Why Adopt
PostHog is analytics done right. Open source, privacy-focused, and packed with features that would cost thousands separately.
What You Get
- Event analytics - Track anything, query everything
- Feature flags - Roll out features gradually
- Session replay - Watch users interact (privacy-filtered)
- Experiments - A/B test with statistical rigor
- Surveys - In-app feedback collection
All of this in one tool, with a generous free tier.
My Setup
On this site and my products, I use PostHog with privacy-first settings:
posthog.init(apiKey, {
api_host: 'https://app.posthog.com',
person_profiles: 'identified_only',
disable_session_recording: true,
autocapture: false
});
No session recording, no autocapture, only identified users get profiles. This balances insight with respect for visitors.
Why Not Google Analytics?
- Privacy - GA4 sends data to Google’s ad ecosystem
- Complexity - GA4’s UI is a maze
- Data ownership - PostHog can be self-hosted
- Features - GA4 doesn’t have feature flags, experiments, etc.
The Free Tier
PostHog’s free tier includes:
- 1M events/month
- 5K session recordings
- Unlimited feature flags
- 1 experiment
For indie products, this is plenty to validate and grow.
Self-Hosting Option
If you outgrow the free tier or need data sovereignty, PostHog can be self-hosted. I haven’t needed this yet, but it’s comforting to know the option exists.
No vendor lock-in is underrated for long-term sustainability.