FullStory
Pirsch
| Feature | FullStory | Pirsch |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free only | From $4/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | product-teams, ux-designers, enterprise-apps, conversion-optimization | privacy-focused-websites, european-businesses, bloggers, saas-companies |
| Founded | 2014 | 2021 |
| Session Replay | ✓ | ✗ |
| Heatmaps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Product Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Error Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Frustration Signals | ✓ | ✗ |
| User Journeys | ✓ | ✗ |
| Data Export | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pageview Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Event Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Goals | ✗ | ✓ |
| Utm Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Server Side Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Api Access | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ FullStory Pros
- High-fidelity session replay with DOM rendering
- AI-powered insights surface frustration signals
- Combines qualitative and quantitative analytics
- Privacy-first with PII exclusion controls
✗ FullStory Cons
- Expensive for high-traffic sites
- Free plan limited to 1,000 sessions/month
- Can slow page performance with full recording
✓ Pirsch Pros
- No cookies required
- GDPR compliant out of the box
- Lightweight script (less than 1KB)
- Server-side tracking option
✗ Pirsch Cons
- No free plan
- Less detailed than GA4
- Limited e-commerce tracking
The Verdict
FullStory is built for product teams and ux designers, with a focus on session-replay and heatmaps. Pirsch targets privacy focused websites and european businesses and leads with pageview-tracking and event-tracking.
FullStory uses custom enterprise pricing, while Pirsch starts at $4/mo — a tangible advantage for teams with a fixed budget.
FullStory has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Pirsch requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, FullStory offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Pirsch takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.