Countly Alternative
Want Countly's product analytics without the complexity? OpenPanel offers a simpler, more affordable approach to user analytics with self-hosting, mobile SDKs, and modern product analytics - all with transparent pricing.
- Open-source
- Simple Pricing
- Lightweight
- MIT License
OpenPanel vs Countly: Which is right for you?
Both offer product analytics with self-hosting. Countly is an all-in-one platform with many features. OpenPanel focuses on analytics with simpler pricing.
Choose OpenPanel if...
Teams wanting simple analytics without push notifications or crash reporting
Startups needing affordable, predictable event-based pricing
Developers wanting true open source (MIT) without commercial restrictions
Choose Countly if...
Mobile apps needing push notifications and crash reporting in one platform
Teams requiring remote configuration and in-app messaging
Enterprise customers needing ISO 27001 and SOC2 certifications
Key differences at a glance
Here's how OpenPanel and Countly compare on key factors.
| Feature | OpenPanel | Countly |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Event-based (10K free/month) | MAU-based (starts at $80/month for 2K MAUs) |
| Open Source License | MIT License (fully permissive) | AGPL-3.0 (copyleft, non-commercial use only) |
| Setup Complexity | Simple Docker deployment | Complex (MongoDB, Node.js, Nginx) |
| Push Notifications | Not built-in | Built-in rich push notifications |
| Crash Analytics | Not built-in | Full crash reporting with symbolication |
| Page Views & Sessions | ||
| Custom Event Tracking | ||
| User Identification | Both support user profiles and identification | |
| Geographic Data | Both offer country and city-level data | |
| Device & Platform Tracking | ||
| Real-Time Dashboard | ||
| Custom Dashboards | ||
| Funnel Analysis | Countly calls this 'Funnels' plugin | |
| Retention Analysis | ||
| Cohort Analysis | Countly has advanced behavioral cohorts | |
| User Profiles | ||
| User Flows/Journeys | Countly has 'Flows' feature for journey visualization | |
| A/B Testing | Countly A/B testing tied to Remote Config | |
| Revenue Analytics | ||
| Push Notifications | Countly has rich, interactive push for iOS/Android | |
| In-App Messaging | ||
| Surveys & NPS | Countly includes surveys, ratings, and NPS | |
| Remote Configuration | Countly can change app behavior remotely | |
| Automated Workflows | Countly has hooks and automated push | |
| Crash Reporting | Countly has full crash analytics with symbolication | |
| Performance Monitoring (APM) | Countly monitors network and device performance | |
| Error Tracking | ||
| Self-Hosting Option | Both offer self-hosted deployment | |
| GDPR Compliant | ||
| Consent Management | Countly has a 'Compliance Hub' feature | |
| Data Export | ||
| ISO 27001 Certified | ||
| SOC2 Certified | ||
| JavaScript/Web SDK | ||
| iOS SDK | ||
| Android SDK | ||
| React Native SDK | ||
| Flutter SDK | ||
| Unity SDK | Countly supports game development with Unity | |
| Desktop SDKs (Windows/Mac) | Countly has C++ and Windows SDKs | |
| Node.js SDK | ||
| REST API |
Feature comparison
Countly is an all-in-one platform. OpenPanel focuses purely on analytics.
Page Views & Sessions
Custom Event Tracking
User Identification
Geographic Data
Device & Platform Tracking
Real-Time Dashboard
Custom Dashboards
Funnel Analysis
Technical comparison
For developers evaluating analytics tools, here's the technical breakdown.
| Feature | OpenPanel | Countly |
|---|---|---|
| SDK Size | 2.3 KB (gzipped) | Varies by platform (larger, full-featured SDKs) |
| Platforms |
|
|
| Open Source | Yes - MIT License | Partial - AGPL (non-commercial only)OpenPanel is fully MIT licensed. Countly Lite is AGPL-3.0 (non-commercial only). Countly Enterprise is proprietary. |
| Self Hosting | Docker (simple single-container setup) | Docker or install script (requires MongoDB, Node.js, Nginx) |
| Database | ClickHouse | MongoDB |
| Data Retention | Unlimited (self-hosted), configurable (cloud) | 6 months (Flex free), configurable as add-on |
| Certifications | None listed | ISO 27001, SOC2 |
Pricing comparison
Countly's MAU-based pricing with add-ons can get expensive. OpenPanel offers simple event-based pricing.
OpenPanel
Event-based, transparent
Simple pricing with 10,000 free events per month.
All features included at every tier.
Self-host for free with unlimited events.
Countly
MAU-based with feature add-ons
Lite: Self-hosted, AGPL, non-commercial only.
Flex Free: 500 MAUs.
Flex Tier 1: $80/month for 2,000 MAUs.
Core analytics included, advanced features (A/B testing, surveys, push) are add-ons.
Fully-featured Flex can cost $132,000+/year at scale.
Migrating from Countly to OpenPanel
Switching from Countly to OpenPanel is straightforward for analytics. You'll need separate tools for push notifications and crash reporting.
Install OpenPanel SDK
Replace Countly SDK with OpenPanel. OpenPanel's SDK is significantly lighter and simpler to integrate.
Map Events and Properties
Countly events map directly to OpenPanel events. Countly.recordEvent() becomes op.track(). User properties translate similarly.
Set Up User Identification
Both platforms support user identification. Replace Countly's device ID management with OpenPanel's identify() method.
Recreate Funnels and Cohorts
Set up your conversion funnels and user cohorts in OpenPanel. The concepts are similar, though OpenPanel's interface is simpler.
Plan for Feature Gaps
If you use Countly's push notifications, crash reporting, or remote config, you'll need separate tools. OpenPanel focuses purely on analytics.
SDK Compatibility
Both use event-based tracking with similar APIs.
Historical Data Import
Most teams start fresh with OpenPanel and run both tools in parallel briefly.
Where OpenPanel is a better fit than Countly
Choose OpenPanel when you want analytics without the complexity and cost of an all-in-one platform.
Teams Wanting Simpler, Cheaper Analytics
Countly's MAU-based pricing gets expensive quickly, and the feature add-on model adds complexity. OpenPanel offers straightforward event-based pricing with all features included.
Open Source Commercial Use
Countly Lite's AGPL license prohibits commercial use - you must buy Enterprise. OpenPanel's MIT license allows unlimited commercial use for free.
Lightweight Self-Hosting
Countly requires MongoDB, Node.js, and Nginx with complex upgrade procedures. OpenPanel runs in a simple Docker container with ClickHouse for faster queries.
Pure Product Analytics Focus
If you only need analytics without push notifications, crash reporting, or remote config, OpenPanel provides a focused, less complex solution.
Startups with Limited Budgets
Countly's pricing can reach $132,000+/year for full features at scale. OpenPanel's event-based model is more predictable and affordable for growing startups.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about switching from Countly to OpenPanel.
Related resources
Explore more comparisons and guides to help you choose the right analytics tool
Ready to make the switch?
Test OpenPanel free for 30 days, you'll not be charged anything unless you upgrade to a paid plan.
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