Plausible vs PostHog
Plausible and PostHog both answer the same question: how do you know what users actually do? Lightweight, cookie-free web analytics that fits on one page and stays out of consent banner territory. Product analytics with session replay, feature flags, experiments and surveys bundled into one open source platform. The real split is ownership: PostHog runs inside your project and leaves the operational work with you, while Plausible runs the hard parts as a service and takes a dependency in exchange.
Verdict
The real split is ownership: PostHog runs inside your project and leaves the operational work with you, while Plausible runs the hard parts as a service and takes a dependency in exchange.
Pick Plausible if
- ✓Script is tiny, so it has no measurable effect on page speed scores.
- ✓No cookies or personal data, which usually removes the consent banner requirement.
- ✓The entire dashboard fits one screen that a non-technical founder can read.
Pick PostHog if
- ✓Funnels, retention and cohorts answer product questions page views never could.
- ✓Session replay lets you watch the exact path a confused user took.
- ✓Feature flags and experiments share the same identity data as the analytics.
| Comparison | Plausible | PostHog |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing shape | Paid subscription based on monthly page views, with no free tier beyond the trial. | Generous free monthly event allowance, then usage-based pricing per event, replay and flag request. |
| Frameworks | Next.js, SvelteKit, Nuxt, Laravel, Django, Rails | Next.js, SvelteKit, Nuxt, React Native, Expo, Flutter |
| In one line | Lightweight, cookie-free web analytics that fits on one page and stays out of consent banner territory. | Product analytics with session replay, feature flags, experiments and surveys bundled into one open source platform. |
Pricing described qualitatively because published plans change often. Checked 2026-08-23. Confirm current terms on Plausible and PostHog.
Plausible
Strengths
- ✓Script is tiny, so it has no measurable effect on page speed scores.
- ✓No cookies or personal data, which usually removes the consent banner requirement.
- ✓The entire dashboard fits one screen that a non-technical founder can read.
- ✓Open source with EU hosting, which helps with data residency questions.
Tradeoffs
- ✗Aggregate only, so you can never inspect an individual user journey.
- ✗Custom events exist but the analysis depth stops well short of product analytics.
- ✗Paid from the beginning, unlike free ad-funded alternatives.
- ✗Deliberately simple, so growth teams outgrow it once questions get specific.
PostHog
Strengths
- ✓Funnels, retention and cohorts answer product questions page views never could.
- ✓Session replay lets you watch the exact path a confused user took.
- ✓Feature flags and experiments share the same identity data as the analytics.
- ✓Self-hostable and open source, so the data can stay on your infrastructure.
Tradeoffs
- ✗Full event tracking makes it a privacy and consent conversation, not a free pass.
- ✗The client library is heavy compared to a simple page-view script.
- ✗Breadth of features means real onboarding time before anyone gets value.
- ✗Event-based billing rewards discipline and punishes noisy instrumentation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Plausible or PostHog better?
Neither is better in the abstract. The real split is ownership: PostHog runs inside your project and leaves the operational work with you, while Plausible runs the hard parts as a service and takes a dependency in exchange. The wrong choice here is usually recoverable, so weight speed of decision over certainty.
What is the main drawback of Plausible?
Aggregate only, so you can never inspect an individual user journey. Custom events exist but the analysis depth stops well short of product analytics.
What is the main drawback of PostHog?
Full event tracking makes it a privacy and consent conversation, not a free pass. The client library is heavy compared to a simple page-view script.
Can you switch from one to the other later?
Usually, at a cost that grows with how much of your product leans on the analytics layer. Keep the integration behind a thin module of your own and the migration stays a weekend rather than a quarter.