Plausible Analytics vs PostHog
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Plausible is a simple, privacy-first web analytics tool that is cookie-free and GDPR-compliant, with a script far lighter than Google Analytics. It is open source and can be self-hosted.
PostHog is an open-source product analytics platform that helps you understand your users and make data-driven decisions. It provides a suite of tools for event tracking, funnels, cohorts, and more, allowing you to gain insights into user behavior and optimize your product accordingly.
From about $9/month; free if self-hosted (open source).
- Privacy-friendly and cookie-free
- Very lightweight
- Simple, readable dashboard
- Open source / self-hostable
- Highly customizable and extensible
- Self-hosted solution for maximum data control and security
- Extensive API for custom integrations and automations
- Free and open-source
- Less granular than GA
- Paid for hosted version
- Fewer advanced reports
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Requires technical expertise for setup and customization
- Limited support resources compared to commercial alternatives
What reviewers say
Plausible Analytics Reviews
3.8 (4)Solid choice
We rolled out Plausible Analytics last quarter. Simple, readable dashboard. Minor gripe: less granular than ga. Would recommend.
Decent with caveats
Plausible Analytics has been part of our stack. Upside: privacy-friendly and cookie-free. Downside: less granular than ga.
Recommend Plausible Analytics
Plausible Analytics has been part of our stack. Simple, readable dashboard. Minor gripe: less granular than ga. Would recommend.
PostHog Reviews
4.0 (3)Recommend PostHog
Tried PostHog recently. Developer-friendly. No real complaints. Would recommend.
Great analytics
We rolled out PostHog last quarter. Open source and self-hostable. Minor gripe: broad scope can feel heavy. Would recommend.
Decent with caveats
Tried PostHog recently. Upside: many tools in one platform. Downside: broad scope can feel heavy.
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Plausible Analytics
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Alternatives to PostHog
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataPlausible Analytics is the safer default for privacy‑focused sites needing simple, lightweight web stats, while PostHog offers deeper product‑analytics capabilities but requires technical expertise.
Key differences
- •Plausible provides a cookie‑free, <1KB script focused on basic web traffic metrics; PostHog tracks custom events, funnels, cohorts, heatmaps, and session recordings.
- •Plausible’s hosted version costs from $9/month; PostHog is free and open‑source, but both require self‑hosting for full control.
- •PostHog includes extensive integrations (Slack, GitHub, Notion) and a large API; Plausible’s API is available but integrations are not listed.
- •Plausible’s dashboard is a simple single‑page view; PostHog’s UI is more complex with many analysis tools, leading to a steeper learning curve.
- •Support for Plausible is not detailed; PostHog offers community support via GitHub/Slack and paid enterprise support.
Pricing & value
PostHog is free and open‑source; Plausible charges $9+/month for hosted service.
Ease of use / learning curve
Plausible’s single‑page dashboard is simple; PostHog has a steep learning curve for non‑technical users.
Features & depth
PostHog offers custom events, funnels, cohorts, retention, heatmaps, session recordings; Plausible provides basic traffic stats only.
Integrations & ecosystem
PostHog lists integrations with Slack, GitHub, Notion and a large API; Plausible’s integrations are not specified.
Support
PostHog provides community support and paid enterprise options; Plausible’s support options are not specified.
Security & privacy
Plausible is GDPR‑compliant, cookie‑free, and privacy‑focused; PostHog is self‑hosted but privacy claims are not detailed.
Choose Plausible Analytics if…
Site owners who prioritize privacy, need simple traffic stats, and want a low‑maintenance hosted solution.
Choose PostHog if…
Product teams needing deep behavioral analytics, custom event tracking, and are comfortable managing self‑hosted infrastructure.
Common questions
Which tool is cheaper for a small website?
PostHog is free; Plausible costs from $9/month for the hosted version.
Can I get detailed user‑behavior insights like funnels and heatmaps with Plausible?
No, Plausible offers only basic traffic metrics; PostHog provides funnels, cohorts, heatmaps, and session recordings.
Do both tools support self‑hosting?
Yes, both are open‑source and can be self‑hosted; Plausible’s free option is self‑hosted, PostHog’s default deployment is self‑hosted.