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Marketing & Analytics · head to head

Google Optimize vs Heap

Google Optimize logo

Google Optimize

Marketing & Analytics

A/B testing for Google Analytics

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Heap logo

Heap

SaaS

Product analytics for the modern product team

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Google Optimize google Optimize and Optimize 360 were sunset and are no longer available as of September 30, 2023; Heap no built-in A/B testing or feature flags; requires integration with separate tools for experimentation
  • They diverge on capability: Google Optimize covers A/B testing, Heap covers Autocapture.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Optimize and Heap actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Optimize and Heap differ
AttributeGoogle OptimizeHeap
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryMarketing & AnalyticsSaaS
Founded19982013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Optimize

  • A/B testing
  • Google Analytics integration
  • Visual editor
  • Real-time analytics
  • Google Analytics
  • Google Tag Manager
  • Google's security
  • Web support

Only in Heap

  • Autocapture
  • Retroactive analytics
  • Session replay
  • Funnel analysis
  • User segmentation
  • Path analysis
  • Data science
  • Virtual events

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

Google Optimize

  • A/B and multivariate testing of web pages tied to Google Analytics goalsnot Heap
  • Personalising page content for defined audience segmentsnot Heap
  • Redirect tests between alternative landing page URLsnot Heap

Heap

  • User behavior analysisnot Google Optimize
  • Conversion optimizationnot Google Optimize
  • Product adoptionnot Google Optimize
  • Customer journey mappingnot Google Optimize
  • A/B testing analysisnot Google Optimize

Where each one falls short

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

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

Heap

  • No built-in A/B testing or feature flags; requires integration with separate tools for experimentation
  • Group analytics and advanced features require a sales conversation, not self-serve
  • Cloud-only deployment; no self-hosted option for data security or compliance requirements
  • Session replay lacks developer debugging tools compared to PostHog
  • Pricing for Growth and Pro plans requires direct sales contact; no transparency on how pricing scales

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Optimize

Free
  • FreeFree
    • A/B testing
    • Google Analytics integration
    • Visual editor

Heap

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 10,000 monthly sessions
    • Basic charts
    • 6 months data history
  • Growth$null/custom
    • Custom session pricing
    • Sense AI assistant
    • 12 months data history
  • Pro$null/custom
    • Custom session pricing
    • Account analytics
    • Engagement matrix
  • Premier$null/custom
    • Custom session pricing
    • Data warehouse integration
    • Unlimited projects

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Optimize if

  • You need a/b testing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want google analytics integration.
Google Optimize review

Choose Heap if

  • You need autocapture.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want retroactive analytics.
Heap review

Questions people ask

Is Google Optimize or Heap better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Optimize starts at Free and Heap at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Optimize or Heap?
Google Optimize starts at Free and Heap at Free.
Does Google Optimize or Heap run on more platforms?
Google Optimize runs on Web. Heap runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Google Optimize for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Google Optimize best used for?
Google Optimize is most often used for a/b and multivariate testing of web pages tied to google analytics goals, personalising page content for defined audience segments, redirect tests between alternative landing page urls. Of those, a/b and multivariate testing of web pages tied to google analytics goals and personalising page content for defined audience segments are not what Heap is typically brought in for.
What can Google Optimize do that Heap cannot?
Google Optimize covers A/B testing, Google Analytics integration, Visual editor, Real-time analytics. Heap covers Autocapture, Retroactive analytics, Session replay, Funnel analysis. Both handle Cloud deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Heap: What does Heap's autocapture feature do?

Heap's autocapture is a single code snippet that automatically captures every click, swipe, tap, pageview, and form fill on your website and apps without requiring manual event setup. Once installed, Heap captures the entire digital experience of every user on every platform with no ongoing engineering maintenance needed.

Source
Heap: What are Heap's pricing plans and how much do they cost?

Heap offers a Free plan for up to 10,000 monthly sessions. Growth, Pro, and Premier plans use custom session-based pricing that requires contacting sales for a quote. Free includes basic charts and 6 months data history. Growth adds the Sense AI assistant. Pro adds account analytics. Premier adds data warehouse integration and dedicated customer success management.

Source
Heap: Does Heap include session replay and A/B testing?

Heap includes integrated session replay showing exactly what users did on your site. However, Heap does not include built-in A/B testing or feature flags. Teams requiring these capabilities must use separate tools or integrate with third-party platforms.

Source
Heap: What integrations does Heap support?

Heap supports over 100 integrations connecting to business tools including marketing platforms, CRMs, and data warehouses. This allows insights to reach relevant teams and ensures data flows to other business systems automatically.

Source
Heap: Does Heap offer self-hosting or is it cloud-only?

Heap is cloud-only and does not offer self-hosted options. Organizations requiring on-premises deployment should consider alternatives like PostHog which supports self-hosting alongside its cloud product.

Source
Heap: What is Sense and how does it help with analytics?

Sense Chat is Heap's AI assistant that enables users to access analytics without extensive technical knowledge. It allows teams to ask questions about user behavior and get answers directly without lengthy onboarding or technical expertise, making insights more accessible to non-technical stakeholders.

Source
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