Quick answer
Apstal - Apstal wins for most web-analytics builders because its free tier is clearer, card-free, and comes with a defined 100K events per month plus session replays and AI tools.
How the free tiers compare
These two free tiers solve different problems. Apstal is a web analytics product first: you get cookie-free tracking, funnels, heatmaps, error monitoring, session replays, and an AI analyst, with a clearly stated 100K events per month and no credit card required. It is easier to evaluate and easier to trust as a perpetual free starting point. Aptabase is broader across app platforms, with SDKs for mobile, desktop, web, and extensions, plus live view and session timeline. Its free tier is attractive for builders shipping across many runtimes, but the plan is less explicit about usage limits and the free-to-paid path is not priced in the input, so it is harder to forecast what growth will cost. If you want a simple web analytics sandbox, Apstal is stronger. If you need multi-platform app analytics and care more about SDK coverage than analytics depth, Aptabase is the better fit.
Apstal vs Aptabase free tier, side by side
| ApstalFTV 65 | AptabaseFTV 49 | |
|---|---|---|
| Events per monthApstal states the cap clearly; Aptabase input does not give a concrete event limit. | 100,000 | not specified |
| Websites / appsDifferent product shapes: Apstal is website-based, Aptabase is app-based. | 1 website | Unlimited apps |
| Session replay retentionAptabase does not provide a replay retention figure in the input. | 24 hours | Session timeline included |
| Analytics viewsApstal lists this as a free-tier limit. | 15 views | not specified |
| Credit card requiredOnly use this because the input explicitly provides ftv_no_cc_required for both. | No | Yes |
After you outgrow the free tier
Apstal is simple flat pricing after free: Premium starts at $48/month, then Enterprise at $90/month with contact-sales-style terms and higher limits. Aptabase uses usage-based pricing, but the input does not provide a dollar rate or a concrete paid-tier price, only that Starter is “start free and pay when you grow.” That means Apstal is the easier product to budget, while Aptabase may stay cheaper for light usage but cannot be priced from the provided data. For typical small-team planning, Apstal is the more predictable bill.
When to pick each one
Pick Apstal when…
- You are tracking one website and want a clearly defined free allowance of 100K events per month.
- You want session replays, funnels, heatmaps, and error monitoring in the free tier.
- You want an AI assistant for plain-English analytics questions without paying first.
- You want a free plan that is explicitly no credit card required.
- You are primarily doing web analytics rather than multi-platform app analytics.
Pick Aptabase when…
- You need analytics across mobile, desktop, web, or browser extensions from the same service.
- You want unlimited apps on the free tier.
- You care about built-in live view and session timeline for app events.
- You want EU or US data residency options in the free tier.
- You are choosing based on broad SDK support more than on advanced web analytics features.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, Apstal is the safer pick: it is clearer, card-free, and gives you enough free usage plus core web analytics features to evaluate the product properly. Aptabase is the better choice only if your analytics need spans multiple app platforms or you specifically want its SDK coverage and unlimited apps framing. If you care about knowing exactly what you are getting before you commit, Apstal is the easier free tier to start with.
Read the full listings: Apstal and Aptabase. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.