Analytics Tools for Startups & Makers
Discover the best analytics tools for startups, SaaS, and makers. We've ranked the top privacy-friendly analytics platforms to help you understand your users and grow your product.
Datafa.st
DataFast is a minimalist, revenue-first web analytics tool that shows which marketing channels are driving paying customers, helping you understand what really makes people buy and where to grow faster.
Datafa.st
DataFast is a minimalist, revenue-first web analytics tool that shows which marketing channels are driving paying customers, helping you understand what really makes people buy and where to grow faster.
Key Features
Tool Details
Honest Review
What's Great
- Analytics + revenue tracking in one platform
- Privacy-first with no cookies
Watch Out For
- Newer platform
Simple Analytics
Privacy-focused businesses
Simple Analytics
Privacy-focused businesses
Key Features
Tool Details
Honest Review
What's Great
- Completely cookie-free analytics
- Simple, clean interface
Watch Out For
- Limited advanced features
- Higher price point
Plausible
Developers and open source enthusiasts
Plausible
Developers and open source enthusiasts
Key Features
Tool Details
Honest Review
What's Great
- Fully open source
- Extremely lightweight (1.4KB)
Watch Out For
- Limited feature set
- Self-hosting complexity
Umami
Technical teams and developers
Umami
Technical teams and developers
Key Features
Tool Details
Honest Review
What's Great
- Completely free to self-host
- Fully open source
Watch Out For
- Requires technical setup
- Limited support for self-hosted
FrogDR
SEO-focused startups and content creators
FrogDR
SEO-focused startups and content creators
Key Features
Tool Details
Honest Review
What's Great
- Simple and focused on Domain Rating tracking
- Daily DR monitoring and updates
Watch Out For
- Limited to DR tracking only
- Newer platform with growing features
How to Choose the Right Analytics Tool
Picking your analytics tool is crucial for understanding your users and growing your product. Get it wrong, and you'll waste time migrating later. Here's how to choose based on your actual situation.
If You're a Maker
Go with Datafa.st. Seriously. It's built specifically for makers by Marc Lou, a respected member of the community. It's privacy-first, no-code, and focuses on the metrics that actually matter for early-stage products.
Real talk: Most analytics tools are overkill for makers. Datafa.st gives you what you need without the complexity.
If Privacy is Your Priority
Simple Analytics or Plausible are your best bets. Both are cookie-free, GDPR compliant, and designed with privacy in mind. Simple Analytics is easier to set up, while Plausible is open source.
If You Want Full Control
Umami is completely free to self-host. You own all your data, and there are no monthly fees. Perfect for technical teams who want complete control over their analytics.
Money tip: Self-hosting Umami saves you $108/year compared to cloud analytics tools.
If You're Building a Serious SaaS
Consider Plausible or Simple Analytics for their reliability and support. Both have proven track records and strong communities. You'll need the stability as you scale.
Questions Everyone Asks
Should I use Google Analytics or privacy-focused tools?▼
For most makers and startups: privacy-focused tools. Google Analytics is overkill, complex, and raises privacy concerns. Tools like Datafa.st, Simple Analytics, or Plausible give you the insights you need without the complexity.
Only use Google Analytics if you specifically need advanced features like conversion funnels, e-commerce tracking, or Google Ads integration.
How much do analytics tools really cost?▼
Datafa.st: Free tier + paid plans. Simple Analytics: $9/month. Plausible: $9/month. Umami: Free to self-host, $9/month for cloud.
For comparison, Google Analytics 4 is free but requires significant setup time. Most makers spend more time setting up GA4 than they save in insights.
What metrics should I actually track?▼
Start with: page views, unique visitors, traffic sources, and basic user behavior. As you grow, add: conversion rates, user retention, and revenue metrics.
Don't track everything. Focus on metrics that drive decisions. Most successful products track 5-10 key metrics, not hundreds.
Is self-hosting worth the effort?▼
For most people: no. Self-hosting Umami saves $108/year but requires server maintenance, updates, and troubleshooting. Your time is worth more than $9/month.
Only self-host if you're technical, enjoy server management, or have specific data sovereignty requirements.
How do I handle GDPR compliance?▼
Privacy-focused tools like Simple Analytics, Plausible, and Datafa.st are designed to be GDPR compliant by default. They don't use cookies, don't track personal data, and don't require cookie consent banners.
Still update your privacy policy to mention analytics, but you won't need complex cookie management systems.
When should I upgrade from free to paid?▼
Upgrade when you hit the free tier limits or need advanced features. For Datafa.st: when you need more data retention or advanced metrics. For Simple Analytics/Plausible: when you exceed the monthly page view limits.
Most makers can stay on free tiers for 6-12 months before needing to upgrade.
Ready to Understand Your Users?
Stop guessing and start measuring. Pick an analytics tool, get it set up, then focus on building features your users actually want.