A short list of analytics
It's essential to know how a site is doing; getting some analytics plugged into it is easy, but with many options, it might seem daunting for a Tech Leader to pick one to get started.
So here are just a few options to pick from. I've chosen them because they are easy to set up, simple to use, and to the point. They don't do too many things either.
Note: we are only talking about the kind of tools that let you know how many visitors are on your site, what they are doing (pages seen, ...), and where they are from.
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Not Google Analytics
While it's probably a popular option, it might not be a favorite of yours or your users. The good thing is that none of the ones I've picked are Google Analytics.
Matomo
Let's start with the OpenSource one: Matomo. You can run it on-premise or use a hosted solution. It has some big names in its list of clients and users (UN, Nasa, European Commission, ...).
Plausible
Another OpenSource one you can host yourself: Plausible. That's the solution Pier 22 uses for all our sites. It works well, is easy to set up and it's not crazy expensive either. It's privacy-friendly and doesn't require a cookie banner or GDPR consent.
Fathom
I have not used it, but I have good about it: Fathom. It's privacy-friendly and doesn't require a cookie banner or GDPR consent.
Gaug.es
My former favorite: Gauges. Simple, efficient. But I like Plausible UI more. Still this could fit your taste and it's also a small company.
Just a list?
Well, yes, it's just a list. I would strongly suggest going with either Plausible or Fathom. I recommend Plausible because I use it, like the Open Source approach, and know it works well. I'd suggest Fathom because I have heard good things about it from people I trust.
If you are early in building your product or site, pick one of the two: you need something to go with, and I don't think you can go wrong with either of them. It will get you the data you need to know ("Are people coming on the site?", "Are more people coming on the site than last week?").