You know the feeling. You’re a solo founder, bootstrapping your side project. You need to track campaigns — see which channel is actually driving revenue, not just vanity clicks. You open DataFa.st. $200/month. For a tool you’ll barely use. It stings.
I built Mochi Analytics because I wanted a cheaper alternative. Something lean, honest, and built for people who don’t have enterprise budgets or a dedicated growth team. It’s me, a server, a database, and a lot of caffeine. And I’m proud of that.
The best analytics tool is the one you can actually afford — and actually use without guilt.
Here’s the thing people don’t talk about: every indie hacker has this moment where they want to give back. “I wish I could make it free,” I said. I meant it. But then reality hits. Servers aren’t free. Event ingestion runs 24/7. And there’s a hidden cost nobody factors in: the mental overhead of supporting users who pay nothing.
Free isn’t generous if it kills you in the long run.
That’s the twist a lot of founders miss. You think free tiers are a favor. But they often turn into a debt — support tickets, feature requests from users who treat your tool like a full-time service, and a slow erosion of your focus. The very thing that keeps a bootstrapped product alive is your ability to stay focused. Charging a small fee isn’t selling out. It’s surviving.
Mochi Analytics isn’t trying to compete with DataFa.st. It’s not trying to replace Google Analytics. It’s for the person who just wants to know: “Did my newsletter campaign or my tweet thread bring in paying customers?” And it does that at a fraction of the cost.
I’m still adding features. If you need something specific, tell me — I can build it. That’s the indie hacker way. No support team ticket system. Just a founder who actually uses the damn tool.
Charging users a fair price is the most sustainable way to build something they can count on forever.
So if you’re a solo founder tired of bleeding money on analytics suites built for corporations, try Mochi. And if the pricing still feels off? Send me a message. I mean it when I say I’ll send you a coupon code.
Because the goal isn’t to get rich. It’s to make sure the tool stays alive long enough to actually help people. Sometimes the most caring thing you can do is say no to free.
FAQ
Q: Why not just offer a free tier with limited features?
A: Because 'limited' doesn't prevent support burden. Even free users expect help. The mental overhead of managing a free tier — even with caps — drains a solo founder's focus faster than server costs. A single paid plan aligns incentives: users who pay are more likely to be self-sufficient, and you can actually reinvest revenue into stability.
Q: How much does Mochi Analytics cost, and is it really worth it for a side project?
A: Pricing is intentionally low — think single-digit dollars per month, not triple digits. For a side project generating a few hundred or a few thousand in revenue, it's a no-brainer. You get campaign tracking, revenue attribution, and a tool built by someone who understands bootstrapped constraints. Compare that to $200/month tools you'd never fully use. Worth it.
Q: Isn't charging a barrier to adoption when you're trying to grow a user base?
A: It's a barrier only if you need millions of users to survive. For a niche tool aimed at indie hackers and side-project builders, a small price signals quality and commitment. It also filters out tire-kickers who drain your time. Growth through word-of-mouth from happy paying users is healthier than growth from free users who never convert.