Marketing & Analytics · head to head
Google Optimize vs Simple Analytics
Google Optimize
Marketing & Analytics
A/B testing for Google Analytics
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Simple Analytics
Marketing & Analytics
Privacy-friendly analytics without cookies
- From
- $20/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; Simple Analytics the free plan requires a Simple Analytics badge on your site and is limited to 1 user, 5 websites and 30 days of history
- They diverge on capability: Google Optimize covers A/B testing, Simple Analytics covers Page view tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Google Optimize and Simple Analytics actually diverge.
| Attribute | Google Optimize | Simple Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $20/month |
| Pricing model | freemium | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Founded | 1998 | 2016 |
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
- Google Analytics
- Google Tag Manager
- Google's security
- 40+ languages language support
Only in Simple Analytics
- Page view tracking
- Goal tracking
- Privacy-focused
- GDPR compliant
- English 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 Simple Analytics
- Personalising page content for defined audience segmentsnot Simple Analytics
- Redirect tests between alternative landing page URLsnot Simple Analytics
Simple Analytics
- Cookie-free website analytics that avoids a consent bannernot Google Optimize
- Keeping visitor data hosted in the EU for GDPR purposesnot Google Optimize
- Replacing or running alongside Google Analytics with a single-page dashboardnot 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
Simple Analytics
- The free plan requires a Simple Analytics badge on your site and is limited to 1 user, 5 websites and 30 days of history
- Data older than 30 days is automatically deleted on the free plan
- The paid plan starts at $20 per month for 100,000 pageviews and includes only 1 user, with each extra user costing another $20 per month
- Single Sign-On, role-based access, SOC 2 documentation, an SLA and raw data export are Enterprise features quoted only by demo request
- On yearly plans, exceeding your estimated limit gives you one week to raise it before Simple Analytics raises it for you
- Paying by Bitcoin adds 10% and is only offered on yearly billing
- Bank transfer is only available for bills from $500 and adds 10% in banking and service fees
- Unlimited pageviews on the free plan are subject to a fair use policy rather than a stated number
Pricing, plan by plan
Google Optimize
Free- FreeFree
- A/B testing
- Google Analytics integration
- Visual editor
Simple Analytics
$20/month- Standard$20/month
- Up to 100k page views
- Real-time 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.
Choose Simple Analytics if
- You need page view tracking.
- You also want goal tracking.
Questions people ask
- Is Google Optimize or Simple Analytics better?
- Neither clearly leads. Google Optimize starts at Free and Simple Analytics at $20/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Google Optimize or Simple Analytics?
- Google Optimize has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Optimize and $20/month for Simple Analytics.
- Does Google Optimize or Simple Analytics 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. Simple Analytics starts at $20/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 Simple Analytics is typically brought in for.
- What can Google Optimize do that Simple Analytics cannot?
- Google Optimize covers A/B testing, Google Analytics integration, Visual editor, Google Analytics. Simple Analytics covers Page view tracking, Goal tracking, Privacy-focused, GDPR compliant. Both handle Real-time analytics, Cloud deployment, Web support.