Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

JSON Server VS Plausible.io

Compare JSON Server VS Plausible.io and see what are their differences

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JSON Server logo JSON Server

Get a full fake REST API with zero coding in less than 30 seconds. For front-end developers who need a quick back-end for prototyping and mocking

Plausible.io logo Plausible.io

Plausible Analytics is a simple, open-source, lightweight (< 1 KB) and privacy-friendly web analytics alternative to Google Analytics. Made and hosted in the EU, powered by European-owned cloud infrastructure 🇪🇺
  • JSON Server Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-01
  • Plausible.io Landing page
    Landing page //
    2020-07-07

Plausible Analytics is not designed to be a clone of Google Analytics. It is meant as a simple-to-use replacement and a privacy-friendly alternative that can help many site owners.

  • It's quick, simple to use and understand with all the metrics displayed on one page. Doesn't track hundreds of metrics like Google Analytics does

  • Lightweight script of less than 1 KB so sites load fast. The script is 45 times smaller script than the Google Analytics one

  • Doesn't use cookies so there's no need to worry about cookie banners

  • Doesn't track personal data so it's compliant with GDPR out of the box and you don't need to worry about asking for data consent

  • It's open source with the code available on GitHub so you can even self host exactly the same product free as in beer

  • Unlike Google Analytics, the cloud product is not free as in beer because the business model is subscriptions rather than selling the data of your visitors. Plausible Analytics is bootstrapped without any external funding so the subscription fees help cover the costs and time spent on development.

JSON Server

Website
github.com
Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Platforms
-
Release Date
-

Plausible.io

$ Details
paid Free Trial $9.0 / Monthly (10,000 pageviews)
Platforms
Web Browser Google Chrome Firefox Safari Wordpress
Release Date
2019 April

JSON Server features and specs

  • Ease of Setup
    JSON Server can be set up quickly with minimal configuration, making it ideal for prototyping and rapid development. It allows developers to have a fully functioning REST API within minutes.
  • RESTful API
    It provides a standard RESTful API out of the box, allowing developers to perform all CRUD operations. This is helpful for simulating a real-world server while testing client-side applications.
  • Customization
    JSON Server supports middlewares, routes, and custom rules, allowing developers to customize the behavior and structure of the API to better suit their needs.
  • Fakes Backend Data
    It's great for simulating backend responses without needing a real backend setup, useful in front-end development to test components and interactions.
  • Lightweight
    As a lightweight server, it requires fewer resources and is quite simple compared to setting up a full-fledged backend server.

Possible disadvantages of JSON Server

  • Not for Production
    JSON Server is designed for development and testing. It is not suitable for production use due to performance limits and lack of robust security features.
  • Limited Functionality
    While JSON Server is great for basic CRUD operations, it lacks advanced features like authentication, authorization, and complex querying.
  • Data Persistence
    Data is stored in a JSON file, and while this is convenient for testing, it is not suitable for applications that require persistent and scalable data storage.
  • In-memory Limitations
    Being an in-memory server, it may have issues with handling large datasets or complex data structures efficiently.
  • Manual Data Reset
    Any changes made to the JSON file while the server is running require manual resets or reloads to reflect in the API, which can be cumbersome during continuous development cycles.

Plausible.io features and specs

  • Privacy-focused
    Plausible does not collect personal data about your visitors and is fully compliant with GDPR, CCPA, and PECR.
  • Simple to Use
    The user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible for users without technical expertise.
  • Lightweight
    Plausible's script is under 1 KB in size, making it fast to load and reducing the impact on site speed.
  • Open-Source
    The platform is open-source, which allows for community contributions and transparency in how data is handled.
  • Real-Time Data
    Plausible provides real-time analytics, which can be useful for monitoring live events and activities on your site.
  • Affordable Pricing
    Offers competitive pricing models that can be more budget-friendly for small to medium-sized businesses compared to other analytics platforms.

Possible disadvantages of Plausible.io

  • Limited Features
    Lacks some advanced features found in more comprehensive analytics tools like Google Analytics, such as multi-channel funnels and detailed demographic information.
  • No Free Tier
    Plausible does not offer a free tier, which could be an obstacle for very small websites or individual users on a tight budget.
  • Basic Reporting
    The reporting may be too basic for larger enterprises that require more granular and customizable analytics.
  • No App Integration
    Currently, Plausible does not offer integrations with mobile app analytics, limiting its use to web applications.
  • Smaller User Base
    As a relatively new and smaller player in the market, it may not have the extensive user community or third-party support seen with more established platforms.

Analysis of Plausible.io

Overall verdict

  • Plausible.io is generally considered to be a good web analytics tool, especially for those who prioritize privacy and simplicity.

Why this product is good

  • Plausible.io is designed with simplicity and privacy at its core, offering a clean and user-friendly interface without tracking personal data or using cookies. It provides essential analytics without overwhelming users with too much information. This focus on privacy can be particularly appealing in a landscape where data concerns are significant. It is also easy to integrate, offers real-time data, and is open source, allowing for more transparency compared to some competitors.

Recommended for

  • Small to medium-sized website owners
  • Bloggers and content creators
  • Businesses and startups focused on privacy
  • Developers who value open source solutions
  • Users looking for an alternative to Google Analytics with a straightforward setup

JSON Server videos

Angular CRUD with Web API Tutorial Part #3 - Setup Local JSON Server and Mock API Endpoints

Plausible.io videos

Cardano Blackboard Series #5: What is plausible deniability?

More videos:

  • Review - How Plausible is the Balkanized America from Crimson Skies? (A Map Analysis)
  • Review - Movie Review - How Plausible is The Martian?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to JSON Server and Plausible.io)
Development
100 100%
0% 0
Analytics
0 0%
100% 100
API Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Web Analytics
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare JSON Server and Plausible.io

JSON Server Reviews

We have no reviews of JSON Server yet.
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Plausible.io Reviews

  1. Happy Paying User :)

    I've been using plausible since Sep 2019 and never had any doubts about it. It provides me with everything I need related to visitor stats while keeping privacy in first place.

    It doesn't slow down my website loading speed (it's amazing, it's less than 1KB in size!), is not blocked by adblockers since it's not really a tracker tracker, and owners are super cool and they actually respond to every inquiry you could possibly have.

    If you're looking for de-googling your stuff, you can start with Plausible :)

    🏁 Competitors: Google Analytics, Matomo, Woopra
    👍 Pros:    Loading speed|Clean ui|Privacy concisous|Custom domain|Affordable prices|Easy integration|Super simple
  2. Makis
    · Senior Software Engineer ·
    Plausibly simple analytics!

    I tried several analytics tools prior to Plausible, namely Google Analytics and later on Matomo. I found both to be fairly complicated for my usage which is a personal blog. Complicated in the way I had to install and use them. Plausible's simple to set up approach combined with a very clean and inviting user interface was a breath of fresh air. It's simple and clean enough that it actually makes me want to check and analyse my traffic which is a feeling I never thought I'd have having tried alternatives.

  3. Cesar Reyes
    · CEO at Reyes.Pro ·
    Excellent alternative to google analytics

    It offers clear information about what I really need, without distractions, without advertising and does not slow my site.

    🏁 Competitors: Google Analytics

Top 5 Plausible Analytics Alternatives in 2024
Looking for an excellent Plausible Analytics alternative? Read on as in this blog we will be exploring the best Plausible alternatives in 2024.
Source: www.putler.com
Top 9 Plausible Analytics alternatives in 2024
Plausible is an analytics platform focused on delivering clear insights into website traffic. By offering essential metrics like page views and referral sources, Plausible aids businesses in making informed decisions to optimize their online presence.
Source: usermaven.com
Top 5 Self-Hosted, Open Source Alternatives to Google Analytics
Use Case Example: An educational blog opts for Plausible to track user engagement metrics without impacting site performance or user privacy.
Source: zeabur.com
Top 5 open source alternatives to Google Analytics
Plausible is a newer kid on the open source analytics tools block. It’s lean, it’s fast, and only collects a small amount of information — that includes numbers of unique visitors and the top pages they visited, the number of page views, the bounce rate, and referrers. Plausible is simple and very focused.
Source: opensource.com
Privacy-oriented alternatives to Google Analytics
I learned about Plausible just recently, but they deserve to be on top of this list for me. Their platform is completely Open Source on GitHub under the MIT license. I personally also like that it’s written in Elixir.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Plausible.io should be more popular than JSON Server. It has been mentiond 201 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

JSON Server mentions (45)

  • Building a CRUD app with React Query, TypeScript, and Axios
    We'll be using json-server to create the REST API that we'll fetch data from. In the root of the project, create a db.json file with the contents. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • Full Stack To Do list, a step-by-step tutorial
    Our backend will be little more than a two-way translation layer between the database and the user interface (UI). Later in this post we will identify other responsibilities of a backend but our implementation will be kept simple to demonstrate the fundamental machinery and concepts. It is worth noting the backend comes in two parts, web server and application server. Both json-server and Express are able to... - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • Improve Frontend-Backend development harmony with JSON-Server
    JSON-Server creates fake REST API with a minimum amount of configuration, it provides a simple way to create mock RESTful APIs and easily define the required endpoints, allows easy definition of the data schema in a JSON file and can serve as a reference for each figure in the project. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • Dictionary app
    I thought about usingJson Server (hosting the repo with the words on Github to begin with), Googlesheets, or maybe Firestore (i would prefer not to use it ,to avoid extra costs just in case it gets a reasonable amount of users). It isnt a big app so I just want a simple solution for storing the words and fetching them. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Playwright - Not just for Frontend
    First, I didn't create a backend API for this example, but I used a fake API to test. I created it with json-server and json-server-auth. They are two npm packages that use a JSON file as a database and expose the database in an API. You can find more about json-server in its documentation and about json-server-auth here. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
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Plausible.io mentions (201)

  • Your Guide To Using Open Source Software as an Indie Developer
    There was a time when open source software meant “functional, but clunky.” That’s changed. Tools like Plausible (analytics), N8N (automation), Umami (web stats), and Vaultwarden (password manager) are beautifully built, stable, and powerful. Many match or even beat their commercial alternatives. - Source: dev.to / 5 days ago
  • 10 of the Best Web Analytics Tools for React Websites
    Plausible is a privacy-focused website analytics tool that provides simple, actionable insights into website traffic and visitor behavior. It prioritizes data privacy by offering transparent analytics without cookies, tracking scripts, or personal data collection. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Top 10 European Open-Source Projects to Watch in 2025
    Perfect for companies running under tight EU privacy regulations. Find more: Plausible analytics. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Meet Marko Saric, Co-founder of Privacy-friendly Plausible Analytics
    In this interview, Marko Saric shared his thoughts on privacy and running a bootstrapped SaaS business. Plausible integration is already available in Open SaaS as a privacy-friendly alternative to Google Analytics. We hope this interview helps you understand the value of such a product, and the nature of running an open source business. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • 5 Side Project Ideas for Developers to Monetize as Micro-SaaS in 2025
    Plausible Analytics (https://plausible.io/) is a lightweight, privacy-focused analytics tool that’s designed to be simple and easy to use. Unlike Google Analytics, Plausible gives you just the metrics you need—without the bloat. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing JSON Server and Plausible.io, you can also consider the following products

JSON Placeholder - JSON Placeholder is a modern platform that provides you online REST API, which you can instantly use whenever you need any fake data.

Google Analytics - Improve your website to increase conversions, improve the user experience, and make more money using Google Analytics. Measure, understand and quantify engagement on your site with customized and in-depth reports.

mocki Fake JSON API - mocki Fake JSON API is an advanced platform that offers you to create API for personal use or testing purposes.

Fathom Analytics - Simple, trustworthy website analytics (finally)

Mockae - The most flexible way to mock REST APIs with Lua code execution

Matomo - Matomo is an open-source web analytics platform