Q03: Plausible vs Fathom vs Simple Analytics - which one should I choose for a small blog?

**My default pick: Plausible**—if you’re happy to pay a modest monthly fee for a clean, useful blog dashboard. It’s a good balance of simplicity and features: the Starter plan is **$9/month for up to 10,000 monthly pageviews**, with goals, custom events, and no data-retention limit. It also offers a 30-day trial without a credit card. ([plausible.io](https://plausible.io/?via=toolfio)) | Choose… | If your priority is… | Trade-off | |---|---|---| | **Plausible** | A strong all-rounder for a blog: traffic sources, popular posts, goals, and a straightforward dashboard | No permanent free plan; the free trial is 30 days. ([plausible.io](https://plausible.io/docs/subscription-plans?utm_source=openai)) | | **Fathom** | Convenience, polished basics, and tracking several sites under one account | Starts at **$15/month** for up to 100,000 pageviews; no free plan, though its plans include 50 sites and full analytics history while subscribed. ([usefathom.com](https://usefathom.com/pricing?utm_source=openai)) | | **Simple Analytics** | Paying **nothing** for a small personal or hobby blog | Its free plan includes up to five websites, but only 30 days of history and a required badge. Paid pricing starts at **£20/month** on the page I checked. ([simpleanalytics.com](https://www.simpleanalytics.com/pricing)) | **Quick decision:** - Want a paid tool for one blog? **Plausible.** - Want to keep costs at zero and 30 days of stats is enough? **Simple Analytics.** - Run multiple sites and value a simple, all-in-one plan? **Fathom**—its 50-site allowance may make the price worthwhile. For most small blogs, I’d start with Plausible’s trial and see whether its reports answer the questions you actually have. If free is the deciding factor, try Simple Analytics instead.