Google Analytics is a free, web-focused analytics platform built for standard traffic and conversion tracking, while Heap is a paid, code-free digital analytics tool designed for product teams needing automatic event capture and advanced session replay capabilities.
Heap vs Google Analytics — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Code-free digital analytics platform with automatic event capture and session replay for product teams.
Free, event-based analytics platform for tracking website and app user behavior with multi-channel attribution.
Pricing Model. Implementation Method. Session Replay & Heatmaps. Data Retention. Learning Curve. Best For Use Case. Mobile App Analytics
Choose Google Analytics if you need a free, established platform for website traffic analysis, SEO insights, and marketing funnel tracking. Choose Heap if your team prioritizes product experience optimization, needs automatic event tracking without engineering overhead, and has budget for advanced session replay and heatmapping capabilities.
Heap: 4.4 stars | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: 23 reviews | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: No - Analytics-only, no replay | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Yes - Fully automatic without coding | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Standard analytics without advanced AI | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Limited - Behavioral focus only | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Yes - Primary strength | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Low (code-free setup) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Yes, all plans | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Yes, core feature | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Basic forecasting | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: 24 months | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Yes, with limits | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: 2-3 days | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Automatic capture (no code) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Yes (native) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Session Recordings Per Month (Basic Plan)
Heap: Not included | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Advanced plan only | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Yes (all interactions) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Advanced SQL-like interface | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: 50+ | Google Analytics 4: 500+ integrations
Heap: Zero sampling, 100% capture | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: 4 (steep) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Zero-code (automatic) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: 20 minutes | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: $995/month | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Unlimited | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: 50+ integrations | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Yes (all plans) | Google Analytics 4: No (third-party only)
Heap: Basic cohort view | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: $600/month | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: 6-12 months | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: 1-2 weeks (auto-tracking) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: 8/10 (visual, intuitive) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: 0.5-2 hours | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: 3 months | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Up to 100M events | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Yes (zero-code) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Cloud-only | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Proprietary | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: $990/month | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: 15 minutes | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: 12 months | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: 80+ integrations | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: 25 users | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: 10,000 (Pro) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: Basic segmentation only | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: 0% (fully automatic) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
Heap: 13 months | Google Analytics 4: 2 months (free) / 4 months (GA360)
Heap: 2 hours | Google Analytics 4: 0.5 hours
Heap: Yes (unlimited) | Google Analytics 4: No (requires third-party)
Heap: Yes (all interactions) | Google Analytics 4: No (requires tagging)
Heap: Limited (web-first) | Google Analytics 4: Full (iOS & Android)
Heap: No | Google Analytics 4: Yes (integrated with GSC)
Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: Unlimited
Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: iOS (Firebase), Android (Firebase), Web SDK
Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: Custom segments required; limited to 20 dimensions per cohort
Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: Native GSC integration, organic search keywords, landing pages, device tracking
Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: 15-20 KB
Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: 20-30 minutes
Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: No (requires consent in EU/UK)
Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: Advanced (product-level, multi-touch attribution)
Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: Unlimited custom events
Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: $0 (free) / $10,000+ (GA360)
Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: 2 months
Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: No (requires integration)
Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: ~41% of all websites
Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: 5-10 (tag placement only)
Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: No (third-party only)
How to choose between Heap and Google Analytics 4
Heap vs Google Analytics — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Heap vs Google Analytics. Contains 89 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Heap vs Google Analytics.
Do I need a developer to set up Heap or Google Analytics?
Heap requires zero developer involvement - it auto-captures all user interactions once the snippet is installed (5 minutes). Google Analytics requires either Google Tag Manager setup (1-2 hours for basic tracking) or direct code implementation for custom events, making it less developer-friendly than Heap but easier for standard website tracking.
Which platform is better for session replay and understanding user behavior?
Heap includes native session replay, heatmaps, and friction scoring at no extra cost. Google Analytics requires third-party integrations like Hotjar ($39-99/month) or Microsoft Clarity (free but limited). For UX optimization, Heap's built-in tools are more comprehensive, while GA4 excels at traffic source attribution.
How much does data retention cost with each platform?
Heap provides 13 months of data retention standard in all plans. Google Analytics offers only 2 months free retention; upgrading to 4 months requires GA360 at $10,000+/month. If you need historical data analysis, Heap's longer retention window saves significantly on enterprise licensing.
Which is better for SEO and marketing teams?
Google Analytics is superior for SEO teams because it integrates directly with Google Search Console, showing organic search keywords, impressions, and click-through rates. Heap doesn't provide SEO insights. GA4 is the standard for marketing attribution and channel analysis, while Heap focuses on product experience optimization.
Can both platforms track mobile app behavior?
Google Analytics has full native support for iOS and Android apps with dedicated mobile SDKs and app-specific reports. Heap is primarily a web analytics tool with limited mobile app capabilities. If you need comprehensive app analytics, Google Analytics is the better choice.
How to Choose Between Heap and Google Analytics 4
Pricing Model: Heap has $668/month (starter plan), while Google Analytics 4 has Free (GA4), $10,000+/month (GA360).
Implementation Method: Heap has No code required - auto-captures all interactions, while Google Analytics 4 has Requires GTM/code implementation for custom events.
Session Replay & Heatmaps: Heap has Native session replay and heatmap tools included, while Google Analytics 4 has Session replay requires third-party integration (paid add-on).
Data Retention: Heap has 13 months standard, while Google Analytics 4 has 2 months free; 4 months with GA360.
Learning Curve: Heap has 2-4 weeks for team proficiency, while Google Analytics 4 has 1-2 weeks for basic setup.
Best For Use Case: Heap has Product-led growth and UX optimization, while Google Analytics 4 has Website traffic, SEO, and marketing attribution.
Mobile App Analytics: Heap has Limited (web-first platform), while Google Analytics 4 has Full support for iOS and Android apps.