Piwik vs Plausible: What are the differences?

# Key Differences Between Piwik and Plausible

Piwik and Plausible are both web analytics tools, but they have key differences that set them apart and make them suitable for different needs and preferences.

1. **Data Ownership**: Piwik allows users to host their own data on their servers, giving users complete ownership and control over their data. Plausible, on the other hand, is a cloud-based service, so users have less control over where their data is stored and how it is used.
 
2. **Open Source vs Closed Source**: Piwik is open-source software, which means users can view and modify the source code as they please. Plausible, on the other hand, is a closed-source service, so users don't have access to the source code and can't make modifications themselves.

3. **Feature Set**: Piwik offers a wide range of features, including heatmaps, session recordings, and goals tracking. Plausible, on the other hand, focuses on providing essential analytics without any extra or unnecessary features, keeping the interface clean and simple.

4. **Cost**: Piwik is a self-hosted solution that is free to use, but users may incur costs for hosting and maintaining their own servers. Plausible offers a subscription-based pricing model, where users pay a monthly fee based on their website traffic.

5. **Privacy**: Piwik is known for its strong privacy features, including the ability to anonymize visitor IP addresses and comply with GDPR regulations. Plausible also takes privacy seriously, emphasizing the use of ethical data practices and not relying on cookies for tracking.

6. **Community Support**: Piwik has a large and active community of developers and users who contribute to the project and provide support. Plausible is a newer tool and is still growing its community, but it has a dedicated support team that is responsive to user inquiries.

In Summary, Piwik and Plausible differ in terms of data ownership, open-source vs closed-source nature, feature set, cost, privacy focus, and community support, catering to different preferences and needs of users.