Plausible vs Umami vs Matomo: Open Source Analytics Showdown

Three open source analytics tools, three different approaches. Here's the ultimate comparison to help you choose.

Quick Verdict

Need	Winner
Simplest	Umami
Most polished	Plausible
Most features	Matomo
Best privacy	Plausible / Umami (tie)
Lightest script	Plausible (< 1KB)
Best for e-commerce	Matomo
Cheapest	Umami (MIT, no cloud)

The Comparison

Feature	Plausible	Umami	Matomo
Script size	< 1 KB	< 2 KB	~22 KB
Cookie-free	✅	✅	Optional
GDPR (no consent)	✅	✅	Depends
Real-time	✅	✅	✅
Custom events	✅	✅	✅
Revenue tracking	✅	❌	✅
Funnels	✅	❌	✅
Goals	✅	✅	✅
Heatmaps	❌	❌	✅
Session recordings	❌	❌	✅
A/B testing	❌	❌	✅
Segments	Basic	Basic	Advanced
GA import	✅	❌	✅
GSC integration	✅	❌	❌
API	✅	✅	✅
Cloud option	$9-69/mo	Self-host only	$23-249/mo
Stack	Elixir	Node.js	PHP
License	AGPL-3.0	MIT	GPL-3.0

Decision Tree

Do you need heatmaps, session recordings, or A/B testing?
  YES → Matomo
  NO ↓

Do you need revenue tracking or funnels?
  YES → Plausible
  NO ↓

Do you want the simplest, lightest option?
  YES → Umami
  NO → Plausible (more features, polished)

The Bottom Line

• Matomo for power users who need Google Analytics-level depth
• Plausible for the best balance of simplicity and features
• Umami for the lightest, simplest, MIT-licensed option

For most websites, Plausible is the sweet spot — enough features to be useful, simple enough to not overwhelm.

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Compare all three on OSSAlt — detailed feature comparisons and deployment guides.