Heap vs Google Analytics
type: Article
description: 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.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-07-08T03:35:54.785Z
date created: 2026-07-08T03:35:54.785Z
date modified: 2026-07-08T03:35:55.243Z
content reference time: 2026-07-08T03:35:55.243Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Heap
about: Google Analytics 4
abstract: 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.
text: Pricing Model. Implementation Method. Session Replay & Heatmaps. Data Retention. Learning Curve. Best For Use Case. Mobile App Analytics
conclusion text: 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.
additional property: Gartner Customer Reviews Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 4.4 stars | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Number of Gartner Reviews
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 23 reviews | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Session Replay Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: No - Analytics-only, no replay | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Auto-Capture Event Tracking
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Yes - Fully automatic without coding | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: AI-Powered Insights
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Standard analytics without advanced AI | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Root Cause Analysis
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Limited - Behavioral focus only | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Funnel & Retention Analysis
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Yes - Primary strength | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Implementation Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Low (code-free setup) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Free Trial Period
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 14 days | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Starting Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: $500 | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Session Replay Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Yes, all plans | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Automatic Event Capture
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Yes, core feature | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Predictive Analytics Models
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Basic forecasting | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Data Retention
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 24 months | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: API Rate Limits
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 1000 | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Multi-workspace Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Yes, with limits | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Minimum Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: $600 | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Implementation Time to First Insights
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 2-3 days | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Maximum Funnel Steps
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 15 | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: API Event Rate Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 50,000 | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Event Instrumentation Required
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Automatic capture (no code) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Predictive Cohort Modeling
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: No | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Session Replay Built-In
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Yes (native) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Session Recordings Per Month (Basic Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Not included | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Heatmaps as Core Feature
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Advanced plan only | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Automatic Event Tracking
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Yes (all interactions) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: SQL Query Builder
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Advanced SQL-like interface | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Third-Party Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 50+ | Google Analytics 4: 500+ integrations
  value reference: Google Analytics 4
additional property: Data Sampling
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Zero sampling, 100% capture | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Learning Curve (1-5 scale)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 4 (steep) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Implementation Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Zero-code (automatic) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Setup Time to First Insights
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 20 minutes | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Base Plan Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: $995/month | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Event Tracking Limit (Standard Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Unlimited | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Max Funnel Depth
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 5 steps | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Native Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 50+ integrations | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Session Replay Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Yes (all plans) | Google Analytics 4: No (third-party only)
additional property: Retention Prediction Models
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Basic cohort view | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Starting Price (Monthly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: $600/month | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Global Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 0.4% | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Retroactive Data Lookback
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 6-12 months | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Data Retention (Standard)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 24 months | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Available Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 300+ | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Typical Implementation Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 1-2 weeks (auto-tracking) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Non-Technical User Dashboard Usability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 8/10 (visual, intuitive) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Setup Time Required
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 0.5-2 hours | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Free Tier Data Retention
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: 3 months | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Monthly Events (free tier limit)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Up to 100M events | Google Analytics 4: N/A
additional property: Automatic Event Capture
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Heap: Yes (zero-code) | Google Analytics 4: N/A
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/heap
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/heap
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/google-analytics-4
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/google-analytics-4
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/heap-vs-google-analytics)
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/heap-vs-google-analytics)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/fullstory-vs-heap
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/heap-vs-hotjar
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/google-analytics-vs-amplitude
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/posthog-vs-google-analytics
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/heap-vs-mixpanel
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/heap-vs-google-analytics
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/heap-vs-posthog
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/amplitude-vs-heap
teaches: How to choose between Heap and Google Analytics 4
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: Heap vs Google Analytics — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

Heap
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Code-free digital analytics platform with automatic event capture and session replay for product teams.
subject of: Heap vs Google Analytics

Google Analytics 4
type: SoftwareApplication
alternate name: GA4
language: en-US
description: Free, event-based analytics platform for tracking website and app user behavior with multi-channel attribution.
image: ImageObject
  caption: Google Analytics 4
subject of: Heap vs Google Analytics
image: ImageObject
  caption: Google Analytics 4

Heap vs Google Analytics — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Heap vs Google Analytics. Contains 89 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Gartner Customer Reviews Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: User Satisfaction
variable measured: Number of Gartner Reviews
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Presence
variable measured: Session Replay Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Analytics
variable measured: Auto-Capture Event Tracking
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Core Features
variable measured: AI-Powered Insights
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Root Cause Analysis
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Analytics
variable measured: Funnel & Retention Analysis
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Analytics
variable measured: Implementation Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Deployment
variable measured: Free Trial Period
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Starting Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: Session Replay Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Automatic Event Capture
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Predictive Analytics Models
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Analytics
variable measured: Data Retention
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: API Rate Limits
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Technical
variable measured: Multi-workspace Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Minimum Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Implementation Time to First Insights
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Setup & Onboarding
variable measured: Maximum Funnel Steps
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Analytics Capabilities
variable measured: API Event Rate Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance & Scale
variable measured: Event Instrumentation Required
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Setup & Onboarding
variable measured: Predictive Cohort Modeling
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Analytics Capabilities
variable measured: Session Replay Built-In
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Analytics Capabilities
variable measured: Session Recordings Per Month (Basic Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Heatmaps as Core Feature
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Automatic Event Tracking
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: SQL Query Builder
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Analytics
variable measured: Third-Party Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Data Sampling
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Quality
variable measured: Learning Curve (1-5 scale)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: Implementation Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Setup & Deployment
variable measured: Setup Time to First Insights
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Setup & Deployment
variable measured: Base Plan Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Event Tracking Limit (Standard Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Capacity
variable measured: Max Funnel Depth
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Analytics Features
variable measured: Native Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Session Replay Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Retention Prediction Models
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Advanced Analytics
variable measured: Starting Price (Monthly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Global Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Position
variable measured: Retroactive Data Lookback
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Data Retention (Standard)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Available Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integrations
variable measured: Typical Implementation Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Speed to Market
variable measured: Non-Technical User Dashboard Usability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Setup Time Required
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Implementation
variable measured: Free Tier Data Retention
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Management
variable measured: Monthly Events (free tier limit)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usage Limits
variable measured: Automatic Event Capture
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Core Features
variable measured: Native A/B Testing & Feature Flags
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Experimentation
variable measured: Self-Hosting Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Deployment
variable measured: Open Source License
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Licensing
variable measured: Starting Price (paid tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Time to First Insights
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Implementation
variable measured: Data Retention (Paid)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Management
variable measured: Starting Monthly Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Native Integrations Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Seats Per Starter Plan
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Team Access
variable measured: Session Replay Monthly Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Predictive Analytics Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI & Analytics
variable measured: Manual Event Configuration Required
variable measured: Base Monthly Cost (Starter Plan)
variable measured: Data Retention Period
variable measured: Implementation Time Required
variable measured: Native Session Replay Included
variable measured: Third-Party Integrations Available
variable measured: Automatic Event Capture (No Code)
variable measured: Mobile App Analytics Support
variable measured: SEO & Organic Search Insights
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/heap-vs-google-analytics)

Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Heap vs Google Analytics.
has defined term: User Satisfaction
has defined term: Market Presence
has defined term: Analytics
has defined term: Core Features
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Deployment
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Cost
has defined term: Technical
has defined term: Setup & Onboarding
has defined term: Analytics Capabilities
has defined term: Performance & Scale
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Data Quality
has defined term: Usability
has defined term: Setup & Deployment
has defined term: Capacity
has defined term: Analytics Features
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Advanced Analytics
has defined term: Market Position
has defined term: Integrations
has defined term: Speed to Market
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: Implementation
has defined term: Data Management
has defined term: Usage Limits
has defined term: Experimentation
has defined term: Licensing
has defined term: Team Access
has defined term: AI & Analytics
has defined term: Platform Coverage
has defined term: Pricing & Limits
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Privacy
has defined term: Adoption

User Satisfaction
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-satisfaction
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Presence
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-presence
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Analytics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: analytics
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Core Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: core-features
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Deployment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: deployment
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cost
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technical
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technical
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Setup & Onboarding
type: DefinedTerm
term code: setup-&-onboarding
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Analytics Capabilities
type: DefinedTerm
term code: analytics-capabilities
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance & Scale
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance-&-scale
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data Quality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-quality
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Usability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: usability
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Setup & Deployment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: setup-&-deployment
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Capacity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: capacity
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Analytics Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: analytics-features
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Advanced Analytics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: advanced-analytics
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-position
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integrations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integrations
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Speed to Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: speed-to-market
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ease of Use
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ease-of-use
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Implementation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: implementation
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data Management
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-management
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Usage Limits
type: DefinedTerm
term code: usage-limits
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Experimentation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: experimentation
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Licensing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: licensing
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Team Access
type: DefinedTerm
term code: team-access
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI & Analytics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-&-analytics
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Platform Coverage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: platform-coverage
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing & Limits
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing-&-limits
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Privacy
type: DefinedTerm
term code: privacy
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption
in defined term set: Heap vs Google Analytics — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-08T03:35:55.243Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: heap-vs-google-analytics)
main entity: Do I need a developer to set up Heap or Google Analytics?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: 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.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which platform is better for session replay and understanding user behavior?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: 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.
    language: en-US
main entity: How much does data retention cost with each platform?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: 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.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which is better for SEO and marketing teams?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: 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.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can both platforms track mobile app behavior?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: 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.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Heap and Google Analytics 4
type: HowTo
description: 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.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Pricing Model
step: Consider: Implementation Method
step: Consider: Session Replay & Heatmaps
step: Consider: Data Retention
step: Consider: Learning Curve
step: Consider: Best For Use Case
step: Consider: Mobile App Analytics
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: 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.

Consider: Pricing Model
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Pricing Model: Heap has $668/month (starter plan), while Google Analytics 4 has Free (GA4), $10,000+/month (GA360).

Consider: Implementation Method
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Implementation Method: Heap has No code required - auto-captures all interactions, while Google Analytics 4 has Requires GTM/code implementation for custom events.

Consider: Session Replay & Heatmaps
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: 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).

Consider: Data Retention
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Data Retention: Heap has 13 months standard, while Google Analytics 4 has 2 months free; 4 months with GA360.

Consider: Learning Curve
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Learning Curve: Heap has 2-4 weeks for team proficiency, while Google Analytics 4 has 1-2 weeks for basic setup.

Consider: Best For Use Case
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Best For Use Case: Heap has Product-led growth and UX optimization, while Google Analytics 4 has Website traffic, SEO, and marketing attribution.

Consider: Mobile App Analytics
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Mobile App Analytics: Heap has Limited (web-first platform), while Google Analytics 4 has Full support for iOS and Android apps.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Heap vs Google Analytics
review body: 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.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Heap vs Google Analytics

Native A/B Testing & Feature Flags
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: Not included | Google Analytics 4: N/A

Self-Hosting Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: Cloud-only | Google Analytics 4: N/A

Open Source License
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: Proprietary | Google Analytics 4: N/A

Starting Price (paid tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: $990/month | Google Analytics 4: N/A

Time to First Insights
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: 15 minutes | Google Analytics 4: N/A

Data Retention (Paid)
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: 12 months | Google Analytics 4: N/A

Starting Monthly Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: $995/month | Google Analytics 4: N/A

Native Integrations Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: 80+ integrations | Google Analytics 4: N/A

Seats Per Starter Plan
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: 25 users | Google Analytics 4: N/A

Session Replay Monthly Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: 10,000 (Pro) | Google Analytics 4: N/A

Predictive Analytics Capability
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: Basic segmentation only | Google Analytics 4: N/A

Manual Event Configuration Required
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: 0% (fully automatic) | Google Analytics 4: N/A

Base Monthly Cost (Starter Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: $668 | Google Analytics 4: Free
value reference: Google Analytics 4

Data Retention Period
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: 13 months | Google Analytics 4: 2 months (free) / 4 months (GA360)
value reference: Heap

Implementation Time Required
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: 2 hours | Google Analytics 4: 0.5 hours
value reference: Google Analytics 4

Native Session Replay Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: Yes (unlimited) | Google Analytics 4: No (requires third-party)

Third-Party Integrations Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: 80+ | Google Analytics 4: 500+
value reference: Google Analytics 4

Automatic Event Capture (No Code)
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: Yes (all interactions) | Google Analytics 4: No (requires tagging)

Mobile App Analytics Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: Limited (web-first) | Google Analytics 4: Full (iOS & Android)

SEO & Organic Search Insights
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: No | Google Analytics 4: Yes (integrated with GSC)

Monthly Cost (Typical Production)
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: Free

Free Tier Event Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: Unlimited

Mobile SDKs Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: iOS (Firebase), Android (Firebase), Web SDK

Setup Time for Web Tracking
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: 5-10

Market Share (2024)
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: 86.4

Cohort Analysis Depth
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: Custom segments required; limited to 20 dimensions per cohort

SEO/Traffic Attribution
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: Native GSC integration, organic search keywords, landing pages, device tracking

Monthly Cost (10K monthly visitors)
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: $0

Monthly Cost (100K monthly visitors)
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: $0

Script Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: 15-20 KB

Setup Time (basic config)
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: 20-30 minutes

GDPR Compliant Without Consent
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: No (requires consent in EU/UK)

E-commerce Conversion Tracking
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: Advanced (product-level, multi-touch attribution)

Custom Event Tracking Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: Unlimited custom events

Base Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: $0 (free) / $10,000+ (GA360)

Data Retention (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: 2 months

Feature Flags & A/B Testing
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: No (requires integration)

Global Website Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: ~41% of all websites

Setup Time (initial)
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: 5-10 (tag placement only)

Heatmap & Click Tracking
type: PropertyValue
value: Heap: N/A | Google Analytics 4: No (third-party only)

SpeakableSpecification
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css selector: #verdict
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xpath: //*[@id='short-answer']
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Heap — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Google Analytics 4 — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Heap vs Google Analytics 4
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/heap-vs-google-analytics)
object: Heap
object: Google Analytics 4

Manual Event Configuration Required
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Implementation

Base Monthly Cost (Starter Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Data Retention Period
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Data Management

Implementation Time Required
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Setup & Onboarding

Native Session Replay Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Third-Party Integrations Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integrations

Automatic Event Capture (No Code)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Mobile App Analytics Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Platform Coverage

SEO & Organic Search Insights
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Monthly Cost (Typical Production)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Free Tier Event Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing & Limits

Mobile SDKs Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Setup Time for Web Tracking
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Implementation

Market Share (2024)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Position

Cohort Analysis Depth
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Analytics Features

SEO/Traffic Attribution
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Analytics Features

Monthly Cost (10K monthly visitors)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Monthly Cost (100K monthly visitors)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Script Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Setup Time (basic config)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

GDPR Compliant Without Consent
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Privacy

E-commerce Conversion Tracking
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Custom Event Tracking Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Analytics

Base Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Data Retention (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Data Management

Feature Flags & A/B Testing
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Global Website Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Setup Time (initial)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Implementation

Heatmap & Click Tracking
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features