FullStory
Plausible Analytics
| Feature | FullStory | Plausible Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free only | From $9/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best For | product-teams, ux-designers, enterprise-apps, conversion-optimization | privacy-conscious-businesses, bloggers, developers, eu-businesses |
| Founded | 2014 | 2019 |
| Session Replay | ✓ | ✗ |
| Heatmaps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Product Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Error Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Frustration Signals | ✓ | ✗ |
| User Journeys | ✓ | ✗ |
| Data Export | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pageviews | ✗ | ✓ |
| Referrers | ✗ | ✓ |
| Goals | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom Events | ✗ | ✓ |
| Utm Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Api | ✗ | ✓ |
| Self Hosting | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Plausible Analytics Pros
- No cookies — GDPR compliant without consent banner
- Script is under 1KB (vs GA's 45KB)
- Open-source and transparent
- Simple dashboard — no overwhelming data
✗ Plausible Analytics Cons
- Less detailed than Google Analytics
- No free tier (but affordable)
- Limited segmentation and custom reports
The Verdict
FullStory is built for product teams and ux designers, with a focus on session-replay and heatmaps. Plausible Analytics targets privacy conscious businesses and bloggers and leads with pageviews and referrers.
FullStory uses custom enterprise pricing, while Plausible Analytics starts at $9/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. Plausible Analytics requires a paid subscription from day one.
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.