Fathom Lite vs GoatCounter
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted web analytics options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
GoatCounter
Easy and privacy-friendly web analytics
| Feature | Fathom Lite | GoatCounter |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 57 · Fair | 85 · Excellent |
| Category | Web Analytics | Web Analytics |
| License | MIT | EUPL-1.2 |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, docker | binary, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 8,020 | ★ 5,994 |
| First released | 2018 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Google Analytics | Google Analytics |
What are Fathom Lite and GoatCounter?
Fathom Lite
Fathom Lite is the open-source edition of Fathom Analytics, providing simple, privacy-focused website analytics. It targets users who want a lightweight self-hosted analytics tool. It is deployed as a single binary or via Docker.
- Simple privacy-focused analytics
- Single-binary deployment
- No cookies
- Lightweight dashboard
GoatCounter
GoatCounter is an open-source web analytics platform that is easy to use and privacy-friendly, collecting no personal data. It targets small site owners and hobbyists. It is deployed as a single binary or via Docker.
- No personal data collected
- Single-binary deployment
- Works without JavaScript
- Lightweight and fast
Fathom Lite vs GoatCounter: key differences
Both projects are written in Go. Licensing differs — MIT for Fathom Lite versus EUPL-1.2 for GoatCounter.
Why pick each one
Choose Fathom Lite if…
- Very easy to run
- Privacy-friendly
- Lightweight
Watch out for
- Lite edition no longer actively developed
- Basic feature set
Choose GoatCounter if…
- Extremely easy to run
- Very lightweight
- Privacy-friendly
Watch out for
- Basic reporting depth
- Small project
Frequently asked questions
Is Fathom Lite or GoatCounter better?
Neither is universally better. Fathom Lite has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Fathom Lite and GoatCounter free and open-source?
Yes. Fathom Lite is licensed under MIT and GoatCounter under EUPL-1.2. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Fathom Lite and GoatCounter with Docker?
Fathom Lite: yes. GoatCounter: yes.