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Software · head to head

Amplitude vs PostHog

Amplitude logo

Amplitude

Software

The digital analytics platform to understand your users

From
Free
Rated
-
PostHog logo

PostHog

Software

The single platform to analyze, test, observe, and deploy new features

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Amplitude metered on event volume, so instrumenting more of a product raises the bill even if the audience does not grow; PostHog the free tier covers 1M events, 5K web session recordings and 2.5K mobile recordings per month before usage-based billing starts
  • They diverge on capability: Amplitude covers Event tracking, PostHog covers Product analytics.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Amplitude and PostHog actually diverge.

Attributes where Amplitude and PostHog differ
AttributeAmplitudePostHog
Pricing modelUnknownusage-based
Founded20122020

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Ios, Android, Api), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Amplitude

  • Event tracking
  • User segmentation
  • Funnel analysis
  • Retention analysis
  • Cohort analysis
  • Revenue analytics
  • Predictive analytics
  • Snowflake

Only in PostHog

  • Product analytics
  • Session recording
  • Feature flags
  • Heatmaps
  • SQL access
  • Data warehouse
  • Apps platform
  • Microsoft Teams

Both cover

  • A/B testing
  • Segment
  • Slack
  • SOC2
  • GDPR

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Amplitude

  • User behavior analysisnot PostHog
  • Feature adoption trackingnot PostHog
  • Conversion rate optimizationnot PostHog
  • Customer journey mappingnot PostHog
  • Retention improvementnot PostHog

PostHog

  • Product analyticsnot Amplitude
  • Feature experimentationnot Amplitude
  • User behavior trackingnot Amplitude
  • A/B testingnot Amplitude
  • Debug production issuesnot Amplitude

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Amplitude

  • Metered on event volume, so instrumenting more of a product raises the bill even if the audience does not grow
  • The free plan covers 2M events a month
  • The Plus plan scales to 70M events, above which pricing is custom
  • Growth and Enterprise pricing is not published

PostHog

  • The free tier covers 1M events, 5K web session recordings and 2.5K mobile recordings per month before usage-based billing starts
  • Accounts without a card on file are limited to 1 project; adding one raises it to 6
  • Data retention is 1 year until a card is added, which extends it to 7 years
  • Support is community-only until the account is on a paid plan
  • Error tracking is capped at 100K exceptions and surveys at 1500 responses per month on the free tier

Pricing, plan by plan

Amplitude

Free
  • StarterFree
    • 2 million events per month
  • Plus$49/month
    • $0.049 per MTU
    • Up to 300k MTUs
    • Advanced analytics
  • GrowthFree
    • Causal insights
    • Feature experimentation
    • Real-time streaming
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Cross-product analysis
    • Advanced permissions
    • Dedicated account manager

PostHog

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1M events/month
    • 5K sessions/month
    • Unlimited users
  • Paid$undefined/month
    • $0.00031/event
    • $0.005/session
    • Advanced permissions
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • SAML SSO
    • Advanced security
    • Dedicated support

Which should you pick?

Choose Amplitude if

  • You need event tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want user segmentation.

Choose PostHog if

  • You need product analytics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want session recording.

Questions people ask

Is Amplitude or PostHog better?
Neither clearly leads. Amplitude starts at Free and PostHog at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Amplitude or PostHog?
Amplitude starts at Free and PostHog at Free.
Does Amplitude or PostHog run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Amplitude for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Amplitude best used for?
Amplitude is most often used for user behavior analysis, feature adoption tracking, conversion rate optimization, customer journey mapping. Of those, user behavior analysis and feature adoption tracking are not what PostHog is typically brought in for.
What can Amplitude do that PostHog cannot?
Amplitude covers Event tracking, User segmentation, Funnel analysis, Retention analysis. PostHog covers Product analytics, Session recording, Feature flags, Heatmaps. Both handle A/B testing, Segment, Slack, SOC2.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Amplitude: Does Amplitude have a free plan?

Yes, Amplitude offers a free Starter plan with 2 million events per month and access to the entire platform including analytics, session replay, and experimentation features.

Source
Amplitude: What is Amplitude's pricing based on?

Amplitude's pricing is based on the number of monthly tracked users (MTUs), data volume, and advanced features selected. The Plus plan starts at $49 per month with a rate of $0.049 per MTU.

Source
Amplitude: What analytics features does every Amplitude plan include?

Every plan includes access to the full platform: analytics, session replay, feature experimentation, web experimentation, guides and surveys, activation, and AI tools like AI Feedback and AI Assistant.

Source

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