Plausible vs PostHog
Plausible is privacy-friendly, lightweight web analytics. No cookies, GDPR-compliant out of the box, while PostHog is open-source product analytics suite with session replay, feature flags, A/B testing, and surveys. The biggest difference up front: PostHog is free, while Plausible starts at $9/mo. Plausible is built for privacy-conscious sites that want simple, clean analytics, whereas PostHog targets product teams that need analytics, session replay, and feature flags in one tool.
| Feature | Plausible | PostHog |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | — | ✓ |
| Open source | ✓ | ✓ |
| A/B Testing | — | ✓ |
| Cookieless | ✓ | — |
| Feature Flags | — | ✓ |
| Goal Tracking | ✓ | — |
| Lightweight Script | ✓ | — |
| Privacy First | ✓ | — |
| Product Analytics | — | ✓ |
| Self-Hosted | ✓ | — |
| Session Replay | — | ✓ |
| Surveys | — | ✓ |
Pricing: PostHog is completely free, which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Plausible starts at $9/mo. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.
Feature gaps: Plausible offers Cookieless, Goal Tracking and Lightweight Script that PostHog lacks. PostHog brings A/B Testing, Feature Flags and Product Analytics that Plausible does not have.
Team fit: Plausible is geared toward small teams teams, while PostHog is aimed at any size teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.
Open source: Both Plausible and PostHog are open source, so self-hosting and code audits are on the table with either choice.
Where each tool shines: Plausible's biggest strengths are: privacy-first — no cookies, no consent banners needed. lightweight script under 1kb. PostHog's biggest strengths are: all-in-one: analytics, session replay, feature flags, a/b tests. generous free tier (1m events/mo).
Watch out for: With Plausible, users commonly note that much less feature-rich than google analytics. With PostHog, the main complaint is that can be overwhelming — lots of features.
choose Plausible if
- You need a tool built for privacy-conscious sites that want simple, clean analytics
- You specifically need Cookieless and Goal Tracking
- You care about lightweight script under 1kb
- Your team size fits the small teams profile Plausible is designed for
choose PostHog if
- You need a tool built for product teams that need analytics, session replay, and feature flags in one tool
- Budget is a hard constraint — PostHog is free, Plausible is not
- You specifically need A/B Testing and Feature Flags
- You care about generous free tier (1m events/mo)
- Your team size fits the any size profile PostHog is designed for
frequently asked
What is the difference between Plausible and PostHog?
Plausible is privacy-friendly, lightweight web analytics. No cookies, GDPR-compliant out of the box, while PostHog is open-source product analytics suite with session replay, feature flags, A/B testing, and surveys. The biggest difference up front: PostHog is free, while Plausible starts at $9/mo. Plausible is built for privacy-conscious sites that want simple, clean analytics, whereas PostHog targets product teams that need analytics, session replay, and feature flags in one tool.
Should I use Plausible or PostHog?
PostHog is the free option; Plausible charges $9/mo but may offer more polish. Here is how they compare.
When should I choose Plausible over PostHog?
Choose Plausible if You need a tool built for privacy-conscious sites that want simple, clean analytics; You specifically need Cookieless and Goal Tracking; You care about lightweight script under 1kb; Your team size fits the small teams profile Plausible is designed for.
When should I choose PostHog over Plausible?
Choose PostHog if You need a tool built for product teams that need analytics, session replay, and feature flags in one tool; Budget is a hard constraint — PostHog is free, Plausible is not; You specifically need A/B Testing and Feature Flags; You care about generous free tier (1m events/mo); Your team size fits the any size profile PostHog is designed for.
related comparisons
Google Analytics vs Plausible · Plausible vs Fathom · Plausible vs Umami · Plausible vs Mixpanel · Plausible vs Amplitude · Plausible vs Hotjar · Plausible vs Heap · Plausible vs Pirsch