In short
- Open source; self-host for full data control or use the managed cloud
- Session replay + product analytics + A/B testing + feature flags in one tool
- Generous free tier (1M events / 5k recordings per month)
- Best fit: engineering-led teams wanting Mixpanel + Hotjar + LaunchDarkly in one open-source stack
What is PostHog
PostHog is open-source product analytics, the kind of all-in-one platform that used to require five separate vendors. Session replay, behavioural events, funnels, retention cohorts, feature flags, A/B testing, surveys. Self-host the core for free or pay for managed cloud.
Where PostHog fits in 2026
PostHog is the default for engineering-led teams who want one stack instead of five (Mixpanel + Hotjar + LaunchDarkly + Optimizely + Typeform). The open-source self-host option matters: for regulated industries, EU data residency, or anyone who refuses to pipe PII to a US vendor, PostHog is one of very few real options at this depth.
The trade-off is that PostHog is built for product teams who write SQL and understand event schemas, not marketers who want a dashboard out of the box. Triple Whale, Looker Studio, or Hotjar are usually easier for non-technical buyers. The self-hosted route also requires real infra work (Postgres, ClickHouse, Kafka), so the “free” option is only free if you have engineering capacity.
FAQ about PostHog
Is PostHog open source?
Yes. PostHog is fully open source under MIT and can be self-hosted via Docker or Kubernetes for free, with all features included. You pay only for infrastructure if you self-host.
How much does PostHog cost?
Cloud PostHog has a generous free tier (1M events, 5,000 session recordings, 1M feature flag calls per month). Beyond that, events are priced from $0.000248 each, with anonymous web events at $0.00005.
How does PostHog compare to Mixpanel?
PostHog bundles product analytics, session replay, feature flags, A/B testing, and surveys into one tool, and is typically 40-60% cheaper at scale. Mixpanel is cloud-only and focuses purely on event analytics with stronger funnel depth.
Can I self-host PostHog?
Yes. Self-hosted PostHog is free, includes all features, and runs on Docker or Kubernetes. You handle updates, scaling, and backups yourself.
Does PostHog have session replay?
Yes. Session replay is included in the free tier (5,000 sessions per month) and scales with usage. PostHog combines replay with analytics, feature flags, and A/B testing in one workspace.
How to use PostHog?
Sign up at https://posthog.com or self-host, install the snippet or SDK, and events start populating immediately. Most teams have dashboards and feature flags running within a day.
Why choose PostHog?
PostHog bundles product analytics, session replay, feature flags, and A/B testing in one open-source platform, which avoids stitching together Mixpanel, FullStory, and LaunchDarkly.
How to learn PostHog?
PostHog maintains documentation at posthog.com/docs. Their YouTube channel has product walkthroughs and partner agencies offer paid training.
What are PostHog alternatives?
The main alternatives are Mixpanel, Amplitude, and Heap, with LaunchDarkly and Optimizely covering the feature flag and A/B testing side.
What are PostHog reviews?
PostHog is rated 4.5 on G2 with 1054 reviews. See the reviews for detailed feedback.
Does PostHog have an API?
Yes, PostHog provides a REST API. Documentation at posthog.com/api.
Does PostHog have a trial or a demo?
Yes, PostHog has a generous free tier. Sign up at https://posthog.com to start.
Does PostHog have AI?
Yes, PostHog AI is a conversational assistant that translates natural-language questions into SQL, creates insights, sets up feature flags, and navigates the UI for you. PostHog also offers LLM analytics for teams building AI-native products to track token usage, latency, and model performance.
PostHog pricing
PostHog is free. Plans are organised as Usage-based. A free tier option is available. See the full PostHog pricing page for current tiers and any add-ons.
