenPanel is a better fit than Simple Analytics
Choose OpenPanel when you need product analytics, self-hosting, or longer data retention on free tier.
SaaS Products Needing User Analytics
Simple Analytics 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
Simple Analytics 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.
Projects Needing Longer Data Retention
Simple Analytics' free tier only keeps 30 days of data. If you need historical data for trend analysis on a budget, OpenPanel's free tier includes full data retention.
Mobile App Analytics
Simple Analytics 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
Simple Analytics has basic goals 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 Simple Analytics to OpenPanel.
Related resources
Explore more comparisons and guides to help you choose the right analytics tool
Other comparisons
Ready to make the switch?
Test OpenPanel free for 30 days, you'll not be charged anything unless you upgrade to a paid plan.
Start with OpenPanel