> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.suji.fr/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Plausible
> Self-hosted, privacy-friendly web analytics. Install, create your account, and add your first site.
[Plausible](https://plausible.io) 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](https://github.com/suji-hq/suji-templates/tree/main/plausible).
***
## Before you install
Plausible needs one thing you generate yourself: a **secret key** of at least 64 characters. Create one with:
```bash theme={"dark"}
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.
***
## Install
Dashboard → **Apps** → **Plausible** → **Install**:
| Field | Required | Notes |
| ----------------- | -------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| VM | yes | Plausible runs three services (app + PostgreSQL + ClickHouse) — needs \~3 GB. |
| Subdomain | no | Suggestion is `plausible`. Reached at `https://.suji.fr`, which Plausible auto-uses as its base URL. |
| Secret key base | yes | The 64+ char secret you generated above (`openssl rand -base64 64`). |
| Database password | no | For 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](#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-.suji.fr` over HTTPS through the tunnel.
***
## First connection — create your account
1. Open the install URL (`https://plausible-.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 ``. 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.)
***
## 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.
***
## 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.
***
## Day-to-day management
| Want to… | Where |
| --------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| View analytics / manage sites | The Plausible dashboard (`https://plausible-.suji.fr`) |
| Invite team members | Dashboard → site settings (needs email configured) |
| View container logs | Dashboard → Logs (pick Plausible) |
| Open a shell inside the container | Dashboard → Terminal (pick Plausible) |
| Restart the app | Install detail page → Restart |
| Upgrade to a newer version | Install detail page → Upgrade (when available) |
| Remove the install + its data | Install detail page → Uninstall |
***
## 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.
***
## Where things live
| What | Service | Named volume |
| ------------------------------- | --------------------- | ----------------------- |
| Site config, users (PostgreSQL) | `plausible_db` | `plausible-db-data` |
| Analytics events (ClickHouse) | `plausible_events_db` | `plausible-events-data` |
Uninstalling deletes both volumes by default — that's all your analytics history. Choose **keep data** during uninstall to preserve it.
***
## Recommended size
* **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.
***
## Reporting issues
| Class | Where |
| ------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Plausible bug (dashboard, tracking, analytics) | [plausible/analytics issues](https://github.com/plausible/analytics/issues) |
| Marketplace packaging bug (compose / manifest / install form) | [suji-hq/suji-templates issues](https://github.com/suji-hq/suji-templates/issues) |
| Suji platform bug (dashboard, billing, network) | Support ticket from the dashboard |