When it comes to measuring website performance, most companies default to Google Analytics. It’s free, powerful, and widely known – but it comes with trade-offs, especially around privacy, data ownership, and ethics.
At Weave, we’ve made a deliberate choice to use Plausible Analytics instead. This privacy-friendly analytics tool aligns with our values and gives our clients accurate, actionable data without compromising user trust. Here’s why it matters – and why you might want to make the switch too.
Privacy first – no cookies, no personal data collection
Plausible is a privacy-focused analytics tool that doesn’t use cookies and doesn’t track or store any personally identifiable information (PII). This means:
- No cookie consent banners required – your visitors can browse without interruption.
- GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy compliance is simple and built-in.
- Your audience can trust that their activity isn’t being linked to an individual profile.
In contrast, Google Analytics collects detailed user data and stores it on Google’s servers, often feeding into broader advertising systems.
Ethical by design – no tracking for ad targeting
With Google Analytics, much of the data collected can indirectly support Google’s advertising ecosystem – even if that’s not your intention. Plausible, by contrast, exists solely to provide you with insights, not to monetise your visitors’ behaviour.
By using analytics software that doesn’t feed into advertising networks, you send a clear message: your visitors’ privacy comes before profit.
Full data ownership
With Plausible, your analytics data belongs entirely to you. It’s hosted in the EU under strict privacy laws, and you can export or delete it at any time.
Google Analytics processes and stores data on its own servers – meaning you don’t have the same level of control or exclusivity over your website information.
Minimal, honest tracking
Plausible focuses on the metrics that matter: page views, referral sources, device types, and simple goal conversions. This means:
- Less time wasted digging through complex, unnecessary reports.
- No inflated vanity metrics that don’t drive results.
- A clearer, simpler picture of what’s working on your website.
For many businesses, especially small to medium-sized companies in New Zealand, this simplicity makes decision-making easier and faster.
Faster websites
Plausible’s tracking script is lightweight – less than 1KB – compared to Google Analytics’ much larger code. This:
- Improves site speed, which boosts SEO rankings.
- Reduces bandwidth use for visitors on mobile or slower connections.
- Keeps the browsing experience smooth and responsive.
Supporting independent, ethical software
Plausible is open-source and independently run – not part of a big tech conglomerate. Its business model is built on sustainable subscriptions, not surveillance or targeted advertising.
For Weave, this aligns perfectly with our mission to choose tools that respect both our clients and their customers. By supporting ethical technology providers, we help shape a more privacy-friendly web.
Why this matters for your brand
Choosing Plausible over Google Analytics isn’t just a technical decision – it’s a brand decision. In an era when data misuse is in the headlines daily, being able to say “We respect your privacy” and mean it is a competitive advantage.
It shows your customers that:
- You’re transparent about how their information is used.
- You value their trust as much as their business.
- You choose technology partners whose ethics align with yours.
Ready to work with an agency that puts privacy first?
At Weave, every decision – from the CMS we choose to the analytics tools we recommend – reflects our commitment to ethics, transparency, and trust. If you’re ready to work with a partner who treats your customers’ privacy with care, let’s talk.
Contact us today to find out how we can create a website that performs beautifully while respecting your visitors.
- About the Author
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Transforming technical complexity into business clarity is what Gareth does best.
Gareth has been building for the web since the mid-90s – from the early hand-coded days to leading large ISPs and telcos, and now Weave Digital Studio with his wife, Liz.
At Weave, he helps professional services, science, and agritech organisations turn complex, data-heavy information into clear, compelling digital solutions that engage the right audiences and support informed decision-making.
An advocate for open source, online-privacy, and high-performance hosting, Gareth also manages a custom WordPress hosting stack powering 100’s of sites across New Zealand and Australia.
Gareth is fueled by single origin coffee, vinyl records, calisthenics for fitness, and a steady supply of bad dad jokes – plus the occasional game of netball to keep him honest.