Google Analytics vs Plausible: The GDPR Compliance Showdown
Explore how Estonia's Plausible offers a privacy-first alternative to US-based Google Analytics and why it might be crucial for your EU operations.
Should You Switch to Plausible?
Enhanced privacy, EU server, GDPR compliance, simplicity
Advanced analytics and integrations in Google Analytics
Switch if privacy is priority; stay for advanced features
At a Glance
US data laws
GDPR protected
Google Analytics
Contact
Plausible
subscription
Privacy & Compliance Comparison
Critical data sovereignty factors at a glance
| Criteria | Google Analytics | Plausible |
|---|---|---|
Server Location | US, EU | EU |
GDPR Compliance | Partial (SCCs) | Full |
Open Source | ||
E2E Encryption | Enterprise only | Optional |
Data Portability | Full export | Full export |
CLOUD Act Notice
Google Analytics is a US company and must comply with CLOUD Act data requests, even for data stored in EU data centers. Plausible is not subject to US jurisdiction.
Google Analytics
🇺🇸Plausible
🇪🇪Plausible
US Data Storage
Data subject to US CLOUD Act and may be accessed by US authorities
EU Data Protection
Data protected under GDPR with EU-only data residency
Certifications & Compliance
No certifications listed
Reasons to Switch
- ✓No cookies used, reducing privacy concerns.
- ✓EU-hosted servers ensure GDPR compliance.
- ✓Lightweight script, faster page loads.
- ✓Open-source, allowing custom modifications.
Things to Consider
- !Lacks Google Ads integration.
- !No multi-channel attribution modeling.
- !Migration requires data export/import.
Migration Overview
Depends on data size and complexity
Quick Steps
Create Plausible account and configure settings
Export and prepare data from Google Analytics
Import data, test integrations, and migrate users
Other alternatives to Google Analytics
Ready to make the switch?
Start using Plausible today and take control of your data privacy.