Shared Dashboard Links

Create public or password-protected links to share your analytics dashboards

Shared links allow you to share your analytics dashboard with people who don’t have a Plausible account. You can create multiple shared links for different audiences, each with optional password protection and segment filtering.

Creating Shared Links

1. Navigate to Shared Links

   Go to Site Settings > Visibility > Shared Links

2. Create New Link

   Click ”+ New link” to open the link creation form.

3. Configure Link Settings

   Set up your shared link:

   • Name: A descriptive name for the link (required)
   • Password: Optional password protection
   • Segment: Optional segment filter (requires segment configuration)
4. Generate Link

   Click “Create shared link” to generate your unique URL.

Shared Link Schema

schema "shared_links" do
  belongs_to :site, Plausible.Site
  field :name, :string
  field :slug, :string  # Unique identifier in URL
  field :password_hash, :string
  belongs_to :segment, Plausible.Segments.Segment
  
  timestamps()
end

Link Configuration

Link Name

Each shared link must have a unique name within your site:

• Helps you identify the purpose of each link
• Must be unique per site
• Cannot use reserved special names

Some names are reserved by the system. If you try to use a reserved name, you’ll see: “This name is reserved. Please choose another one”

Unique Slug

Each shared link gets a unique slug automatically:

• Generated using Nanoid for security
• Included in the shareable URL
• Cannot be customized or changed

Example URL format:

https://plausible.io/share/example.com?auth=abc123xyz

Password Protection

Add an extra layer of security with password protection:

1. Enable Password

   When creating or editing a shared link, enter a password in the password field.

2. Password Hashing

   Passwords are securely hashed before storage using Plausible.Auth.Password.hash().

3. Share Credentials

   Share both the link URL and password with your intended recipients.

Password-protected links will prompt visitors to enter the password before displaying analytics.

Check if a link is password-protected:

Plausible.Site.SharedLink.password_protected?(link)
# Returns true if password_hash is set

Segment Filtering

Limit shared links to specific segments of your data:

1. Create a segment in your site settings
2. When creating a shared link, select the segment from the dropdown
3. The shared link will only show data matching that segment

Check if a link is segment-filtered:

Plausible.Site.SharedLink.limited_to_segment?(link)
# Returns true if segment_id is set

Segment-filtered links are perfect for showing specific data to different stakeholders, like mobile-only traffic or traffic from a specific country.

Managing Shared Links

Viewing All Links

See all shared links for your site:

1. Navigate to Site Settings > Visibility > Shared Links
2. View a list of all active shared links with:
   • Link name
   • Creation date
   • Password status (protected/open)
   • Segment filter (if applied)

Editing Links

Modify an existing shared link:

1. Find the link in your shared links list
2. Click the edit button
3. Update the name, password, or segment
4. Save changes

Changing the password will invalidate the old password immediately. Make sure to communicate the new password to authorized users.

Removing Links

Delete a shared link when it’s no longer needed:

1. Locate the Link

   Find the shared link you want to remove in your shared links list.

2. Delete Link

   Click the delete/remove button next to the link.

3. Confirm Deletion

   Confirm that you want to delete this link. The URL will immediately stop working.

Deleting a shared link is permanent. You’ll need to create a new link if you want to share again.

Using Shared Links

Sharing with Others

Once you’ve created a shared link:

1. Copy the generated URL
2. Share it via email, messaging, or embed it on your website
3. If password-protected, share the password separately

Example:

Link: https://plausible.io/share/example.com?auth=abc123xyz
Password: securepass123

Visitor Experience

When someone accesses your shared link:

Without password:

• Immediately see the analytics dashboard
• View data within any configured segment filters
• No account required

With password:

1. Prompted to enter the password
2. Password is validated
3. Access granted if password matches
4. Dashboard displayed

Shared links show a read-only version of your dashboard. Visitors cannot modify settings or access other features.

Shared Link Constraints

Validation Rules

When creating shared links:

def changeset(link, attrs) do
  link
  |> cast(attrs, [:slug, :password, :name, :segment_id])
  |> validate_required([:slug, :name])
  |> unique_constraint(:slug)
  |> unique_constraint(:name, name: :shared_links_site_id_name_index)
  |> foreign_key_constraint(:segment_id)
end

Required fields:

• Name (must be unique per site)
• Slug (auto-generated)

Optional fields:

• Password
• Segment ID (must reference valid segment)

Uniqueness Constraints

Each shared link must have:

• A globally unique slug
• A site-unique name

If you try to create a link with a duplicate name, you’ll receive an error.

Security Considerations

Password Best Practices

1. Use Strong Passwords

   Choose passwords that are:

   • At least 12 characters long
   • Include numbers, letters, and special characters
   • Not easily guessable
2. Rotate Passwords

   Periodically update passwords for long-lived shared links.

3. Separate Distribution

   Send the link and password through different channels for added security.

Link Security

• Slugs are generated with Nanoid for cryptographic randomness
• Passwords are hashed with secure algorithms (never stored in plain text)
• Links can be deleted immediately if compromised
• No account creation required, reducing attack surface

Shared links provide view-only access. Recipients cannot modify settings, add goals, or access other administrative features.

Common Use Cases

Public Dashboard

Share your traffic stats publicly:

Name: Public Stats
Password: (none)
Segment: (none)

Perfect for transparent public analytics.

Client Reporting

Create protected links for clients:

Name: Client ABC - Monthly Report
Password: client_password_123
Segment: (none or specific segment)

Team Sharing

Share with team members outside your organization:

Name: Marketing Team View
Password: team_access_2024
Segment: Marketing Traffic

Investor Updates

Provide metrics to investors or stakeholders:

Name: Investor Dashboard
Password: secure_investor_access
Segment: Key Metrics

Troubleshooting

Link not working?

• Verify the full URL was copied correctly
• Check if the link was deleted
• Ensure any required password is correct

Can’t create link?

• Check that the name is unique
• Ensure the name isn’t reserved
• Verify segment exists if using segment filtering

Password issues?

• Passwords are case-sensitive
• Try resetting the password
• Ensure no extra spaces when entering password

Best Practices

Follow these recommendations for effective shared link management:

• Use descriptive names: Make it clear who the link is for and what it shows
• Apply passwords for sensitive data: Always password-protect links with sensitive analytics
• Leverage segments: Create focused views for different audiences
• Regular audits: Periodically review and remove unused links
• Track link usage: Note who has access to which links
• Rotate passwords: Update passwords periodically for long-term links
• Delete promptly: Remove links immediately when no longer needed