Whether you’re launching an indie SaaS project, testing a new game, or building the next cool side hustle, chances are you want to know what your users are up to. But you don’t always need a full-blown analytics suite. Sometimes, all you care about is: Did they click that button?, Did they watch the video?, or Did they sign up?
That’s where event-only analytics tools come in. These lightweight tools let you track specific user actions and nothing else. No complex dashboards. No overwhelming reports. Just clicks, plays, signups — clear and simple.
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TL;DR
Don’t want a bloated analytics dashboard? Try event-only tools. They’re perfect for focused tracking like signups, clicks, and video plays. These tools are lightweight, fast to set up, and easy to understand. Great for solo makers and lean startups!
Why Go Event-Only?
Here’s why event-only tracking is all the rage among indie makers and lean dev teams:
- Simple Setup: You can start tracking with a few lines of code.
- Privacy Friendly: Many tools don’t rely on cookies.
- Focused Insights: You track what matters, not everything.
- Faster Load Times: Lighter scripts mean faster sites.
Alright, let’s meet the top 5 event-only analytics tools that work like magic.
1. PostHog
What it is: PostHog started big with product analytics, but you can use it in a minimalist, event-only way. You decide what to track and when.
Top Features:
- Track any custom event — clicks, scrolls, hovers, you name it
- Replay user sessions to see what actually happened
- Open-source and self-hostable if that’s your thing
Best for: Builders who may want advanced features later but want to start lean today.
Maker Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)
2. EventsHub
What it is: Pure event tracking. No user-level tracking, no bloat — you get a timeline of events that actually happened on your site or app.
Top Features:
- Simplified dashboard for event types (like “signup” or “click CTA”)
- Dead-simple API calls
- No data sampling — you get 100% of your events
Best for: People who just want to see if that button got clicked last night. That’s it!
Maker Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
3. Simple Analytics
What it is: Originally designed for privacy-first pageviews, Simple Analytics has added lightweight event tracking. The name fits — it’s super simple.
Top Features:
- No cookies. No personal data. Nothing creepy.
- Beautiful graphs
- Just add a line of code and you’re set
Best for: Makers who need something pretty, easy, and privacy-focused.
Maker Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
4. Plausible (Events Mode)
What it is: Plausible is loved by devs and privacy nerds alike. It now supports event tracking manually via JavaScript — totally event-only friendly.
Top Features:
- Custom events through JS API
- Takes seconds to implement
- Open source and privacy-respecting
Best for: Folks who want analytics that doesn’t feel like spyware and prefer clean UIs.
Maker Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.2/5)
5. Highlight
What it is: Highlight is a developer-first observability tool, but its event tracking is surprisingly slick. Especially if you’re debugging user issues or tracking key moments (like “play video”).
Top Features:
- Event timeline — see exactly when something happened and in what order
- Session replays with events inline
- Works great in tandem with logs and errors
Best for: Devs who want user behavior + technical visibility all in one platform.
Maker Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.3/5)
How to Choose the Right One
They all sound great, right? But here’s how to pick your perfect match:
- You want pretty graphs? Go with Simple Analytics.
- You want raw power + session replays? Try PostHog or Highlight.
- You just want to track one or two clicks? EventsHub is your jam.
- You care tons about privacy? Use Plausible or Simple Analytics.
How It Looks in Code
Here’s how simple it can be:
<script>
eventsHub.track("signup");
</script>
That’s it. Seriously.
Bonus: Pro Tips for Better Event Tracking
- Name events clearly. Use names like “signup_button_click”, not just “click”.
- Track only key actions. Don’t log every scroll — it gets messy, fast.
- Test them manually. Yes, actually click the button and confirm your event comes through.
What You Don’t Need With These Tools
- No user profiles
- No heatmaps (unless you want them)
- No cohort analysis
- No GDPR popups if scripts are cookie-less
That means more focus, fewer distractions, and faster insight.
The Event-Only Mindset
More isn’t always better. Sometimes all you need is to know if people clicked your launch CTA or started a trial. You don’t need to know where they came from or what their favorite food is.
Event-only tools let you stay scrappy. They’re honest, fast, and focused — just like the best makers.
In Summary
Here are the top 5 event-only tools again:
- PostHog – Deep capabilities if you grow into them
- EventsHub – Clean and laser-focused on just events
- Simple Analytics – Clean UI + privacy built-in
- Plausible – Cozy and cookie-free
- Highlight – For devs who want event logs + replays
Pick one. Drop the script. Track your first click. Go build something cool.
Happy tracking!