PostHog vs Amplitude

Open-source analytics that doesn't spy on your users, but might make you question your own product decisions meets the product analytics darling that makes you feel like a data wizard, until you realize you're just tracking clicks. Here's our take.

PostHog

Open-source analytics that doesn't spy on your users, but might make you question your own product decisions.

Pros

• Feature-rich
• Self-hostable
• Session replay
• Feature flags
• Self-hosted option keeps data in-house and avoids third-party cookie drama
• Feature flags and A/B testing built-in, so you can iterate without deploying new code
• Session recordings let you watch users struggle in real-time, which is both terrifying and enlightening

Cons

• Complex
• Resource-heavy
• Overkill for simple sites
• Self-hosting can turn into a DevOps nightmare if you're not prepared for the infrastructure
• The UI can feel cluttered when you're drowning in event data, making simple insights harder to find

Amplitude

Nice Pick

The product analytics darling that makes you feel like a data wizard, until you realize you're just tracking clicks.

Pros

• Intuitive funnel and retention analysis that actually helps you spot user drop-offs
• Powerful user segmentation that lets you slice data by behavior without SQL
• Real-time event tracking that updates dashboards faster than you can say 'A/B test'
• Great for non-technical teams with drag-and-drop tools that don't require a data engineer

Cons

• Pricing can skyrocket as your event volume grows, leading to sticker shock
• Custom queries and advanced analytics still need workarounds or external tools

The Verdict

Use Amplitude if: You want intuitive funnel and retention analysis that actually helps you spot user drop-offs and can live with pricing can skyrocket as your event volume grows, leading to sticker shock.

Use PostHog if: You prioritize feature-rich over what Amplitude offers.

The Bottom Line

Amplitude wins

The product analytics darling that makes you feel like a data wizard, until you realize you're just tracking clicks.