Mixpanel alternative
OpenPanel is an open-source, privacy-first alternative to Mixpanel. Get powerful product analytics—events, funnels, retention, and user profiles—without event-based pricing that scales to thousands per month or sending your data to US servers.
- Open-source
- EU-only hosting
- Self-hostable
- From $2.50/month
OpenPanel vs Mixpanel: Which is right for you?
Both platforms help you understand how users interact with your product. The key differences are pricing structure, data privacy approach, and complexity level.
Choose OpenPanel if...
Startups and medium-sized businesses who want powerful analytics without enterprise pricing
Privacy-conscious teams requiring EU-only data storage
Developers who want to self-host and own their data
Choose Mixpanel if...
Enterprise teams needing advanced experimentation and feature flags
Organizations requiring session replay across web and mobile
Companies with complex data warehouse integration needs
Key differences at a glance
Here's how OpenPanel and Mixpanel compare on the factors that matter most.
| Feature | OpenPanel | Mixpanel |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $2.50/month (5k events) | $0 (1M events free, then $20+/month) |
| Self-hosting | Yes, completely free | |
| Data location | EU-only (or your own servers) | US default, EU/India optional |
| Cookies | Cookie-free by default | Uses cookies by default |
| Open source | Yes (AGPL-3.0) | |
| Event tracking | ||
| Funnels | Mixpanel offers more advanced multi-path funnels | |
| Retention analysis | ||
| User profiles | ||
| Cohorts | Mixpanel has more advanced cohort builder | |
| Custom dashboards | ||
| Real-time data | ||
| Page views & visitors | ||
| Traffic sources | ||
| Geographic data | ||
| Device & browser stats | ||
| UTM tracking | ||
| A/B testing | Mixpanel has more advanced experimentation with Experimentation 2.0 | |
| Feature flags | Mixpanel offers native feature flags (Enterprise) | |
| Session replay | Mixpanel supports web, iOS, and Android | |
| Revenue tracking | ||
| AI insights | Both offer AI-powered features | |
| Metric Trees | Mixpanel's unique feature for mapping metrics to outcomes | |
| Notifications/Alerts | OpenPanel supports webhooks, Slack, Discord | |
| Self-hosting | ||
| EU data residency | OpenPanel is EU-only; Mixpanel offers EU as an option | |
| Cookie-free tracking | Mixpanel uses cookies by default | |
| GDPR compliant | ||
| DPA available | on request | |
| SOC 2 Type II | ||
| REST API | ||
| Data export | ||
| Warehouse connectors | Mixpanel has extensive warehouse integration | |
| Segment integration |
Feature comparison
OpenPanel covers the core analytics most teams need, while Mixpanel extends into enterprise-grade experimentation and session replay.
Event tracking
Funnels
Retention analysis
User profiles
Cohorts
Custom dashboards
Real-time data
Page views & visitors
Technical comparison
For developers evaluating analytics tools, here's how the SDKs and technical implementations compare.
| Feature | OpenPanel | Mixpanel |
|---|---|---|
| SDK size (JS) | ~2.3 KB gzipped | ~20+ KB gzippedOpenPanel's lighter SDK means faster page loads |
| Supported platforms |
|
|
| Open source | Yes (AGPL-3.0) | No |
| Self-hosted deployment | Docker, simple setup script | Not available |
| Database | ClickHouse + PostgreSQL | Proprietary (Arb)OpenPanel gives you direct SQL access to your data |
| Autocapture | Manual events + auto pageviews | Full autocapture availableMixpanel can automatically capture clicks, inputs, etc. |
Pricing comparison
OpenPanel offers predictable, affordable pricing. Mixpanel's pricing can scale significantly as your usage grows.
OpenPanel
Event-based, transparent
Simple pricing starting at $2.50/month for 5,000 events. 100,000 events costs $20/month.
Self-host for free with unlimited events.
No limits on users, dashboards, or features at any tier.
Mixpanel
Event-based, tiered
Free tier includes 1M events/month with limited features.
Growth plans start at $20/month and scale with usage.
Enterprise plans start around $1,167/month with advanced features like session replay and feature flags.
Migrating from Mixpanel to OpenPanel
Switching from Mixpanel to OpenPanel is straightforward thanks to similar API patterns and our built-in import tool.
Export your Mixpanel data
Use Mixpanel's data export API to extract your historical events if you want to preserve them.
Import into OpenPanel
OpenPanel has a built-in Mixpanel importer. Upload your exported data to maintain historical context.
Install the OpenPanel SDK
Replace the Mixpanel SDK with OpenPanel's lightweight tracker. The API is similar—track(), identify(), and setGlobalProperties() work the same way.
Update your event calls
Most Mixpanel event calls translate directly. Review your implementation and update any Mixpanel-specific features.
Verify and go live
Run both tools in parallel briefly to validate data consistency, then switch fully to OpenPanel.
SDK Compatibility
OpenPanel uses similar method names: track(), identify(), setGlobalProperties(). Most implementations translate with minimal changes.
Historical Data Import
OpenPanel has a built-in Mixpanel importer. Contact us if you need assistance with large data migrations.
Where OpenPanel is a better fit than Mixpanel
OpenPanel shines for teams that value simplicity, privacy, and cost-effectiveness over enterprise complexity.
Startups watching their budget
Start at $2.50/month instead of dealing with Mixpanel's pricing that can jump to hundreds or thousands as you scale.
Privacy-first products
Cookie-free tracking and EU-only hosting by default. No need to configure data residency or worry about US data transfers.
Self-hosted requirements
Deploy OpenPanel on your own infrastructure for complete data ownership. Perfect for regulated industries or security-conscious teams.
Web + product analytics combined
Get Plausible-style web analytics and Mixpanel-style product analytics in one tool, not two separate subscriptions.
Developer-led teams
Open source, tiny SDK, direct database access. Built by developers, for developers who want control.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about switching from Mixpanel 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.
Start with OpenPanel