The right replacement for an autocapture analytics tool depends on why you're leaving. If you want an independent or self-hosted vendor, look at open source analytics; if replay and heatmaps are add-ons, pick a tool where they're the core product; if you want a familiar product analytics name, start with an established platform.
Heap's home page now says it has joined forces with Contentsquare. For some teams that changes nothing. For others, it's the nudge to check what they're really getting: the free tier's session cap, replay and heatmaps listed as add-ons on the higher plans, and warehouse access gated by plan. If any of that is why you're looking at Heap alternatives, this page sorts nine options by those reasons.
They're in no particular order and there's no crowned pick, because a privacy-first site and a fast-moving SaaS product need very different analytics.
Your data history won't move by itself
Here's the part to sort before anything else. On Heap's plans page, as of Nov 2026, the Free plan keeps six months of history and Growth keeps twelve, with Pro and Premier keeping a year and extra years as an add-on. Heap Connect, the warehouse export, is sold as an extra on Pro and Premier too.
That matters because autocapture's big promise is that you don't have to decide in advance what to track. The data's simply there. But it's there inside Heap. Any new tool starts counting from the day you install it, so last quarter's funnels won't appear in your new dashboards unless you get them out first.
So decide which reports and raw data you need to keep, export them while you still have access, and run the new tool alongside the old one for a while before you cancel.
Grouped by your reason for leaving
Independent, open source or self-hosted
If ownership is the issue, these keep you away from a large parent company or let you host it yourself. PostHog is an open platform with analytics, replay, feature flags, experiments and a data warehouse in one product. Countly can be self-hosted or run in a private cloud. Matomo is available hosted or on-premise. Umami is open source analytics that runs without cookies. OpenReplay pairs replay and analytics you can host yourself.
Replay and heatmaps without an add-on
If seeing why people drop out of a funnel is the point, pick a tool where replay is the product. LogRocket centres on session replay, with analytics and error tracking joined to it. Microsoft Clarity offers heatmaps and session recordings and says it's free forever, though it won't replace funnel analytics on its own. Our guide to session replay tools covers more options, and two of the open source tools above list replay as well.
A familiar name with a free start
If you just want an established product analytics platform, Mixpanel lists AI analytics, session replay and experiments alongside its core analytics. Amplitude lists session replay, heatmaps, experimentation and surveys as products next to analytics.
Nine tools, in no particular order
Amplitude
Best for: Product teams wanting analytics with session replay, heatmaps, experimentation and in-app guides and surveys listed as products on the same platform.
Countly
Best for: Teams that want product analytics they can self-host or run in the vendor's private cloud, so data stays in infrastructure they control.
LogRocket
Best for: Engineering and product teams who want session replay at the centre, joined up with product analytics and error tracking.
Matomo
Best for: Organisations that want analytics they can host themselves or use as a cloud service, with full data ownership and no sampling, per the vendor.
Microsoft Clarity
Best for: Sites and apps that mainly need heatmaps and session recordings for free; pair it with something else if you also need funnels.
Mixpanel
Best for: Product and growth teams wanting a long-standing product analytics platform that also lists AI analytics, session replay and experiments.
OpenReplay
Best for: Developers who want session replay with funnels, heatmaps and journey analysis, self-hosted or on the vendor's cloud.
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PostHog
Best for: Startups and product engineers who'd like analytics, session replay, error tracking, feature flags, experiments, surveys and a data warehouse in one open platform.
Umami
Best for: Privacy-minded sites wanting open source analytics without cookies, with events, user journeys, heatmaps and session replay listed.
The nine compared
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Amplitude | Product analytics and experimentation | Replay and heatmaps listed beside core analytics |
| Countly | Self-hosted product analytics | Data kept on servers you operate |
| LogRocket | Replay with analytics and error tracking | Replay as the core product, not an add-on |
| Matomo | Open source analytics, cloud or self-hosted | Owned data with a hosted or on-premise choice |
| Microsoft Clarity | Free heatmaps and replay | Heatmaps and recordings with no session cap worry |
| Mixpanel | Product analytics | An established independent analytics name |
| OpenReplay | Self-hosted replay and analytics | Replay, funnels and heatmaps you can host |
| PostHog | Analytics, replay and warehouse in one | Analytics, replay, flags and a warehouse together |
| Umami | Open source web and product analytics | Cookie-free analytics with journeys and replay |
Autocapture or a tracking plan?
One thing to check on any shortlist: don't assume a replacement captures every click automatically. Some tools record interactions out of the box, others expect you to define the events you care about. A tracking plan takes more work up front, but you'll know what every number means. Ask each vendor how it captures events, and test it on your own product.
If heatmaps are a big part of what you used, our roundup of heatmap tools goes into that side in more depth.
My plain advice on choosing a Heap replacement
Start with your history. Export what you need before you do anything else, because that's the one thing you can't get back later. Then be honest about what you used. If it was mostly replay and heatmaps, a free or replay-first tool might be all you need. If it was funnels and retention, pick a product analytics platform and plan a short tracking plan for your key events.
If ownership or privacy pushed you to look, open source and self-hosted options give you control, with the hosting work that comes with it. Data protection rules vary by country, so check your regulator's guidance on analytics and consent before you install anything new. Run the new tool alongside the old one for a few weeks, compare the numbers, then switch.
Do you make a product analytics or session replay tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
Is Heap still independent?
Heap's own home page says it has joined forces with Contentsquare. Check Heap's site for the latest details on what that means for your plan.
Can I export my data from Heap before I leave?
Heap lists a warehouse export, Heap Connect, as an add-on for its Pro and Premier plans. Check your plan and export what you need before your access ends.
Do Heap alternatives capture everything automatically?
Not all of them. Some record interactions out of the box, while others expect you to define events. Ask each vendor and test it on your own product.
Is there a free alternative for heatmaps and session replay?
Yes. At least one heatmap and replay tool on this list says it's free forever, and some open source tools list replay too. Free tools may not cover funnel analytics.
Can I self-host product analytics?
Yes. Several options here can run on your own servers. You take on hosting and updates in return for keeping data on infrastructure you control.
Do I need consent for product analytics?
Often, depending on where your users are and what you track. Rules vary by country, so check your regulator's guidance on cookies and analytics.
