happenstance vs Fathom

Skip the setup.
Start tracking now.

Fathom is privacy-first and simple. But like other privacy tools, it stops at page views. Happenstance gives you product analytics with the same privacy standards.

Happenstance

Zero-config

  1. 1 Add one script tag to your site
  2. 2 Done. Every interaction tracked automatically.
~30 seconds

Fathom

Traditional setup

  1. 1 Create a Fathom account
  2. 2 Add the Fathom script tag
  3. 3 Page views tracked automatically
  4. 4 For custom events, add fathom.trackEvent() calls
  5. 5 Define each goal manually in dashboard
Hours to days

Fathom Analytics is a beloved privacy-first alternative to Google Analytics. It's fast, simple, and respects user privacy. But Fathom is marketing analytics — page views, referrers, and basic goals. Custom event tracking requires manual code. Happenstance goes deeper, automatically tracking every click, form submission, and error while maintaining the same privacy-first philosophy.

Feature Comparison

FeatureHappenstanceFathom
Zero-config setup
Automatic event discovery
Page view tracking
Click trackingAutomaticManual
Form tracking
Error tracking
Goal tracking
Funnel analysis
Privacy-friendly
No cookies
EU data processing
Uptime monitoring
Free tier10k events/moNone

Why teams switch

Teams love Fathom's commitment to privacy and its clean dashboard. But when they need to track which buttons users click or where forms are abandoned, Fathom requires manual instrumentation. Happenstance discovers these interactions automatically — giving you product-level insights without writing tracking code.

How to migrate from Fathom

  1. 1 Add the Happenstance script tag alongside Fathom.
  2. 2 See how Happenstance automatically discovers interactions Fathom doesn't track.
  3. 3 Recreate your Fathom goals as Happenstance goals.
  4. 4 Remove the Fathom script when you're confident in the data.
  5. 5 Get deeper insights while maintaining the same privacy standards.

Who should use what

Choose Happenstance if...

You want privacy-friendly analytics that go beyond page views — automatic click tracking, form analytics, and error capture. No code required.

Choose Fathom if...

You need simple page-level analytics with uptime monitoring and prefer Fathom's established reputation in the privacy space.

Integration Code

Happenstance (complete setup)

<script src="https://happenstance.click/v1/track.js"></script>

Fathom (just initialization)

<!-- Fathom script (page views) -->
<script src="https://cdn.usefathom.com/script.js"
  data-site="YOUR_SITE_ID" defer>
</script>

<!-- Custom events require code: -->
fathom.trackEvent('signup completed');

Fathom is perfect for privacy-conscious teams who only need page-level analytics with uptime monitoring. Happenstance is for teams who want the same privacy standards but need deeper product analytics — clicks, forms, errors, and user journeys.

Start tracking in 30 seconds

No signup. No configuration. Just add one script tag and see your analytics instantly.

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Also considering alternatives?