Marketing & Analytics · head to head
Google Optimize vs Kissmetrics
Google Optimize
Marketing & Analytics
A/B testing for Google Analytics
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Kissmetrics
Marketing & Analytics
Customer analytics and behavioral data
- From
- $500/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Google Optimize has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Google Optimize google Optimize and Optimize 360 were sunset and are no longer available as of September 30, 2023; Kissmetrics overages are added automatically to the next invoice rather than blocked, so exceeding an event allowance bills without a decision point
- They diverge on capability: Google Optimize covers A/B testing, Kissmetrics covers Customer analytics.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Google Optimize and Kissmetrics actually diverge.
| Attribute | Google Optimize | Kissmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $500/month |
| Pricing model | freemium | quote |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Founded | 1998 | 2009 |
Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 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
Only in Kissmetrics
- Customer analytics
- Behavioral tracking
- Cohort analysis
- Funnel analysis
- Salesforce
- GDPR
- English language support
Both cover
- Cloud deployment
- Web support
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 Kissmetrics
- Personalising page content for defined audience segmentsnot Kissmetrics
- Redirect tests between alternative landing page URLsnot Kissmetrics
Kissmetrics
- Product and behavioural analytics tracking user eventsnot Google Optimize
- Analysing funnels and cohorts across a customer journeynot 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
Kissmetrics
- Overages are added automatically to the next invoice rather than blocked, so exceeding an event allowance bills without a decision point
- The free plan allows 100,000 events a month
- Per event rates fall with volume, from $0.20 per 1,000 events on Growth to $0.10 on Gold, so smaller customers pay double per event
- The vendor states Growth, Silver and Gold are the identical product, so the paid tiers differ only in unit price and volume
- Anything above 5 million events is custom priced
Pricing, plan by plan
Google Optimize
Free- FreeFree
- A/B testing
- Google Analytics integration
- Visual editor
Kissmetrics
$500/month- Professional$500/month
- Customer analytics
- Behavioral tracking
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.
Choose Kissmetrics if
- You need customer analytics.
- You also want behavioral tracking.
Questions people ask
- Is Google Optimize or Kissmetrics better?
- Neither clearly leads. Google Optimize starts at Free and Kissmetrics at $500/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Google Optimize or Kissmetrics?
- Google Optimize has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Optimize and $500/month for Kissmetrics.
- Does Google Optimize or Kissmetrics run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Google Optimize for free?
- Yes. Google Optimize has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Kissmetrics starts at $500/month.
- 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 Kissmetrics is typically brought in for.
- What can Google Optimize do that Kissmetrics cannot?
- Google Optimize covers A/B testing, Google Analytics integration, Visual editor, Real-time analytics. Kissmetrics covers Customer analytics, Behavioral tracking, Cohort analysis, Funnel analysis. Both handle Cloud deployment, Web support.