Why I Created PrivateStater

The Story

I built PrivateStater for two reasons.

First, I used Google Analytics and reCAPTCHA for my projects. Google doesn't protect privacy, and reCAPTCHA gets expensive fast once you exceed the free tier.

So for two years, I dropped analytics entirely and switched to hCaptcha. Without analytics, I had no idea if anyone was using my work. hCaptcha kept key features behind its $139/month plan, and its puzzles were harder than the problems they were supposed to solve.

Second, a blog I read was running Google Analytics — presumably because every privacy-friendly alternative costs money.

Those two things pushed me to build PrivateStater.

Nobody starting a project wants extra SaaS bills on top of hosting costs. So I set a generous free tier and made it stackable in small increments — no surprise $49 charge for going slightly over the limit.

Analytics are unlimited and free. I promised this in beta. My goal is to give Google Analytics users a way out, without asking them to pay for it.

What it does

Analytics, CAPTCHA, and a feedback widget.

Who should use this?

  1. Do you use Google Analytics? Switch for free. Unlimited analytics, no card required.
  2. Do you use reCAPTCHA or hCaptcha? I'll cut your CAPTCHA bill significantly.
  3. Using your own feedback widget? Compare it with PrivateStater's and pick whichever fits. Let me know what's missing.
  4. No CAPTCHA at all? Bots will find your forms. PrivateStater Captcha is free up to 20,000 checks/month.
  5. No website yet? Bookmark this for when you do.