Plausible Analytics
Semrush
| Feature | Plausible Analytics | Semrush |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $9/mo | Free / from $139.95/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best For | privacy-conscious-businesses, bloggers, developers, eu-businesses | digital-marketers, agencies, enterprise, ppc-managers |
| Founded | 2019 | 2008 |
| Pageviews | ✓ | ✗ |
| Referrers | ✓ | ✗ |
| Goals | ✓ | ✗ |
| Custom Events | ✓ | ✗ |
| Utm Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Api | ✓ | ✗ |
| Self Hosting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Keyword Research | ✗ | ✓ |
| Site Audit | ✗ | ✓ |
| Rank Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Competitor Analysis | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ppc Tools | ✗ | ✓ |
| Content Marketing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Social Media | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Plausible Analytics Pros
- No cookies — GDPR compliant without consent banner
- Script is under 1KB (vs GA's 45KB)
- Open-source and transparent
- Simple dashboard — no overwhelming data
✗ Plausible Analytics Cons
- Less detailed than Google Analytics
- No free tier (but affordable)
- Limited segmentation and custom reports
✓ Semrush Pros
- Most comprehensive marketing toolkit
- Excellent PPC and advertising tools
- Content marketing platform included
- Social media management built-in
✗ Semrush Cons
- Very expensive for small businesses
- Interface can feel overwhelming
- Some data less accurate for non-US markets
The Verdict
Plausible Analytics is built for privacy conscious businesses and bloggers, with a focus on pageviews and referrers. Semrush targets digital marketers and agencies and leads with keyword-research and site-audit.
On pricing, Plausible Analytics is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $9/mo compared to $139.95/mo for Semrush. That $130.95/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Semrush has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Plausible Analytics requires a paid subscription from day one.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.