PostHog vs Heap: Head-to-Head Comparison

Quick Verdict

PostHog is the better pick for engineering-led teams wanting analytics, replay and flags in one tool. Heap is the better pick for teams wanting retroactive analysis without manual tracking.

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At a Glance

Feature	PostHog	Heap
Best For	Engineering-led teams wanting analytics, replay and flags in one tool	Teams wanting retroactive analysis without manual tracking
Pricing	Free tier, then usage-based pricing	Free tier with paid plans
Free to Start	Yes	Yes
License	Open source	Proprietary
Deployment	Self-hosted or managed cloud	Managed cloud
Link	Visit PostHog	Visit Heap

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Detailed Breakdown

PostHog

Open-source product analytics suite

Pros:

• Analytics, session replay, feature flags and experiments
• Generous free usage tier
• Open source

Cons:

• Breadth means some tools are less deep
• Self-hosting is only supported at small scale

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Heap

Product analytics with automatic event capture

Pros:

• Autocapture of user interactions
• Retroactive event definitions
• Session replay available

Cons:

• Autocapture can produce noisy data
• Pricing is not transparent

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Key Differences

• Positioning: PostHog — open-source product analytics suite. Heap — product analytics with automatic event capture.
• Licensing differs: PostHog is open source while Heap is proprietary.
• Deployment: PostHog — self-hosted or managed cloud. Heap — managed cloud.
• Pricing: PostHog — free tier, then usage-based pricing. Heap — free tier with paid plans.
• Signature strength: PostHog — analytics, session replay, feature flags and experiments. Heap — autocapture of user interactions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is PostHog better than Heap?

It depends on your requirements. PostHog is a strong fit for engineering-led teams wanting analytics, replay and flags in one tool, while Heap suits teams wanting retroactive analysis without manual tracking.

Is PostHog free to use?

Yes, you can start with PostHog for free. Pricing model: Free tier, then usage-based pricing.

Is Heap free to use?

Yes, you can start with Heap for free. Pricing model: Free tier with paid plans.

Can I self-host PostHog or Heap?

PostHog can be self-hosted. Deployment options: self-hosted or managed cloud. Heap is offered as a managed service: managed cloud.

What are the main drawbacks of PostHog and Heap?

PostHog: breadth means some tools are less deep; self-hosting is only supported at small scale. Heap: autocapture can produce noisy data; pricing is not transparent.