Middleware vs Plausible
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted web analytics options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Middleware
Tool designed to help engineering leaders measure and analyze the
VS
Plausible
Lightweight, privacy-friendly website analytics
| Feature | Middleware | Plausible |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Web Analytics | Web Analytics |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Elixir |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,620 | ★ 28,416 |
| First released | 2025 | 2019 |
| Replaces | — | Google Analytics |
Why pick each one
Choose Middleware if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.6k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Middleware or Plausible better?
Neither is universally better. Plausible has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Middleware and Plausible free and open-source?
Yes. Middleware is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Plausible under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Middleware and Plausible with Docker?
Middleware: yes. Plausible: yes.