# a privacy-first mobile analytics SDK

**There is already a crowded privacy-first mobile analytics field, but the gap is better SDKs and clearer mobile-specific privacy handling rather than a brand-new category.**

Confidence: high  ·  85 signals  ·  checked 2026-08-01

[Full report with live links](https://showsitsworks.com/idea/privacy-first-mobile-analytics-sdk)

## Who is already building this

*From data*

- Countly is a privacy-first analytics and engagement platform for desktop, mobile, IoT, and connected environments; it has 5,887 stars and was still being pushed on 2026-08-01.
  - [Countly/countly-server](https://github.com/Countly/countly-server) `github` — 2012-05-28
- Aptabase is the biggest open-source direct competitor here: 1,769 stars, last push 2026-07-31, with SDKs for React Native, Swift, Kotlin, Flutter, MAUI, Electron, Unity, and JavaScript.
  - [aptabase/aptabase](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase) `github` — 2023-03-25
  - [aptabase/tauri-plugin-aptabase](https://github.com/aptabase/tauri-plugin-aptabase) `github` — 2023-03-23
  - [aptabase/aptabase-swift](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-swift) `github` — 2023-04-03
  - [aptabase/aptabase-react-native](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-react-native) `github` — 2023-05-26
  - [aptabase/aptabase_flutter](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase_flutter) `github` — 2023-03-29
  - [aptabase/aptabase-unity](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-unity) `github` — 2023-06-28
  - [aptabase/aptabase-js](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-js) `github` — 2023-04-02
  - [aptabase/aptabase-maui](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-maui) `github` — 2023-04-06
  - [aptabase/aptabase-kotlin](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-kotlin) `github` — 2023-04-30
  - [aptabase/aptabase-electron](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-electron) `github` — 2023-05-24
  - [aptabase/aptabase-unreal](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-unreal) `github` — 2023-05-31
  - [aptabase/aptabase-python](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-python) `github` — 2025-12-12
  - [BrycensRanch/go-aptabase](https://github.com/BrycensRanch/go-aptabase) `github` — 2024-09-21
- Respectlytics is another live competitor with 40 stars and a last push on 2026-07-16; it says it is self-hosted, session-based, and stores only 5 fields with no personal data retained.
  - [respectlytics/respectlytics](https://github.com/respectlytics/respectlytics) `github` — 2026-02-14
  - [Swift Analytics SDK - Privacy-First Analytics for iOS & macOS | Respectlytics](https://respectlytics.com/sdk/swift) `tavily`
- Phase Analytics is a small live project with 21 stars and a last push on 2026-07-22, also positioning itself as privacy-first mobile analytics.
  - [Phase-Analytics/Phase](https://github.com/Phase-Analytics/Phase) `github` — 2025-10-29
- Fantasma is a tiny but active self-hosted mobile analytics platform with 14 stars and a last push on 2026-03-31.
  - [RuiAAPeres/fantasma](https://github.com/RuiAAPeres/fantasma) `github` — 2026-03-11

## What people actually say

*From data*

- "every mobile analytics SDK quietly collects device IDs, ad identifiers, and IP addresses, then makes you retroactively figure out compliance." That is a founder explaining why they built Respectlytics.
  - [Show HN: Respectlytics – Open-source, privacy-first mobile analytics (MIT+AGPL)](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47023401) `hackernews` — 2026-02-15
- "I was frustrated" by analytics SDKs that claim compliance but "when I dig into it, I observe that they actually are not that compliant as they claim to be." Same HN post, same complaint.
  - [Show HN: Respectlytics – Open-source, privacy-first mobile analytics (MIT+AGPL)](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47023401) `hackernews` — 2026-02-15
- "Mobile analytics SDKs collect usage and device data and send it to a third-party analytics provider, which raises privacy concerns" and compliance problems. This is a market explainer, not a first-hand complaint, but it matches the pain in the HN post.
  - [Mobile analytics and privacy: collecting responsibly | PTKD Journal](https://ptkd.com/journal/mobile-analytics-and-privacy) `tavily`

## People asking to be sold to

*From data*

- "I don't want to sound like a marketer, so I'll tell you how it is. The problem we aim to solve is for a price of 2 coffees," from a founder explicitly trying to sell a privacy-first Google Analytics alternative.
  - [Show HN: PrivateAnalytix – Google Analytics and MS Clarity Alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28031725) `hackernews` — 2021-08-02
- "privacy-respecting, preferably free solution" for mobile app analytics. This is a concrete request inside a GitHub issue.
  - [Feature: Mobile app analytics (Expo + privacy-first)](https://github.com/jacobrosenfeld/Teaneck-Minyanim/issues/146) `githubissues` — 2026-03-15
- "Due to privacy concerns and GDPR, there aren't many mobile analytics SDKs that track the activity on a user level." That reads like demand pressure for a compliant option, even if it comes from a search result snippet.
  - [What is the best mobile analytics SDK that allows to track activities at user ...](https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-mobile-analytics-SDK-that-allows-to-track-activities-at-user-level) `tavily`

## Where the opening is

*Model estimate*

- The market data does not show a clear gap in "privacy-first mobile analytics SDK" as a category; it already has several live open-source competitors and a large incumbent in Countly.
  - [Countly/countly-server](https://github.com/Countly/countly-server) `github` — 2012-05-28
  - [aptabase/aptabase](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase) `github` — 2023-03-25
  - [respectlytics/respectlytics](https://github.com/respectlytics/respectlytics) `github` — 2026-02-14
  - [Phase-Analytics/Phase](https://github.com/Phase-Analytics/Phase) `github` — 2025-10-29
  - [RuiAAPeres/fantasma](https://github.com/RuiAAPeres/fantasma) `github` — 2026-03-11
- The more specific gap is in mobile SDKs that are both privacy-minimal and easy to adopt in modern app stacks; Aptabase has broad SDK coverage, but the signals do not show a winner for on-device anonymization, Expo-first support, or a dead-simple compliance story.
  - [aptabase/aptabase](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase) `github` — 2023-03-25
  - [Feature: Mobile app analytics (Expo + privacy-first)](https://github.com/jacobrosenfeld/Teaneck-Minyanim/issues/146) `githubissues` — 2026-03-15
  - [npm: @adopture/react-native](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@adopture/react-native) `registries` — 2026-04-08
  - [Edehisaboi/mobile-behaviour-analytics](https://github.com/Edehisaboi/mobile-behaviour-analytics) `github` — 2026-07-25
- No signal here shows a product that is focused on turning privacy claims into verifiable field-level guarantees for mobile app teams, such as exactly what leaves the device and how that maps to GDPR or App Store privacy labels.
  - [respectlytics/respectlytics](https://github.com/respectlytics/respectlytics) `github` — 2026-02-14
  - [Swift Analytics SDK - Privacy-First Analytics for iOS & macOS | Respectlytics](https://respectlytics.com/sdk/swift) `tavily`
  - [Mobile analytics and privacy: collecting responsibly | PTKD Journal](https://ptkd.com/journal/mobile-analytics-and-privacy) `tavily`

## How big the market might be

*Model estimate*

- This search found 6 named open-source competitors, 4 active and 2 slow.
  - [Countly/countly-server](https://github.com/Countly/countly-server) `github` — 2012-05-28
  - [aptabase/aptabase](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase) `github` — 2023-03-25
  - [respectlytics/respectlytics](https://github.com/respectlytics/respectlytics) `github` — 2026-02-14
  - [Phase-Analytics/Phase](https://github.com/Phase-Analytics/Phase) `github` — 2025-10-29
  - [RuiAAPeres/fantasma](https://github.com/RuiAAPeres/fantasma) `github` — 2026-03-11
- The biggest live project is Countly at 5,887 stars, while Aptabase has 1,769 stars and the rest are much smaller.
  - [Countly/countly-server](https://github.com/Countly/countly-server) `github` — 2012-05-28
  - [aptabase/aptabase](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase) `github` — 2023-03-25
  - [respectlytics/respectlytics](https://github.com/respectlytics/respectlytics) `github` — 2026-02-14
  - [Phase-Analytics/Phase](https://github.com/Phase-Analytics/Phase) `github` — 2025-10-29
  - [RuiAAPeres/fantasma](https://github.com/RuiAAPeres/fantasma) `github` — 2026-03-11
- There was 1 first-hand complaint and 1 stated want, which is not much direct demand signal but it is enough to confirm the pain exists.
  - [Show HN: Respectlytics – Open-source, privacy-first mobile analytics (MIT+AGPL)](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47023401) `hackernews` — 2026-02-15
  - [Feature: Mobile app analytics (Expo + privacy-first)](https://github.com/jacobrosenfeld/Teaneck-Minyanim/issues/146) `githubissues` — 2026-03-15
  - [What is the best mobile analytics SDK that allows to track activities at user ...](https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-mobile-analytics-SDK-that-allows-to-track-activities-at-user-level) `tavily`
- The search surface was broad: 32 Hacker News signals, 20 GitHub signals, 13 registry signals, 10 Dev.to signals, 8 Tavily pages, plus 1 GitHub issue and 1 intent signal.
  - [Countly/countly-server](https://github.com/Countly/countly-server) `github` — 2012-05-28
  - [npm: @vercel/analytics](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@vercel/analytics) `registries` — 2026-03-12
  - [aptabase/aptabase](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase) `github` — 2023-03-25
  - [Show HN: Respectlytics – Open-source, privacy-first mobile analytics (MIT+AGPL)](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47023401) `hackernews` — 2026-02-15
  - [Feature: Mobile app analytics (Expo + privacy-first)](https://github.com/jacobrosenfeld/Teaneck-Minyanim/issues/146) `githubissues` — 2026-03-15
  - [npm: @adopture/react-native](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@adopture/react-native) `registries` — 2026-04-08
  - [Android SDK - Ours Privacy](https://docs.oursprivacy.com/docs/android-sdk) `tavily`
  - [Top 6 Analytics SDKs in 2026](https://uxcam.com/blog/top-analytics-sdks) `tavily`
  - [Mobile analytics and privacy: collecting responsibly | PTKD Journal](https://ptkd.com/journal/mobile-analytics-and-privacy) `tavily`
  - [What is the best mobile analytics SDK that allows to track activities at user ...](https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-mobile-analytics-SDK-that-allows-to-track-activities-at-user-level) `tavily`

## What could go wrong

*Model estimate*

- This space is crowded with adjacent tools, so a new SDK must beat Aptabase and Countly on developer experience, not just on privacy language.
  - [Countly/countly-server](https://github.com/Countly/countly-server) `github` — 2012-05-28
  - [aptabase/aptabase](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase) `github` — 2023-03-25
  - [respectlytics/respectlytics](https://github.com/respectlytics/respectlytics) `github` — 2026-02-14
- Several competitors already ship many language-specific SDKs, which raises the bar for integration completeness.
  - [aptabase/aptabase](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase) `github` — 2023-03-25
  - [aptabase/tauri-plugin-aptabase](https://github.com/aptabase/tauri-plugin-aptabase) `github` — 2023-03-23
  - [aptabase/aptabase-swift](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-swift) `github` — 2023-04-03
  - [aptabase/aptabase-react-native](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-react-native) `github` — 2023-05-26
  - [aptabase/aptabase_flutter](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase_flutter) `github` — 2023-03-29
  - [aptabase/aptabase-unity](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-unity) `github` — 2023-06-28
  - [aptabase/aptabase-js](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-js) `github` — 2023-04-02
  - [aptabase/aptabase-maui](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-maui) `github` — 2023-04-06
  - [aptabase/aptabase-kotlin](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-kotlin) `github` — 2023-04-30
  - [aptabase/aptabase-electron](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-electron) `github` — 2023-05-24
  - [aptabase/aptabase-unreal](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-unreal) `github` — 2023-05-31
  - [aptabase/aptabase-python](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-python) `github` — 2025-12-12
  - [BrycensRanch/go-aptabase](https://github.com/BrycensRanch/go-aptabase) `github` — 2024-09-21
- The demand evidence is thin: only one direct complaint and one explicit want were found, so acquisition could be harder than the competitor count suggests.
  - [Show HN: Respectlytics – Open-source, privacy-first mobile analytics (MIT+AGPL)](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47023401) `hackernews` — 2026-02-15
  - [Feature: Mobile app analytics (Expo + privacy-first)](https://github.com/jacobrosenfeld/Teaneck-Minyanim/issues/146) `githubissues` — 2026-03-15
- Privacy-first analytics is easy to claim and hard to prove, so trust, documentation, and auditability are likely to matter as much as features.
  - [Show HN: Respectlytics – Open-source, privacy-first mobile analytics (MIT+AGPL)](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47023401) `hackernews` — 2026-02-15
  - [Mobile analytics and privacy: collecting responsibly | PTKD Journal](https://ptkd.com/journal/mobile-analytics-and-privacy) `tavily`
  - [Privacy Policy for Analytics SDKs](https://www.termsfeed.com/blog/privacy-policy-analytics-sdk) `tavily`

## What to do this week

*Model estimate*

- Pick one wedge the incumbents do not clearly own, such as Expo/React Native with explicit on-device anonymization and a privacy-label checklist.
  - [Feature: Mobile app analytics (Expo + privacy-first)](https://github.com/jacobrosenfeld/Teaneck-Minyanim/issues/146) `githubissues` — 2026-03-15
  - [npm: @adopture/react-native](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@adopture/react-native) `registries` — 2026-04-08
  - [Edehisaboi/mobile-behaviour-analytics](https://github.com/Edehisaboi/mobile-behaviour-analytics) `github` — 2026-07-25
- Ship a tiny SDK plus a public field-level data map: what is captured, what is dropped, what is hashed, and what reaches the backend.
  - [respectlytics/respectlytics](https://github.com/respectlytics/respectlytics) `github` — 2026-02-14
  - [Swift Analytics SDK - Privacy-First Analytics for iOS & macOS | Respectlytics](https://respectlytics.com/sdk/swift) `tavily`
  - [Mobile analytics and privacy: collecting responsibly | PTKD Journal](https://ptkd.com/journal/mobile-analytics-and-privacy) `tavily`
- Target teams already asking for a privacy-respecting mobile analytics option and show a migration path from a mainstream stack rather than a blank-slate replacement.
  - [Feature: Mobile app analytics (Expo + privacy-first)](https://github.com/jacobrosenfeld/Teaneck-Minyanim/issues/146) `githubissues` — 2026-03-15
  - [What is the best mobile analytics SDK that allows to track activities at user ...](https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-mobile-analytics-SDK-that-allows-to-track-activities-at-user-level) `tavily`
- If you build this, benchmark against Aptabase and Countly on install friction, event latency, retention of identifiers, self-hosting setup, and SDK coverage.
  - [Countly/countly-server](https://github.com/Countly/countly-server) `github` — 2012-05-28
  - [aptabase/aptabase](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase) `github` — 2023-03-25
  - [respectlytics/respectlytics](https://github.com/respectlytics/respectlytics) `github` — 2026-02-14

## Competitor strength

| Project | Stars | Downloads/mo | Activity |
|---|---:|---:|---|
| [Countly/countly-server](https://github.com/Countly/countly-server) | 5,887 | — | active |
| [aptabase/aptabase](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase) | 1,769 | — | active |
| [aptabase/tauri-plugin-aptabase](https://github.com/aptabase/tauri-plugin-aptabase) | 153 | — | slow |
| [aptabase/aptabase-swift](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-swift) | 44 | — | slow |
| [aptabase/aptabase-react-native](https://github.com/aptabase/aptabase-react-native) | 41 | — | active |
| [respectlytics/respectlytics](https://github.com/respectlytics/respectlytics) | 40 | — | active |

## Domain names

- `mobileanalytics.com` — taken
- `mobileanalytics.io` — available
- `mobile.com` — taken
- `getmobile.com` — taken

---

Sources searched: hackernews (32), github (20), githubissues (1), discourse (none), intent (1), stackexchange (none), registries (13), tavily (9), devto (10)

Generated by Shows Its Work — https://showsitsworks.com/idea/privacy-first-mobile-analytics-sdk
Findings link to their sources. Estimates are marked as estimates.