I spent 30 days testing out DataFast, an analytics tool aimed at simplifying how we track website performance, especially for those juggling multiple projects. Google Analytics can be… well, frustrating. So, is DataFast a worthy alternative? Let’s dive into who it’s for, who it’s not for, and my experience using it.
What is DataFast?
DataFast positions itself as a straightforward analytics solution, particularly geared towards product builders and indie hackers. Instead of overwhelming dashboards, it focuses on giving you a clear overview of key metrics across multiple websites at a glance. It emphasizes tracking traffic sources and, crucially, connecting revenue data (especially from Stripe) to see what’s actually working.
My Experience: Key Features & Walkthrough
After setting up my websites (boltnewcourse.com, boltnewagency.com, etc.), here’s what stood out:
Multi-Site Dashboard: The main view neatly displays your connected websites, showing traffic trends (blue lines) and highlighting sales/revenue events (orange bars). It gives a quick snapshot of visitors and recent revenue (e.g., “17 visitors and made $29 in the last 24 hours” across sites).
Detailed Site Analytics: Clicking into a specific site reveals more granular data:
Core Metrics: Visitors, Revenue, Revenue/Visitor, Conversion Rate, Bounce Rate, Session Time.
Referrer Tracking: Clearly shows where traffic comes from (YouTube, Reddit, X, Google, Direct, etc.). Hovering gives specifics like visitors and revenue from that source.
Revenue Attribution: While I hadn’t fully set it up during the video, the ability to attribute revenue directly to specific marketing channels (like seeing if YouTube or Reddit drives actual sales) is a key promise.
Other Data: Includes breakdowns by Country, Browser, OS, and Device.
Easy Setup: Adding a new website is simple: enter the domain, timezone, and install a provided script into your website’s header. This is very straightforward, especially with website builders.
Real-Time View: A cool feature is the real-time map view, showing active visitors on your site and their geographic location.
Focus on Simplicity: Compared to GA4, the interface is much less cluttered and focuses on actionable insights without a steep learning curve.
Who is DataFast For?
Based on my usage and the tool’s positioning (it’s built by indie hacker Marc Lou), DataFast seems ideal for:
Indie Hackers: Especially those following the “ship fast” methodology, launching multiple digital products or SaaS tools.
Product Builders: Anyone managing several websites or projects, particularly those monetized directly via Stripe.
Users Frustrated with Google Analytics: If you find GA4 overly complex and time-consuming for getting basic traffic and revenue insights across projects.
Freelancers (Potentially): If you manage multiple client websites and need a quick overview dashboard.
Who Isn’t DataFast For?
DataFast might not be the best fit if:
You Run Content-First Websites: Sites primarily monetized through ads (like AdSense) or complex affiliate marketing setups, where direct Stripe integration isn’t the core.
Your Focus is Deep SEO Analysis: While it shows referrers, it’s not a dedicated SEO platform.
You Manage a Single Business: Unless you heavily rely on Stripe and desperately want a simpler view than GA, the multi-site overview benefit is lost.
You Use Non-Integrated Platforms: If your sales happen primarily through platforms DataFast doesn’t integrate with (like maybe some creator platforms, e.g., Stan Store).
You Need Deep, Complex Reporting: If you require the extensive customization and reporting layers found in GA4.
DataFast vs. Google Analytics & Other Alternatives
The biggest contrast is with Google Analytics (GA4). GA4 is free but often complex, with data delays and a sometimes confusing interface, especially for tracking multiple simple projects. DataFast trades complexity for speed and clarity on core traffic/revenue metrics.
Other alternatives mentioned include privacy-focused options like:
Simple Analytics: Similar pricing, potentially more features for businesses.
Plausible Analytics: Another strong privacy-focused competitor.
GoodMetrics: An upcoming alternative focused on simplicity and privacy.
These might be better fits if privacy is your absolute top concern or if you need features DataFast doesn’t yet offer.
Pricing
DataFast uses a traffic-based pricing model, which feels fair:
Starts at $9/month for up to 10,000 monthly events (pageviews, signups, etc.).
Scales up, e.g., $19/month for up to 100,000 monthly events.
They offer a 14-day free trial (no credit card required).
Compared to the time cost of wrestling with GA4 for multiple sites, this could be good value for the right user.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Very simple and intuitive interface.
Excellent for viewing multiple websites/projects at once.
Clear connection between traffic sources and revenue (especially Stripe).
Easy and fast setup.
Fair traffic-based pricing.
Good alternative for those overwhelmed by GA4.
Real-time visitor map is a neat feature.
Cons:
Less feature-rich than GA4 (by design).
Primarily beneficial for direct sales models using Stripe/Lemon Squeezy.
May not suit businesses focused heavily on ad or affiliate revenue tracking within the tool.
Newer tool compared to some established alternatives.
Final Verdict
After 30 days, I see DataFast as a valuable tool for its specific niche: indie hackers and product builders managing multiple projects monetized via direct sales (Stripe/Lemon Squeezy). If you value simplicity, speed, and a clear view of traffic and revenue across your portfolio without the GA4 headache, DataFast is definitely worth checking out with its free trial. It solves the pain point of quickly understanding the performance of multiple small bets.
By the way Marc also has a course about learning to code which you find out more about here or find Codefast Reviews here.