Flowsery vs Heap
Auto-capture product analytics versus lightweight privacy-first web analytics β a 2026 comparison.
Last updated: April 2026
TL;DR
Heap (now part of Contentsquare) is a product analytics platform known for its auto-capture approach β it tracks every user interaction automatically so you can analyze behavior retroactively without instrumenting events upfront. Flowsery is a privacy-first web analytics tool with a cookie-free sub-1 KB script, built-in funnel analysis, and full GDPR compliance without consent banners. Heap is the better choice if you want retroactive product analytics with auto-captured data and AI-powered insights. Flowsery is the better choice if you want lightweight, privacy-compliant website analytics that are fast to deploy and easy to maintain.
Feature Comparison
Feature | Flowsery | Heap |
|---|---|---|
Privacy Compliance | GDPR, CCPA, PECR compliant β no cookies | GDPR, CCPA, SOC 2 compliant β uses cookies, consent required |
Free Tier | Yes β up to 5k events/month | Yes β up to 10k sessions/month, 6 months retention |
Goal/Conversion Tracking | Built-in with conversion funnels | Yes β via auto-captured events |
Funnel Analysis | Yes β multi-step funnels included | Yes β funnels and journeys |
Custom Events | Yes β included in Pro plan | Auto-captured β no manual instrumentation needed |
API Access | Full REST API on Pro plan | Available on paid plans |
Self-Hosting / Open Source | Cloud-hosted only | Cloud-hosted only β not open source |
Script Size / Performance | < 1 KB, no cookies | Heavier SDK due to auto-capture |
Real-Time Dashboard | Yes β live visitor view | Near real-time with processing delay |
Where Flowsery Wins
Cookie-Free Privacy Compliance
Flowsery never uses cookies and never requires a consent banner. Heap uses cookies and requires a cookie consent banner under GDPR and ePrivacy regulations. This means Heap may undercount visitors who decline consent.
Minimal Performance Impact
Flowsery's sub-1 KB script loads instantly and has negligible impact on page speed. Heap's auto-capture SDK is significantly heavier because it instruments and records every interaction on the page, which can affect load times and Core Web Vitals.
Transparent Pricing
Flowsery has clear, published pricing with a free tier and straightforward paid plans. Heap's pricing beyond the free tier is not publicly listed β you need to contact sales for Growth, Pro, and Premier plans.
Longer Free Tier Retention
Flowsery's free tier includes 6 months of data retention with upgrade paths to 2 years and unlimited. Heap's free tier also offers 6 months, but paid plan retention details and advanced features like session replay and heatmaps are locked behind opaque pricing tiers.
Where Heap Wins
Auto-Capture and Retroactive Analysis
Heap captures every click, pageview, form submission, and interaction automatically. You can define events and analyze behavior retroactively without having instrumented tracking in advance. This eliminates the risk of missing data because you forgot to track something.
AI-Powered Insights
Heap's Sense AI surfaces unexpected patterns, identifies friction points, and highlights opportunities in your data automatically. It proactively finds insights you might not have thought to look for.
Contentsquare Ecosystem
As part of Contentsquare, Heap can integrate with session replay, heatmaps, and advanced experience analytics. For enterprise teams that need a full digital experience platform, the combined Contentsquare and Heap suite covers a lot of ground.
- β
Need cookie-free analytics that comply with GDPR without consent banners
- β
Want a sub-1 KB script with minimal impact on page performance
- β
Prefer transparent, published pricing without contacting a sales team
- β
Want focused website analytics rather than a full product analytics suite
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Want auto-capture so you never miss tracking an important interaction
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Need retroactive analysis β define events after the fact from captured data
- β
Want AI-powered insights that surface patterns automatically
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Need session replay, heatmaps, and advanced journey analysis from the Contentsquare ecosystem
Frequently Asked Questions
Try Flowsery Free
Lightweight, cookie-free analytics with funnel tracking and goal conversion. Free for up to 5k events/month.