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Google Optimize vs Plausible

Google Optimize logo

Google Optimize

Software

A/B testing for Google Analytics

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Plausible logo

Plausible

Software

Simple, privacy-friendly analytics

From
$9/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Plausible there is no free tier, only a 30 day trial
  • They diverge on capability: Google Optimize covers A/B testing, Plausible covers Page view tracking.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Google Optimize and Plausible differ
AttributeGoogle OptimizePlausible
Starting priceFree$9/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded19982018

Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 Google Optimize

  • A/B testing
  • Google Analytics integration
  • Visual editor
  • Google Analytics
  • Google Tag Manager
  • Google's security
  • 40+ languages language support

Only in Plausible

  • Page view tracking
  • Goal tracking
  • Outbound link click tracking
  • Privacy-focused
  • No cookies
  • 20+ languages language support

Both cover

  • Real-time analytics
  • 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 Plausible
  • Personalising page content for defined audience segmentsnot Plausible
  • Redirect tests between alternative landing page URLsnot Plausible

Plausible

  • Privacy-focused web analytics without cookies or personal datanot Google Optimize
  • A Google Analytics replacement that needs no consent bannernot Google Optimize
  • Self-hosted analytics on your own infrastructurenot Google Optimize
  • EU-hosted measurement for data residency requirementsnot 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

Plausible

  • There is no free tier, only a 30 day trial
  • Paid plans are metered on monthly pageviews, so a traffic spike moves you up a plan
  • Self-hosting is possible but means running and updating the service yourself
  • Deliberately simple, so there are no user-level profiles or funnel-by-individual reports the way a cookie-based analytics tool provides

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Optimize

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

Plausible

$9/month
  • Starter$9/month
    • Up to 10k monthly page views
    • 30 days retention
    • Basic analytics

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 Plausible if

  • You need page view tracking.
  • You also want goal tracking.
Plausible review

Questions people ask

Is Google Optimize or Plausible better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Optimize starts at Free and Plausible at $9/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Optimize or Plausible?
Google Optimize has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Optimize and $9/month for Plausible.
Does Google Optimize or Plausible 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. Plausible starts at $9/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 Plausible is typically brought in for.
What can Google Optimize do that Plausible cannot?
Google Optimize covers A/B testing, Google Analytics integration, Visual editor, Google Analytics. Plausible covers Page view tracking, Goal tracking, Outbound link click tracking, Privacy-focused. Both handle Real-time analytics, Cloud deployment, Web support.
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