Fathom Lite vs OpenPanel
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted web analytics options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
OpenPanel
Open-source web and product analytics in one tool
| Feature | Fathom Lite | OpenPanel |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 57 · Fair | 89 · Excellent |
| Category | Web Analytics | Web Analytics |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 8,019 | ★ 7,042 |
| First released | 2018 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Google Analytics | Mixpanel, Google Analytics |
What are Fathom Lite and OpenPanel?
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
OpenPanel
OpenPanel is an open-source analytics platform that combines web analytics with product analytics, positioned as a mix of Mixpanel and Plausible. It tracks events, funnels, and user retention.
- Web and product analytics
- Funnels and retention
- Real-time event tracking
- Privacy-friendly design
Fathom Lite vs OpenPanel: key differences
Fathom Lite is written in Go, while OpenPanel is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for Fathom Lite versus AGPL-3.0 for OpenPanel. Fathom Lite is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for OpenPanel. Fathom Lite is the more established project (first released 2018), while OpenPanel arrived in 2024.
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 OpenPanel if…
- Mixpanel-style features open-source
- Modern dashboard
Watch out for
- Newer project
- Multi-service deployment
Frequently asked questions
Is Fathom Lite or OpenPanel better?
Fathom Lite is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider OpenPanel if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Fathom Lite and OpenPanel free and open-source?
Yes. Fathom Lite is licensed under MIT and OpenPanel under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Fathom Lite and OpenPanel with Docker?
Fathom Lite: yes. OpenPanel: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Fathom Lite or OpenPanel?
Fathom Lite has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for OpenPanel. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.