If you’re a small SaaS founder in the EU (or just care about privacy), tracking what your users do in an ethical way matters. Traditional analytics tools like Countly can feel bloated, or too complicated, or just not privacy-first enough. Don’t worry — you’re not alone in the search for better options.
TL;DR
Trying to ditch Countly? There are solid alternatives that put privacy first. Tools like Plausible, PostHog, and Umami let you track events the GDPR-friendly way — no creepy user fingerprinting required. They’re lightweight, simple to use, and easy to host yourself. Let’s explore the 5 best options small SaaS teams are switching to.
What to Look for in Privacy-First Analytics?
Before we jump into the list, here’s what makes a great privacy-first analytics tool:
- No cookies or fingerprinting — You should be able to track without invading privacy.
- GDPR, CCPA, PECR compliant — Legal peace of mind built in.
- Easy self-hosting — Because sometimes you want full control.
- Simple event tracking — Track what matters with minimal setup.
- No accounts or consent banners needed — Users deserve fast, frictionless experiences.
1. Plausible Analytics
Why small SaaS founders love it:
Plausible is all about minimalism with principles. It’s fully GDPR-compliant and doesn’t use cookies. The dashboard is clean, the tracking script is light, and you can host it yourself.
Cool features:
- Simple JavaScript snippet to start tracking
- No identifying user data collected
- Shareable dashboards
- Open-source and easy to self-host with Docker
Perfect for: Founders who want a basic overview of visitor behavior without the tracking baggage.
2. PostHog
If you want more powerful product analytics (like what Countly offers) but with privacy in mind, PostHog is your friend.
Why PostHog stands out:
- Self-hosted by default — control your data
- Privacy enhancements like pseudonymous IDs
- Thousands of events per day for free
- Full product analytics: funnels, session recordings, feature flags
You can run it on your own server with Docker or Kubernetes. It also offers a cloud version, but if you’re hardcore about data privacy, self-hosting rocks.
Perfect for: Teams building feature-rich SaaS products who want full visibility without third-party tracking.
3. Umami
Think of Umami as the cool little cousin of Plausible. Simple, open-source, and cookie-free.
Why founders like it:
- Lightweight tracking script — less than 2 KB
- No cookies, no fingerprinting
- Covers basic needs: page views, referrers, countries, devices
- You own 100% of the data
Umami stays out of your users’ business while giving you the metrics that matter most.
Perfect for: Indie founders or micro-SaaS owners who just want to know what traffic does without the fluff.
4. Fathom Analytics
Fathom puts elegance first. It’s a paid tool — but worth it for teams that want clean dashboards, fast performance, and strong privacy laws on their side.
Here’s what makes Fathom unique:
- Bypasses cookie permission banners legally (via EU law-compliant tracking)
- Works with content blockers
- Hosted in the EU or Canada — very GDPR friendly
- Built for businesses that value speed and simplicity
It’s not free, but for busy founders, just installing Fathom and forgetting about compliance issues can be a dream.
Perfect for: Privacy-conscious businesses that want analytics with zero fuss.
5. Matomo (Self-Hosted)
Matomo is more like Countly in terms of customization. It’s very powerful, but self-hosting is key here — the cloud version is less privacy-centric.
Why some SaaS folks swear by it:
- Includes event tracking, heatmaps, A/B testing, and more
- Allows complete user control over data retention
- High level of customization with plugins
- You decide where and how data is stored
It’s the most robust on this list but slightly heavier, so may need some dev hands to set up and maintain.
Perfect for: SaaS teams that want enterprise-level features without compromising on data ownership.
Bonus Tip! Things to Avoid When Choosing an Analytics Tool
Some tools look pretty on the surface… but dig deeper and you’ll find red flags.
Here are 4 things to steer clear of:
- Anything that stores IP addresses forever
- Services that send your user data to 3rd parties by default
- Analytics that require user identification or fingerprinting
- Tools that don’t explain how they comply with GDPR
If the company isn’t clear on their privacy practices, or they say “trust us,” look elsewhere.
How to Choose the Right One for You?
Still unsure? Here’s a quick cheat sheet to help you decide:
| Tool | Best For | Self-Hosted? | Cookie-Free? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plausible | Simple traffic insights | ✅ | ✅ |
| PostHog | Full product analytics | ✅ | ⚠ (pseudonymous users) |
| Umami | Light metrics, minimalism | ✅ | ✅ |
| Fathom | Speed and compliance | ❌ | ✅ |
| Matomo | Advanced customization | ✅ | ⚠ Depends on setup |
Final Thoughts
Your users deserve both great products and great privacy. With the right analytics tool, you can serve them better without spying on them. Whether you’re a solo maker or a scrappy startup, one of these tools is going to be a great fit.
If privacy is a core value of your brand — don’t just settle. Embrace tools that match your ethics and scale with your business. Happy tracking!
PS: Don’t forget to add a privacy policy to your site that reflects your new GDPR-friendly setup 😉
