Quick Answer: Simple Analytics is a lightweight, privacy-focused web analytics platform based and hosted entirely within the European Union. Unlike traditional tools that rely on cookie-based tracking, Simple Analytics collects zero personally identifiable information (PII), making it 100% compliant with GDPR, PECR, and CCPA. With features like AI-powered insights, cookie-less tracking, and a one-page dashboard, it's the privacy-first alternative to Google Analytics that lets you understand your traffic ethically without annoying cookie banners.
In the modern digital landscape, the "free" data model used by big tech is under fire. As global privacy regulations tighten, the standard practice of harvesting visitor data for advertising is no longer just ethically questionable; it is a legal liability. According to Statista, Google Analytics (GA) currently holds a market share of over 85%. Yet, many organizations are unaware that European data protection agencies (such as France's CNIL and Austria's DSB) have already ruled that its use can violate GDPR.
Enter Simple Analytics.
Marketed as the privacy-first Google Analytics alternative, Simple Analytics promises to give you the insights you need to grow your business without cookies, without tracking, and without a direct "no" from your legal team. In this Simple Analytics review, we'll analyze whether this EU-based tool can actually replace the data-devouring machine that is GA4.
Simple Analytics is a lightweight, privacy-focused web analytics platform based and hosted entirely within the European Union (specifically the Netherlands). Unlike traditional tools that rely on cookie-based tracking and IP fingerprinting, Simple Analytics collects zero personally identifiable information (PII).
The platform is designed for simplicity, offering a one-page dashboard that provides essential metrics like page views, referrers, and country data without the complexity of deep-nested reports. Because it doesn't use cookies, you can finally say "adiós" to annoying cookie banners while remaining 100% compliant with GDPR, PECR, and CCPA.
The trust behind Simple Analytics is rooted in its "Build in Public" philosophy. The tool was founded by Adriaan van Rossum(@adriaandotcom) and Iron Brands, two developers who were tired of the "if it's free, you're the product" model.
The founders operate with total transparency, sharing their revenue, costs, and a public roadmap on their website. This founder-led DNA ensures that the tool remains ethical and independent of advertiser interests. By choosing to host data on Dutch servers, they ensure that website data never leaves the E.U., providing a haven for brands that value user confidentiality.
Simple Analytics follows a "per-pageview" pricing model that allows hobbyists and businesses to scale accurately:
Simple Analytics is the "Gold Standard" for ethical web tracking. It provides the essential logic found in enterprise tools but presents it in a way that is respectful to your visitors. If you want to stop "stalking" your users and start understanding your traffic ethically, this tool is a top-tier recommendation.
Once you have used Simple Analytics to clean up your data practices and your traffic begins to convert into trials or subscriptions, you face a new, invisible threat: Revenue Leakage.
Attracting a privacy-conscious customer through ethical tracking is a significant win. However, if that customer is a "serial disputer" or uses a fraudulent payment method during checkout, your profitability is at risk. While Simple Analytics handles your front-end ethics, you need a different tool to protect your back-end revenue.
If you are using Simple Analytics to scale your business, you need 1Capture to protect the revenue that traffic generates. 1Capture is a Stripe-partnered revenue recovery and fraud prevention tool that acts as your brand's financial shield.
Why 1Capture is a non-negotiable for your stack:
Don't let payment fraud undermine the momentum your ethical marketing has built. Use Simple Analytics to respect your users, and visit 1Capture Pricing to ensure every dollar you earn stays in your pocket.
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