- FullStory alternatives side by side
- Ten digital experience and product analytics tools to try instead of FullStory
- How to choose a digital experience analytics tool
- Questions to ask before you switch from FullStory
- Which type of FullStory alternative suits which business
- Replay privacy and data protection when you switch tools
- Why a smaller FullStory alternative can be a smart pick
- FullStory switching mistakes to avoid
- A checklist for choosing your next experience analytics tool
- Frequently asked questions
The right replacement depends on your core job: watching sessions, tracking product events, catching errors or guiding users. Check web and mobile support, search filters, integrations and privacy controls, and whether replay is included in any free plan. This page lists ten options in no particular order, then covers how to choose and switch.
FullStory is a well-known digital experience platform. It records how people use your website or app, adds analytics on top, and helps teams find the moments where visitors struggle. It's a strong product, but it's built with larger product and customer experience teams in mind, so a small business or a young software company may well want something lighter, more specialised or simpler to set up.
Here are ten FullStory alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically. Some are small, open-source or specialist tools, and a few are established analytics names. I've taken every description from each tool's own website and directory listings, so please check the current details on the tool's own site. If you're still deciding what to watch for, my guide to common UI and UX mistakes shows the problems these tools tend to uncover.
FullStory alternatives side by side
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site shows a permanent free plan or a free open-source edition. Trial only means a free trial but no ongoing free plan. A free plan doesn't always include every feature, so check that replay is part of it.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amplitude | Product analytics | Product analytics with replay attached | Yes |
| Contentsquare | Experience analytics suite | Replay inside a large analytics suite | Yes |
| Heap | Product analytics | Automatic event capture with optional replay | Yes |
| LogRocket | Replay and error monitoring | Seeing user sessions next to technical errors | Trial only |
| Matomo | Open-source analytics | Privacy-minded analytics with session recordings | Trial only |
| Mouseflow | Session replay | Replays, funnels and form drop-off | Yes |
| OpenReplay | Self-hosted replay | Keeping recordings on your own servers | Yes |
| PostHog | Analytics suite | Analytics, replay and experiments together | Yes |
| Userpilot | Product growth platform | Onboarding prompts plus analytics and replay | Trial only |
| UXCam | Mobile app analytics | Understanding how people use a mobile app | Trial only |
Ten digital experience and product analytics tools to try instead of FullStory
Amplitude
Best for: Product teams who want session replay sitting inside a full product analytics tool, starting on its free plan.
Contentsquare
Best for: Larger organisations who want replay, heatmaps and journey analysis from one established suite, with a free plan to start.
Heap
Best for: Teams who like analytics that captures events automatically, adding replay as an extra on higher plans.
LogRocket
Best for: Web app teams who want to watch a session alongside the errors and slow pages that caused the problem.
Matomo
Best for: Organisations who want open-source analytics they can self-host, with session recordings as an extra feature.
Mouseflow
Best for: Online shops and lead generation sites who want replays, funnels and form analytics, starting on a free plan.
OpenReplay
Best for: Teams who want session data kept on their own servers, using the self-hosted open-source edition.
PostHog
Best for: Product teams who want analytics, recordings and experiments in one place, with open-source code and a free monthly allowance.
Userpilot
Best for: Software teams who want in-app guidance, analytics and session replay together without writing much code.
UXCam
Best for: Mobile app teams who want recordings, heatmaps and funnels built for iOS and Android apps.
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How to choose a digital experience analytics tool
These tools overlap, but they come from different starting points. Some began as session replay tools, others as product analytics or error monitoring. Knowing where a tool started helps you see what it does best.
- Core job. Do you mainly want to watch sessions, count events and build funnels, catch technical errors, or guide new users through your product?
- Web or mobile. Some tools handle mobile apps far better than others, so check iOS and Android support if you have an app.
- Setup effort. Automatic capture saves time, while hand-defined events give tidier data. Think about who will maintain it.
- Search and filters. You'll want to find the sessions that matter, such as visitors who hit an error or abandoned a checkout, without watching everything.
- Integrations. Check it connects to your support desk, chat tool, data warehouse or issue tracker.
- Privacy controls. Look for masking, consent options and a choice of where your data is stored.
Questions to ask before you switch from FullStory
- Which features do we really use every week, and which were only ever nice to have?
- Can the new tool import or recreate the events, segments and dashboards we rely on?
- What happens to our existing recordings and data when we stop?
- Will the team need training, and how good are the help pages?
- Can we run the new tool alongside the old one for a short overlap?
- Who owns the privacy notice and consent settings after the change?
Which type of FullStory alternative suits which business
- Small websites and shops often need only recordings and a few funnels, so a simple replay tool is plenty.
- Software teams usually benefit from product analytics with replay attached, so they can move from a chart to the sessions behind it.
- Mobile app teams should favour tools built for apps, with SDKs for iOS and Android.
- Privacy-minded organisations can look at open-source tools that run on their own servers.
- Engineering-led teams may like replay linked to errors and technical events, so bugs are easier to reproduce.
Whichever route you take, it helps to know what normal looks like first. My notes on typical results for small business websites give you context before you judge your own pages.
Replay privacy and data protection when you switch tools
Any recording tool collects behaviour data, so a change of provider is a good moment to review your set-up. This isn't legal advice, so check the rules that apply to you with the official body or a solicitor. In the UK that usually means looking at UK GDPR and the rules on cookies.
- Mask passwords, payment details and personal information by default.
- Make sure recording waits for consent where your cookie banner requires it.
- Check where the new provider stores data and how long it keeps it.
- Update your privacy notice so it names what you collect and why.
Why a smaller FullStory alternative can be a smart pick
Smaller tools often cover the few things you need clearly and are quicker to set up. They can also be easier to talk to when something goes wrong.
Before you commit, check the tool is still being updated, read its documentation, try it on one section of your site and look at how you'd export or delete your data later.
FullStory switching mistakes to avoid
- Moving everything at once instead of one section of the site at a time.
- Forgetting to rebuild the segments and alerts your team relies on.
- Leaving two recording scripts running longer than needed, which can slow pages.
- Skipping a privacy review of the new provider.
- Choosing on a feature list alone without trying the tool on real pages.
Do you make a session replay or digital experience analytics tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
A checklist for choosing your next experience analytics tool
List the three jobs you need done, shortlist two tools and try each on the same page for a short time. Compare how quickly you find a real problem, how clear the privacy controls are and how well it fits your team's habits. Keep the one that makes it easiest to decide what to fix next.
Frequently asked questions
Why look for a different tool to FullStory?
Teams usually want something simpler, more specialised, easier to set up or better suited to mobile apps or privacy needs. Others want analytics and replay in one place.
Is there a free alternative?
Several tools on this page show a free plan or free open-source edition on their own sites. Allowances differ, so check that session replay is included and enough for your traffic.
Can I self-host a replacement?
Some tools offer open-source editions you run on your own servers. You then look after updates, storage and security yourself, which suits teams with technical help.
What is the difference between product analytics and session replay?
Product analytics counts what users do and shows it in charts and funnels. Session replay shows individual visits so you can see the reason behind the numbers. Many tools now offer both.
Do I need consent to record sessions?
Often yes, depending on where you and your visitors are and how the tool is set up. This isn't legal advice, so check with the official body or a solicitor for your situation.


