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Plausible is open-source, privacy-friendly web analytics — a lightweight, cookie-free alternative to Google Analytics. You manage it from its web UI at your *.suji.fr address and embed a small script on the sites you track. This page covers running Plausible on Suji end-to-end. Plausible is maintained upstream; Suji provides the marketplace packaging.

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Before you install

Plausible needs one thing you generate yourself: a secret key of at least 64 characters. Create one with: 
openssl rand -base64 64
Keep it handy for the install form. Everything else (its PostgreSQL and ClickHouse databases) is bundled — you don’t manage them.
The first person to open the URL creates the owner account. Set yours up immediately after install.

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Install

Dashboard → Apps → Plausible → Install:
FieldRequiredNotes
VMyesPlausible runs three services (app + PostgreSQL + ClickHouse) — needs ~3 GB.
SubdomainnoSuggestion is plausible. Reached at https://<subdomain>.suji.fr, which Plausible auto-uses as its base URL.
Secret key baseyesThe 64+ char secret you generated above (openssl rand -base64 64).
Database passwordnoFor the bundled PostgreSQL. Auto-generated if left blank.
Recommended VM size: Medium or larger — Plausible bundles its own PostgreSQL and ClickHouse, so it’s heavier than a single-container app. See Recommended size. Click Deploy. First boot runs database migrations, so it takes a little longer than a single-container app. When it’s running, it’s live at https://plausible-<random>.suji.fr over HTTPS through the tunnel.

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First connection — create your account

  1. Open the install URL (https://plausible-<random>.suji.fr).
  2. You’re redirected to /register — create your account (email + password).
  3. Add your first site (the domain you want to track) and copy the tracking snippet.
  4. Paste the snippet into that site’s <head>. Stats start flowing in.
Registration is open the moment the install is running. Claim the owner account right after deploy. (To lock registration down afterwards, see Plausible’s self-host settings.)

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Email & reports

Plausible sends email for account invites, password resets, and scheduled email reports — but no mail provider is configured by default, so those won’t send until you add SMTP. Note the network blocks outbound SMTP on ports 25 and 465; use port 587 or an HTTP-based provider. Add the SMTP env vars to the install yourself via Edit Install → environment variables, then redeploy.

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Using an external database

By default Plausible runs its own bundled PostgreSQL and ClickHouse — nothing to manage. If you need to point at external database servers instead (advanced), use the compose-edit escape hatch: set DATABASE_URL and CLICKHOUSE_DATABASE_URL to your servers and drop the bundled services.

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Day-to-day management

Want to…Where
View analytics / manage sitesThe Plausible dashboard (https://plausible-<random>.suji.fr)
Invite team membersDashboard → site settings (needs email configured)
View container logsDashboard → Logs (pick Plausible)
Open a shell inside the containerDashboard → Terminal (pick Plausible)
Restart the appInstall detail page → Restart
Upgrade to a newer versionInstall detail page → Upgrade (when available)
Remove the install + its dataInstall detail page → Uninstall

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Troubleshooting

First boot runs PostgreSQL and ClickHouse migrations before the app serves — that’s normal and only happens once. Give it a minute after running.
The secret must be at least 64 characters. Regenerate with openssl rand -base64 64 and update the install.
Expected until you configure SMTP — see Email & reports above (use port 587; 25/465 are blocked upstream).
Plausible isn’t reachable through the tunnel yet — usually still migrating/starting (wait ~30–60 s). If it persists, the Logs tab shows why the container isn’t up.

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Where things live

WhatServiceNamed volume
Site config, users (PostgreSQL)plausible_dbplausible-db-data
Analytics events (ClickHouse)plausible_events_dbplausible-events-data
Uninstalling deletes both volumes by default — that’s all your analytics history. Choose keep data during uninstall to preserve it.
  • Medium or larger. Plausible runs three services (app + PostgreSQL + ClickHouse) and needs roughly 3 GB total; ClickHouse in particular is memory-hungry.
  • Memory/disk grow with traffic volume and history retention.
  • If you run other apps on the same VM, factor in that the VM’s total CPU/memory is shared — Plausible is one of the heavier marketplace apps.

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Reporting issues

ClassWhere
Plausible bug (dashboard, tracking, analytics)plausible/analytics issues
Marketplace packaging bug (compose / manifest / install form)suji-hq/suji-templates issues
Suji platform bug (dashboard, billing, network)Support ticket from the dashboard