Nilly

What is Nilly.io?

Nilly.io is a privacy-first, lightweight web analytics platform that emphasizes simple, transparent, and cookie-free tracking. Designed for individuals, small businesses, and privacy-conscious organizations, Nilly.io provides core website analytics without invading visitor privacy or requiring intrusive tracking technologies.

The platform is fully GDPR, CCPA, and PECR compliant by design, focusing purely on aggregated, anonymized data — making it especially appealing to users who want compliance without adding cookie banners or legal complexity to their websites.

Key Features

• Cookie-free tracking: No cookies or local storage, making user consent banners unnecessary under GDPR.

• Lightweight script: Very small tracking code (

• Real-time analytics: See live visitor numbers, pageviews, referrers, and device breakdowns.

• Event tracking: Supports custom events for deeper interaction measurement (e.g., button clicks, form submissions).

• Simple dashboard: Easy-to-understand metrics, without overwhelming you with complexity.

• No personal data collected: No IP addresses, no fingerprints, no personally identifiable information stored.

• API access: For building custom dashboards, reports, or integrations.

Technical Foundation

• Backend: Built using lightweight, modern server architecture optimized for speed and efficiency.

• Hosting: Typically hosted in the EFTA for data sovereignty and compliance.

• Data processing: Aggregated and anonymized at the point of collection, ensuring no personal data ever touches storage.

• Integration: API-first approach; easily integrates into static sites, CMS platforms, SaaS apps, and more.

Use Cases

• Privacy-focused websites: Blogs, NGOs, SaaS platforms, and personal sites needing clean compliance.

• Small to mid-sized businesses: Who want quick, actionable insights without legal headaches.

• Developers: Building apps or platforms who need embedded, lightweight analytics.

• Startups: Who want fast, no-nonsense analytics that respects user trust.

Pricing

Nilly.io follows a transparent, pageview-based pricing model, typically offering:

• A cost-effective plan for small sites or early-stage projects

• Paid plans that scale based on monthly pageviews

• Affordable, predictable pricing even at higher usage tiers

• Easy data export functions

Custom plans/pricing may be available by request.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Fully privacy-compliant out of the box (no extra configurations needed)

• Ultra-lightweight and fast

• Simple, clean UI ideal for non-technical users

• No hidden fees, clear pricing structure

• Developer-friendly API for advanced use cases

Cons:

• No heatmaps

• Might be too minimal for enterprise-level marketing teams needing deep attribution

How It Differs From Alternatives

• Versus Google Analytics: Nilly.io doesn’t collect or process personal data; GA requires consent banners and processes extensive user data.

• Versus Pirsch: Both are privacy-first, but Nilly.io is even more minimalistic — designed for simplicity over flexibility.

• Versus Plausible: Plausible offers slightly more in-depth reporting (e.g., goals, campaigns); Nilly.io is lighter.

• Versus Matomo: Matomo offers detailed analytics and self-hosting, but is much heavier to maintain compared to Nilly.io’s simple approach.

Typical Metrics You Can Track

• Total visitors and unique visitors

• Pageviews per page

• Bounce rate

• Average time on page

• Device types (mobile, tablet, desktop)

• Referrers (websites, search engines)

• Geographical data (at country-level, anonymized)

• Custom events (e.g., clicks, downloads, video plays)

Best Practices for Using Nilly.io

• Use event tracking: Go beyond pageviews by capturing meaningful interactions.

• Focus on trends, not individual users: Nilly.io’s strength is in aggregated insights.

• Integrate with your apps via the API: Build lightweight internal dashboards or marketing reports.

• Stay informed: Use the simple UI to spot unusual traffic patterns quickly (e.g., spikes, drops).

• Respect privacy visibly: Mention your privacy-respecting analytics policy in your legal disclosures to build visitor trust.