Marketing & Analytics · head to head
Countly vs Google Optimize
Google Optimize
Marketing & Analytics
A/B testing for Google Analytics
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Countly the private cloud plan starts at $175 a month and is described as usage based without stating the unit; Google Optimize google Optimize and Optimize 360 were sunset and are no longer available as of September 30, 2023
- They diverge on capability: Countly covers Event tracking, Google Optimize covers A/B testing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Countly and Google Optimize actually diverge.
| Attribute | Countly | Google Optimize |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, Mobile, Api | Web |
| Founded | 2012 | 1998 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Marketing & Analytics).
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 Countly
- Event tracking
- Crash reporting
- Analytics dashboard
- User retention
- Open-source
- On-premise deployment
- Mobile support
- Api support
Only in Google Optimize
- A/B testing
- Google Analytics integration
- Visual editor
- Real-time analytics
- Google Analytics
- Google Tag Manager
- Google's security
- 40+ languages language support
Both cover
- Cloud deployment
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Countly
- Product analytics for mobile and web applicationsnot Google Optimize
- Self hosting analytics where data cannot leave the organisationnot Google Optimize
Google Optimize
- A/B and multivariate testing of web pages tied to Google Analytics goalsnot Countly
- Personalising page content for defined audience segmentsnot Countly
- Redirect tests between alternative landing page URLsnot Countly
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Countly
- The private cloud plan starts at $175 a month and is described as usage based without stating the unit
- No event cap, data point limit or user limit is published for either paid plan
- The self hosted Enterprise edition is custom priced and billed annually
- Adaptivity and intelligence features are separately priced add ons on the cheaper plan
Google Optimize
- Google Optimize and Optimize 360 were sunset and are no longer available as of September 30, 2023
- Any experiments and personalizations still running on that date were ended by Google
- Google directs former users to third-party A/B testing tools, naming AB Tasty, Optimizely and VWO, rather than a replacement Google product
Pricing, plan by plan
Countly
Free- Open SourceFree
- Open-source
- Self-hosted
- Full features
Google Optimize
Free- FreeFree
- A/B testing
- Google Analytics integration
- Visual editor
Which should you pick?
Choose Countly if
- You need event tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
- You also want crash reporting.
Choose Google Optimize if
- You need a/b testing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want google analytics integration.
Questions people ask
- Is Countly or Google Optimize better?
- Neither clearly leads. Countly starts at Free and Google Optimize at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Countly or Google Optimize?
- Countly starts at Free and Google Optimize at Free.
- Does Countly or Google Optimize run on more platforms?
- Countly runs on Web, Mobile, Api. Google Optimize runs on Web.
- Can I use Countly for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Countly best used for?
- Countly is most often used for product analytics for mobile and web applications, self hosting analytics where data cannot leave the organisation. Of those, product analytics for mobile and web applications and self hosting analytics where data cannot leave the organisation are not what Google Optimize is typically brought in for.
- What can Countly do that Google Optimize cannot?
- Countly covers Event tracking, Crash reporting, Analytics dashboard, User retention. Google Optimize covers A/B testing, Google Analytics integration, Visual editor, Real-time analytics. Both handle Cloud deployment, Web support.