FullStory alternative
Get powerful product analytics without FullStory's enterprise pricing. OpenPanel delivers funnel analysis, retention tracking, and user identification—fully open source and self-hostable with transparent pricing.
- Open-source
- Self-hostable
- Transparent pricing
- Product analytics
OpenPanel vs FullStory: Which is right for you?
Both platforms provide analytics and session replay, but FullStory focuses on visual debugging while OpenPanel emphasizes product analytics.
Choose OpenPanel if...
Teams needing open source analytics for transparency
Organizations requiring self-hosting for data sovereignty
Budget-conscious teams seeking transparent pricing
Choose FullStory if...
Teams requiring pixel-perfect session replay
Organizations needing sophisticated frustration detection
Enterprise teams with budget for premium features
Key differences at a glance
Here's how OpenPanel and FullStory compare on the factors that matter most.
| Feature | OpenPanel | FullStory |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | Yes (MIT) | No (proprietary) |
| Self-hosting | Yes, with Docker | No (cloud only) |
| Transparent pricing | Public pricing, free tier | Sales-required pricing |
| Session replay | Basic | Pixel-perfect with DevTools |
| Heatmaps | Not available | Click, scroll, engagement |
| Event tracking | FullStory uses autocapture | |
| Funnels | ||
| Retention analysis | FullStory on Advanced/Enterprise plans | |
| User profiles | ||
| Cohorts | ||
| Custom dashboards | ||
| Real-time data | ||
| Session replay | FullStory's core strength | |
| Heatmaps | ||
| Rage click detection | ||
| Frustration signals | FullStory's proprietary feature | |
| DevTools integration | ||
| AI session summaries | StoryAI | |
| A/B testing | ||
| Autocapture | ||
| Data export | FullStory Data Direct | |
| Self-hosting | ||
| Open source | ||
| GDPR compliant | ||
| Cookie-free option | ||
| SOC 2 certified | Type II | |
| REST API | ||
| Data warehouse sync | ||
| Mobile SDKs |
Feature comparison
OpenPanel focuses on product analytics; FullStory excels at session replay and visual debugging.
Event tracking
Funnels
Retention analysis
User profiles
Cohorts
Custom dashboards
Real-time data
Session replay
Technical comparison
For developers evaluating analytics tools, here's how the implementations compare.
| Feature | OpenPanel | FullStory |
|---|---|---|
| SDK size (JS) | ~2.3 KB gzipped | ~10+ KB (autocapture) |
| Supported platforms |
|
|
| Open source | Yes (MIT) | No |
| Self-hosted deployment | Docker, simple setup | Not available |
| Database | ClickHouse + PostgreSQL | Proprietary |
| Data retention | Unlimited (self-hosted) | 2-60 months depending on plan |
Pricing comparison
OpenPanel offers transparent pricing. FullStory requires sales conversations with enterprise pricing.
OpenPanel
Event-based, transparent
Start at $2.50/month for 5,000 events.
Self-host for free with unlimited events.
All features included at every tier.
FullStory
Session-based, sales-required
14-day trial with 5,000 sessions.
Business/Advanced/Enterprise plans require custom quotes.
Pricing reportedly starts at $12,000-50,000+/year for most teams.
Migrating from FullStory to OpenPanel
Switching means trading session replay features for open source, self-hosting, and transparent pricing.
Install OpenPanel SDK
Add the OpenPanel SDK to your application. The SDK is lightweight (~2.3KB) compared to FullStory's autocapture script.
Map event tracking
FullStory uses autocapture for most events. With OpenPanel, you'll define explicit event tracking using track() calls.
Transfer user identification
FullStory's identify() maps to OpenPanel's identify(). Transfer your user ID and custom user variables.
Set up funnels and analytics
Recreate your FullStory funnels in OpenPanel. Build custom dashboards for key metrics.
Remove FullStory script
Once verified, remove the FullStory snippet. Note: You'll lose access to session replay and heatmaps.
SDK Compatibility
Both support similar identification and event tracking patterns. Main difference is autocapture vs explicit tracking.
Historical Data Import
FullStory's session data is proprietary. Contact us if you need assistance with data migration.
Where OpenPanel is a better fit than FullStory
OpenPanel excels when you need product analytics with data ownership and transparent pricing.
Teams needing open source analytics
FullStory is proprietary with no source code access. OpenPanel provides full source code transparency under MIT license.
Self-hosting requirements
FullStory is cloud-only. OpenPanel can be deployed on your servers for complete data control.
Budget-conscious teams
FullStory's enterprise pricing (reportedly $12,000-50,000+/year) is prohibitive. OpenPanel offers transparent pricing starting at $2.50/month.
Product analytics focus
If your primary need is product analytics—funnels, retention, cohorts—rather than visual debugging, OpenPanel provides these at a fraction of the cost.
Avoiding vendor lock-in
FullStory's proprietary platform creates vendor lock-in. OpenPanel's open source nature prevents dependency on a single vendor.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about switching from FullStory to OpenPanel.
Related resources
Explore more comparisons and guides to help you choose the right analytics tool
Other comparisons
Ready to make the switch?
Test OpenPanel free for 30 days, you'll not be charged anything unless you upgrade to a paid plan.
Start with OpenPanel