Fathom vs Heap: Analytics Comparison (2026)

Fathom is a paid analytics platform that starts at $15/month, offering extensive features like tracking for up to 50 sites, e-commerce tracking, API access, and unlimited data retention with 100% data ownership. Heap offers a free tier, including core analytics charts, unlimited enrichment sources, and six months of data history. Paid plans for Heap have custom pricing and may incur additional costs for advanced features. Fathom has no free tier and offers no discounts, while Heap has custom pricing for larger plans and support varies by plan.

AI Citation Scorecard

How often each is cited by major AI engines when buyers ask analytics questions. Last 90 days across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot.

Heap leads overall31% cited vs Fathom 7% across 108 probes.
ChatGPT
Fathom
2 / 12 probes
17%
Average
HeapLeads
9 / 12 probes
75%
Excellent
Perplexity
Fathom
0 / 12 probes
0%
Invisible
Heap
0 / 12 probes
0%
Invisible
Gemini
Fathom
0 / 12 probes
0%
Invisible
Heap
0 / 12 probes
0%
Invisible
Claude
Fathom
2 / 12 probes
17%
Average
HeapLeads
8 / 12 probes
67%
Excellent
Copilot
Fathom
0 / 6 probes
0%
Invisible
Heap
0 / 6 probes
0%
Invisible
Scale:NoneLowFairStrongExcellent

Probes run hourly; each (engine × query) combo retests every ~3 days.

Pricing

Fathom
Starting price
$15/month
Free tier
usefathom.com
Heap
Starting price
Free tier
Yes
heap.io

Key Features

Fathom
  • Up to 50 sites included
  • Ecommerce/event tracking included
  • Easy integration with all CMSs/frameworks
  • API access
  • Forever data retention
  • 100% data ownership
  • No cookie banners required
  • Unlimited email reports
Heap
  • Core analytics charts
  • Unlimited enrichment sources
  • 6 months data history
  • SSO

When to choose Fathom

You require a comprehensive analytics solution with a flat monthly fee, no cookie banners, and full data ownership, with features like tracking for up to 50 sites, API access, and unlimited data retention. You do not require a free tier or live demos.

When to choose Heap

You are a startup or seeking a free analytics solution that includes core analytics, unlimited enrichment sources, and six months of data history. You are comfortable with custom pricing, potential add-on costs for advanced features, and variable support based on your plan as you scale beyond the free tier.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key differences in data retention?
Fathom offers forever data retention, while Heap offers 6 months of data history.
Which vendor offers a free tier?
Heap offers a free tier, while Fathom does not.
What are the pricing models?
Fathom has a starting price of $15/month and does not offer discounts. Heap has custom pricing for larger plans, and advanced features may incur add-on costs.
How do the number of sites supported compare?
Fathom includes up to 50 sites. The number of sites supported by Heap is not specified for its free or paid tiers.
What are the primary differences in data ownership and privacy?
Fathom offers 100% data ownership and requires no cookie banners. Heap does not specify data ownership or cookie banner requirements.

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