How to Choose an Analytics Platform for Your Startup
Compare PostHog, Amplitude, Mixpanel, and June to find the right product analytics solution. Learn about event tracking, privacy compliance, self-hosting options, and pricing models.
Key Decision Criteria
Data Volume
High PriorityHow many events will you track monthly? Pricing often scales with volume. Consider your current usage and 6-month growth projections.
Privacy Requirements
High PriorityDo you need GDPR compliance, data residency controls, or self-hosting? European startups often need stricter privacy controls than US-based companies.
Feature Depth
Medium PriorityBasic funnels and retention, or advanced features like session replay, feature flags, and A/B testing? More features mean steeper learning curve.
Self-Host Option
Nice to HaveSome platforms allow you to run analytics on your own infrastructure. Gives maximum control but requires engineering resources.
Questions to Ask Yourself
How many monthly active users do you have?
Under 10k MAU: Most analytics tools have generous free tiers. 10k-100k: Compare pricing carefully. 100k+: You'll likely need custom pricing.
Do you need session replay and heatmaps?
Session replay helps debug user issues but increases data volume and cost. PostHog includes it, others require separate tools like Hotjar or FullStory.
How technical is your team?
Non-technical teams: Choose platforms with pre-built dashboards (June, Amplitude). Technical teams: Can leverage SQL access (PostHog, Mixpanel).
What's your data retention requirement?
Most platforms offer 1-2 years of data retention. Longer retention or custom controls often require enterprise plans.
Red Flags to Watch For
Charges for team members or dashboard viewers
Analytics should be accessible to everyone. Avoid platforms that limit seats or charge per user. You want product, engineering, and leadership all looking at data.
Difficult to migrate data out
Switching analytics platforms is hard enough. Make sure you can export your historical data easily if needed.
