FullStory
The Trade Desk
| Feature | FullStory | The Trade Desk |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free only | Contact sales |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | product-teams, ux-designers, enterprise-apps, conversion-optimization | media-buyers, agencies, enterprise-advertisers, programmatic-teams |
| Founded | 2014 | 2009 |
| Session Replay | ✓ | ✗ |
| Heatmaps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Product Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Error Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Frustration Signals | ✓ | ✗ |
| User Journeys | ✓ | ✗ |
| Data Export | ✓ | ✗ |
| Programmatic Buying | ✗ | ✓ |
| Connected Tv | ✗ | ✓ |
| Audio Ads | ✗ | ✓ |
| Data Marketplace | ✗ | ✓ |
| Attribution | ✗ | ✓ |
| Identity Graph | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ The Trade Desk Pros
- Best-in-class DSP technology
- Excellent CTV capabilities
- Strong data marketplace
- Transparent pricing
✗ The Trade Desk Cons
- Enterprise minimum spend
- Requires programmatic expertise
- Complex for beginners
The Verdict
FullStory is built for product teams and ux designers, with a focus on session-replay and heatmaps. The Trade Desk targets media buyers and agencies and leads with programmatic-buying and connected-tv.
Both tools use custom enterprise pricing — you'll need to contact sales for a quote, which makes direct cost comparison difficult.
FullStory has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. The Trade Desk requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, FullStory offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while The Trade Desk 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.