Softwr

Marketing · head to head

Google Analytics vs Yellowfin

Google Analytics logo

Google Analytics

Marketing

Get to know your customers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Yellowfin logo

Yellowfin

Business Intelligence

Action-based business intelligence

From
$50/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Google Analytics has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Google Analytics data retention limited to maximum 26 months on standard properties, with automatic deletion after retention period expires; Yellowfin the pricing page publishes no rate, no minimum and no per-user price; every model ends in a Get Pricing form
  • They diverge on capability: Google Analytics covers Real-time analytics, Yellowfin covers Automated Analysis.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Analytics and Yellowfin actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Analytics and Yellowfin differ
AttributeGoogle AnalyticsYellowfin
Starting priceFree$50/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Mobile, Embedded
CategoryMarketingBusiness Intelligence
Founded19982003

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Google Analytics

  • Real-time analytics
  • Audience insights
  • Acquisition tracking
  • Behavior flow
  • Conversion tracking
  • Custom reports
  • Mobile analytics
  • E-commerce tracking

Only in Yellowfin

  • Automated Analysis
  • Data Stories
  • Collaboration
  • Signals
  • Embedded Analytics
  • Google Analytics
  • SQL Server
  • Oracle

Both cover

  • Salesforce

What people use each for

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

Google Analytics

  • Website and web application analyticsnot Yellowfin
  • Event tracking and user behaviour analysisnot Yellowfin
  • Traffic source and conversion trackingnot Yellowfin

Yellowfin

  • Embedding white-labelled dashboards and analytics into a software productnot Google Analytics
  • Enterprise reporting with automated business monitoring and alertingnot Google Analytics
  • Data storytelling and guided natural language querying for business usersnot Google Analytics

Where each one falls short

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

Google Analytics

  • Data retention limited to maximum 26 months on standard properties, with automatic deletion after retention period expires
  • Large and XL properties capped at 2-month data retention only
  • Age, gender, and interest data always expire after 2 months regardless of retention settings
  • Free tier does not include GA360 advanced features

Yellowfin

  • The pricing page publishes no rate, no minimum and no per-user price; every model ends in a Get Pricing form
  • One of the three embedded models is a revenue share, so Yellowfin takes a cut of the revenue your analytics module earns
  • Another model prices by server core, so scaling deployment hardware raises the licence cost independently of users
  • Getting a quote requires submitting a form with a marketing consent checkbox and a user-count band rather than seeing a rate card

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Analytics

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Analytics review.

Yellowfin

$50/month
  • Team$50/month
    • Dashboards
    • Stories
    • Collaboration
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Advanced Features
    • Embedding
    • Custom SLA

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Analytics if

  • You need real-time analytics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want audience insights.
Google Analytics review

Choose Yellowfin if

  • You need automated analysis.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Embedded.
  • You also want data stories.
Yellowfin review

Questions people ask

Is Google Analytics or Yellowfin better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Analytics starts at Free and Yellowfin at $50/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Analytics or Yellowfin?
Google Analytics has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Analytics and $50/month for Yellowfin.
Does Google Analytics or Yellowfin run on more platforms?
Google Analytics runs on Web. Yellowfin runs on Web, Mobile, Embedded.
Can I use Google Analytics for free?
Yes. Google Analytics has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Yellowfin starts at $50/month.
What is Google Analytics best used for?
Google Analytics is most often used for website and web application analytics, event tracking and user behaviour analysis, traffic source and conversion tracking. Of those, website and web application analytics and event tracking and user behaviour analysis are not what Yellowfin is typically brought in for.
What can Google Analytics do that Yellowfin cannot?
Google Analytics covers Real-time analytics, Audience insights, Acquisition tracking, Behavior flow. Yellowfin covers Automated Analysis, Data Stories, Collaboration, Signals. Both handle Salesforce.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Yellowfin: What pricing models does Yellowfin offer?

Yellowfin offers three flexible models for embedded analytics: Aligned Utility Model (price per unit), Revenue Share Model (based on analytics revenue value), and Server Core (fixed price based on server deployment).

Source
Yellowfin: Is Yellowfin pricing predictable and scalable?

Yes, Yellowfin pricing is simple, predictable and scalable with no hidden costs or surprises.

Source
Yellowfin: Are there limits on user access or development environments?

No limitations exist on access to functionality across users. There are also no limits on dev and test licenses, ensuring DevOps is covered.

Source
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