nilly vs Offen Fair Web Analytics

Compare nilly and Offen Fair Web Analytics on capabilities, jurisdiction, assurance, and fit for European buyers.

Both listed as alternatives to: Fathom Analytics, Google Analytics

Logo: nilly

nilly

Switzerland· Web Analytics

Needs review

Shortlist nilly when you want Swiss-entity, cookieless, ultra-light site analytics with realtime dashboards, city geo, custom events, unlimited sites, and an API—without GA4 consent weight. Skip when you need self-host/open source, enterprise audit packs, or deep marketing-suite analytics; consider Plausible Analytics, Simple Analytics, or etracker instead.

Cookieless trackingSwiss-hosted (claimed)Swiss entitySub-1 kB scriptREST APISaaS only
Logo: Offen Fair Web Analytics

Offen Fair Web Analytics

Germany· Web Analytics

Needs review

Shortlist when you want self-hosted, Apache-2.0 analytics that only measures after opt-in, encrypts events in the browser, and lets visitors open their own data in the Auditorium. Skip when you need cookieless full-coverage metrics, session replay/heatmaps, or zero-ops managed EU hosting—consider Plausible, Pirsch, or Friendly Analytics instead.

Opt-in onlyBrowser E2E encryptionSelf-hostedApache-2.0Visitor data accessBerlin-based project
nilly vs Offen Fair Web Analytics: Snapshot
FeatureLogo: nillynillyLogo: Offen Fair Web AnalyticsOffen Fair Web Analytics
Country of originSwitzerlandGermany
CategoryWeb AnalyticsWeb Analytics
Open sourceNoYes
Self-hostedNoYes
HeadquartersSwitzerlandGermany
Legal entityLyo GmbH, Europaallee 41, 8004 Zürich (CHE-417.675.763)Public legal notice lists Frederik Ring, Berlin (offen.software); product authors Frederik Ring and Hendrik Niefeld—no separate GmbH name verified on imprint
Governing lawSwitzerland (terms)Germany (indicative from Berlin imprint)
US parent / controlNo known US parentNo known US parent
CLOUD Act exposure (indicative)MediumLow
Hosting / residencyVendor FAQ: analytics servers in Switzerland (multiple locations). Public site reverse-DNS: KreativMedia/METANET Zürich. Customer-account subprocessors named in privacy policy: Stripe (US payments), Mailerlite (email). Avatars via Gravatar. No full public subprocessor list for backups/monitoring/CDN.Product is operator self-hosted (your VPS/cloud/on-prem). No Offen multi-tenant analytics SaaS or vendor subprocessor list for visitor events. Related marketing site (offen.software) names Hetzner Online GmbH (Germany) as host—not the analytics data path. Optional community deploys include Heroku (operator choice).
Summary

Swiss privacy-first web analytics (Lyo GmbH): cookieless, sub-1kB tracking with realtime dashboards, city-level geo, custom events, unlimited sites, and a REST API as a lightweight Google Analytics alternative.

Open-source, self-hosted web analytics with opt-in consent, browser-side end-to-end encryption, and a shared Auditorium so visitors can see and control their own usage data.

Tags
At a glance: nilly vs Offen Fair Web Analytics
At a glanceLogo: nillynillyLogo: Offen Fair Web AnalyticsOffen Fair Web Analytics
HQZürich, Switzerland (Lyo GmbH)Not listed
Legal entityLyo GmbH (CHE-417.675.763)Not listed
Product modelSaaS web analytics (not self-hosted)Not listed
TrackingCookieless; no IP/fingerprint claimsNot listed
Hosting (claimed)Switzerland (multi-site)Not listed
Commercial modelTraffic-based plans; trial; no permanent free tierNot listed
Live site notekandur.one (nilly branding; nilly.io DNS failed at research)Not listed
HQ / authorsNot listedBerlin, Germany (Frederik Ring & Hendrik Niefeld)
LicenseNot listedApache-2.0 (code/docs); logo CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0
DeliveryNot listedSelf-host only (binary, Docker, community deploys)
Consent modelNot listedOpt-in only; first-party cookies
Default retentionNot listed6 months (configurable shorter)
Funding noteNot listedNLnet NGI support (project-stated)
Key capabilities: nilly vs Offen Fair Web Analytics
Key capabilitiesLogo: nillynillyLogo: Offen Fair Web AnalyticsOffen Fair Web Analytics
Cookieless trackingYesNot listed
Swiss-hosted (claimed)YesNot listed
Swiss entityYesNot listed
Sub-1 kB scriptYesNot listed
REST APIYesNot listed
SaaS onlyYesNot listed
Opt-in onlyNot listedYes
Browser E2E encryptionNot listedYes
Self-hostedNot listedYes
Apache-2.0Not listedYes
Visitor data accessNot listedYes
Berlin-based projectNot listedYes

nilly

  • Sub-1 kB cookieless tracking script

    Vendor documents a client script under 1 kB with no cookies, no IP tracking, and no fingerprinting for site visitors. Suited to teams that want aggregate traffic metrics without analytics cookie banners; still get counsel for your jurisdiction and CMP setup.

  • Realtime dashboard with geo, tech, and campaigns

    Dashboards cover live visitors, overview metrics, top pages, referrers, UTM campaigns, geography from continent to city, and device/browser/OS breakdowns—enough for content and acquisition decisions without a full product-analytics suite.

  • Custom events, CSV export, and email reports

    Define custom events for conversion-style actions, export statistics as CSV, and receive email reports. Fits operators who need lightweight conversion signals and offline analysis rather than session replay or multi-step funnels.

  • REST API for stats, websites, and account

    Documented API endpoints (Bearer API key) manage stats queries (pageviews, visitors, referrers, events, geo, devices, and more), websites, and account objects—useful for internal dashboards or automations on traffic-based plans that include API access.

  • Unlimited websites on traffic-based plans

    Public pricing model is pageview-tier SaaS with unlimited websites per account and a short free trial—not a permanent free tier. Good for agencies or multi-brand operators who outgrow per-site free plans elsewhere; confirm current tiers on the vendor site.

Offen Fair Web Analytics

  • Opt-in only collection with first-party cookies

    No analytics events are recorded until the visitor actively consents. Cookies are first-party and the tracker is meant to run on a same-site subdomain so third-party cookie restrictions and cross-site tracking models do not apply. Visitors who never opt in leave no usage trail—expect lower absolute volumes than cookieless tools that measure by default.

  • Browser-side end-to-end encryption of usage events

    Clients encrypt usage data before it leaves the browser; the server stores ciphertext and cannot decrypt events alone. Only the visitor (via their cookie) and the matching operator account can open that visitor's data in the Auditorium. Practical impact: a compromised database or overly broad ops access does not yield plaintext browsing histories the way a typical self-hosted analytics DB would.

  • Auditorium for both operators and visitors

    Operators see aggregates across pages where the installation is active (unique users/sessions, top pages, filters). Each opted-in visitor can open the same style of UI for their own data only, with plain-language metric explanations, and can delete data or fully opt out later. This is the fair design point: measurement is not a one-way glass.

  • Essential metrics without IP or User-Agent capture

    Dashboards cover real-time activity, page views, unique users and sessions, bounce rate, returning users, top pages, referrers, UTM campaign/source, landing and exit pages, weekly retention, and load time. Location is country-level from timezone mapping; mobile share uses orientation capability—not IP geolocation or UA parsing. No heatmaps, session replay, or warehouse-grade product analytics.

  • Lightweight self-host: binary, Docker, SQLite or SQL

    Production installs use a single binary (Linux/Windows/macOS) or the offen/offen image; docs also cover Heroku, Uberspace, and YunoHost. Default store is SQLite; MySQL and Postgres are supported. AutoTLS can request Let's Encrypt certificates. Config is environment variables or offen.env. You own uptime, backups, SMTP for password reset, and the subdomain layout.

  • Multi-site accounts, teams, and short retention

    One installation can cover multiple websites with shared team access. Default retention is six months with automatic deletion; operators can shorten retention (e.g. 12 weeks, 30 days, 7 days) knowing shorter values purge older events on startup. Consent banner appearance is customizable; UI locales include EN, DE, FR, ES, PT, and VI.

Assurance & compliance: nilly vs Offen Fair Web Analytics
Assurance & complianceLogo: nillynillyLogo: Offen Fair Web AnalyticsOffen Fair Web Analytics
Independent security / no-logs audit
Not found

No public third-party audit report found for tracking claims.

Not found

No public third-party audit PDF found; coordinated disclosure via SECURITY.md email only.

ISO 27001
Not found

No vendor ISO 27001 certificate published on product site (underlying Swiss host DCs may be certified separately).

Not found

No public ISO 27001 certification claim found on official site or docs.

SOC 2 / SOC 3
Not found
Not found

No public SOC 2/3 report found.

GDPR / EU data protection
Vendor claimed

Swiss entity; privacy policy includes GDPR rights language; cookieless visitor tracking claimed. Confirm DPA for B2B.

Vendor claimed

EU authors; opt-in, data minimization (no IP/UA), visitor access/erasure, short default retention, Datensparsamkeit framing. Self-host means operator remains controller—confirm your legal basis and notice.

US CLOUD Act exposure (indicative)
Partial

Swiss operator, no known US parent, Swiss-claimed analytics hosting; US SaaS subprocessors Stripe (payments) and Gravatar (avatars) on customer path. Not legal advice.

Partial

EuropeanStack assessment: no known US parent; product not delivered as US-hosted vendor SaaS. Operator-chosen infrastructure (including optional Heroku/US cloud) can still create CLOUD Act paths for stored ciphertext/metadata. Not legal advice.

Data processing agreement (B2B)
Not found

No public DPA download found; request from vendor.

Not applicable

No multi-tenant vendor analytics processing relationship documented; operator self-hosts and is typically controller. Custom development/support via offen.software is separate from a standard SaaS DPA.

EU AI Act
Not applicable

Web analytics product; not marketed as an AI system.

Not applicable

Web analytics metrics product; not an AI system product.

Swiss Made Software / Swiss Web labels
Vendor claimed

Cited on About and Swiss Union member page as recognition/labels—not a security audit.

Not listed
Considerations & known limitations: nilly vs Offen Fair Web Analytics
Considerations & known limitationsLogo: nillynillyLogo: Offen Fair Web AnalyticsOffen Fair Web Analytics
Brand/domain transition (nilly.io vs kandur.one)
Medium

Product still branded nilly, but the live marketing/API host is kandur.one; nilly.io did not resolve in DNS during research. Verify tracking domains, docs, and status before production cutover.

Not listed
US SaaS on customer account path
Medium

Stripe (payments) and Gravatar (avatars) are US-group services. Visitor metrics are claimed Swiss-hosted and non-personal, but account/billing data is not Switzerland-only end-to-end.

Not listed
Thin public assurance pack
Medium

No public ISO 27001/SOC 2, independent security audit, or DPA page found. Fine for many SMB shortlists; friction for regulated enterprise questionnaires.

Not listed
No self-host or open-source edition
Low

Cannot run on your own infra or audit server code from a public repo. Hard limit for sovereignty programs that require self-host.

Not listed
Small independent operator
Low

Founder-owned Swiss GmbH without VC narrative—positive for independence, but buyers should assess support SLAs, roadmap continuity, and single-vendor concentration.

Not listed
Opt-in undercounts absolute trafficNot listed
High

Visitors who never consent generate no events. Growth and content KPIs will not match cookieless tools or GA-style default measurement—treat as design, not a misconfiguration.

You own uptime, backups, and secretsNot listed
Medium

No managed Offen cloud. Operators must run HTTPS/subdomain layout, set OFFEN_SECRET for stable sessions, configure SMTP for resets, and back up SQLite/SQL—plus avoid reverse proxies that log IPs if minimization is a goal.

E2E crypto is vendor-claimed architectureNot listed
Medium

Browser-side encryption and server inability to decrypt are core claims from project docs/README, not independently audited in public materials found. Security-sensitive orgs should review source or commission assessment.

Hosting choice reintroduces cloud jurisdictionNot listed
Medium

Self-host on US-group cloud or Heroku means CLOUD Act/subprocessor analysis shifts to your host even though Offen itself is Berlin-based OSS without a vendor SaaS region map.

No public ISO/SOC or audit packNot listed
Low

Procurement checklists that require vendor ISO 27001/SOC 2 will stall; evidence is open source and design docs, not cert registry entries.

Essential metrics onlyNot listed
Medium

No heatmaps, session replay, advanced funnels, or product-analytics warehouse features. Wrong tool if the shortlist criterion is UX research depth rather than fair traffic statistics.

Fit

nilly

Best fit when

  • Privacy-conscious SMBs and indie sites replacing GA4 with aggregate metrics only
  • Teams that want Swiss legal entity and Swiss-located analytics servers
  • Operators running many sites who benefit from unlimited websites on traffic tiers
  • Builders who need a simple REST API for pageviews, referrers, geo, and events
  • Sites prioritizing minimal JS weight and fewer analytics consent prompts

Poor fit when

  • Organizations that must self-host or review open-source analytics code
  • Buyers needing published ISO 27001/SOC 2 or a full public DPA/subprocessor pack
  • Marketing teams requiring session replay, heatmaps, or advanced e-commerce/ad sync suites
  • Enterprises that need SSO/SCIM, formal SLAs, and large-vendor assurance paperwork as table stakes

Consider instead when

  • When: You want open-source and/or self-host privacy analytics with a larger community

    Consider: Plausible Analytics or Pirsch Analytics

    nilly is proprietary SaaS only.

  • When: You want another European cookieless SaaS with a simple product story

    Consider: Simple Analytics

    Dutch peer; compare geo depth, API, and residency claims side by side.

  • When: You need deeper marketing, shop, and tag/consent analytics for EU enterprises

    Consider: etracker

    German suite-oriented alternative; heavier than nilly's lightweight dashboard.

  • When: You depend on free unlimited scale and Google ads/ecosystem integration

    Consider: Google Analytics (GA4)

    Different privacy and residency tradeoffs; not a sovereignty shortlist.

Offen Fair Web Analytics

Best fit when

  • Public-sector, media, NGO, or mission-driven sites that need visitor-visible transparency and strict opt-in
  • EU teams that must keep analytics off third-party trackers and can run a small always-on instance
  • Operators who want first-party subdomain cookies, CSP-aware embedding, and no IP/User-Agent collection
  • Organisations evaluating fair-processing design over maximum measurement coverage
  • Teams comfortable with SQLite or SQL self-host ops (binary or Docker) and publishing their own privacy notice

Poor fit when

  • Product or growth teams that require near-complete traffic measurement without consent friction
  • Needs for heatmaps, session replay, funnels, or ad-ecosystem attribution comparable to Hotjar/Mixpanel/GA
  • Buyers seeking a vendor-managed multi-tenant analytics cloud with SLAs and a signed vendor DPA as processor
  • Large enterprises that require public ISO 27001/SOC 2 or third-party security audit packs before shortlist

Consider instead when

  • When: You want privacy-oriented analytics with managed EU hosting and lower consent friction

    Consider: Plausible Analytics or Pirsch Analytics

    Typically optimised for simpler cookieless or low-friction models and hosted plans; less radical visitor Auditorium design than Offen.

  • When: You need EU hosted privacy analytics with operator support and less self-host burden

    Consider: Friendly Analytics

    European catalog peer oriented to hosted privacy analytics; compare consent model and feature depth to Offen’s opt-in + E2E approach.

  • When: You need deep product analytics, funnels, or session UX tooling rather than fair traffic metrics

    Consider: Hotjar, Mixpanel, or a full GA4 stack (with legal review)

    Different category: richer product/UX analytics, different jurisdiction and subprocessor profile.

Open questions for due diligence

nilly

  • Will Lyo GmbH sign a B2B DPA and provide a current full subprocessor list (including backups, monitoring, CDN)?
  • Is analytics data retained only on Swiss hosts, or are any DR/replicas outside Switzerland?
  • What is the durable public domain for tracking scripts and API (kandur.one vs nilly.io) for the next 12 months?
  • Are there enterprise features (SSO, roles, retention controls, MSA/SLA) beyond self-serve traffic plans?
  • Can the vendor provide any independent security assessment under NDA?

Offen Fair Web Analytics

  • Will your traffic and KPI model tolerate opt-in-only measurement after a pilot on a non-critical property?
  • Where will you host the instance (EU on-prem/VPS vs US-group cloud), and who holds OFFEN_SECRET and DB backups?
  • Do procurement rules require third-party audits or ISO/SOC that Offen does not publish?
  • Do you need a signed vendor DPA as processor, or is controller-only self-host acceptable to counsel?
  • Is subdomain + CSP (script-src/frame-src + unsafe-inline styles for the banner) feasible on your main site?