Quick answer
Simple Analytics - Simple Analytics wins for most builders who want privacy-first web analytics with generous traffic limits, while Statcounter is better if you need built-in heatmaps, session replay, and marketing-style reporting on a small site.
How the free tiers compare
These tools solve slightly different problems even though both are web analytics on a free tier. Simple Analytics is shaped around low-friction, privacy-first measurement: unlimited pageviews, 5 websites, 1 user, and 30 days of history make it a good fit for owners who care more about clean tracking and longer-term growth than on-site behavior tooling. Statcounter is more classic traffic analytics with more marketing features at the paid level, but its free tier is much tighter at 5,000 sessions per month and 14 days of retention. The big split is not just quota size. Simple Analytics is easier to outgrow on team size and retention, while Statcounter is easier to outgrow on traffic volume. If you need deeper visitor behavior tools like heatmaps or replay, Statcounter’s paid path is more relevant. If you mainly need simple site analytics with room to grow, Simple Analytics is the broader default.
Simple Analytics vs Statcounter free tier, side by side
| Simple AnalyticsFTV 55 | StatcounterFTV 50 | |
|---|---|---|
| UsersSimple Analytics explicitly caps the free plan at 1 user. | 1 | Not stated in the free-tier items |
| Websites / projectsSimple Analytics gives 5 websites on free. | 5 websites | Not stated in the free-tier items |
| Pageviews / sessionsThe metrics are different, so this is not a direct apples-to-apples cap. | Unlimited pageviews | Up to 5,000 sessions per month |
| Data retentionSimple Analytics keeps more history on free. | 30 days | 14 days |
| Free credit card requirementBoth inputs explicitly say ftv_no_cc_required is true. | No card required | No card required |
After you outgrow the free tier
Simple Analytics starts with a flat $15/month plan, then moves to a per-seat Team plan at $40/month with $20 per additional user, and ends at custom Enterprise pricing. Statcounter starts at a tiered $9/mo Premium plan and $19/mo Premium Plus, with the main differences showing up in included features and retention rather than a per-seat charge. For a solo builder, Statcounter is cheaper after free; for a small team or anyone needing more websites and longer retention, Simple Analytics’ free-to-paid jump is steeper but more aligned with multi-site use.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Simple Analytics | Statcounter |
|---|---|---|
| solo builder, 1 site, modest trafficBoth are above free once you need paid features, but Statcounter’s entry tier is cheaper. | $15/mo | $9/mo |
| 2 users, 10 websitesSimple Analytics would require Team for the extra user and site count; Statcounter’s paid tiers do not state a user/site-based price in the provided input. | $40/mo | $9/mo |
| longer retention need, 3 yearsBoth first paid tiers include 3 years retention, based on the provided plan details. | $15/mo | $9/mo |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Simple Analytics when…
- You want unlimited pageviews on the free tier and do not want traffic volume to be the first constraint.
- You only need one analyst and up to 5 websites while you validate a few projects or client sites.
- You care about privacy-first analytics and want a lighter setup for basic pageviews, referrers, UTM sources, countries, and events.
- You expect to hit history limits before you hit traffic limits and want a cleaner path to longer retention later.
Pick Statcounter when…
- You run a smaller site that stays under 5,000 sessions per month and want a free plan with real-time visitor feeds and drill-down reports.
- You need marketing-oriented features such as conversion tracking, Google Ads integration, or UTM campaign tracking.
- You specifically want heatmaps or session replay in the paid tiers.
- You are okay with shorter free retention and the free plan’s traffic cap because your site is low-volume.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, Simple Analytics is the better default if you want a free tier that does not force you to think about traffic caps right away and you prefer privacy-first tracking. Statcounter is the better pick when your main need is a low-cost paid upgrade with marketing features like heatmaps, replay, and campaign reporting. If you are choosing only by free tier generosity, Simple Analytics is easier to live with. If you expect to pay soon and want the cheapest path, Statcounter starts lower.
Read the full listings: Simple Analytics and Statcounter. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.