Quick answer
DevCycle - DevCycle wins for most builders because its free tier is much more generous for day-to-day feature flag work, while ConfigCat is the better pick only if you specifically need its tighter environment and project structure or its compliance-oriented paid ladder.
How the free tiers compare
Both products are feature-flag platforms, but they shape the free tier differently. ConfigCat’s free plan is small and structured: 10 flags, 2 environments, 2 products, 2 segments, and tight rule and rollout limits. That makes it suitable for tiny apps, demos, or teams that want a simple hosted config setup and are okay hitting a ceiling quickly. DevCycle’s free plan is broader in the ways builders usually feel first: unlimited flags, unlimited seats, integrations, debugging tools, A/B testing, and schemas, plus 1,000 client-side MAUs. It is the stronger starting point for an active product team, though its paid ladder jumps to a $500/month Business plan with much larger included usage. ConfigCat’s first paid step is $110/month, which is cheaper to enter, but you outgrow the free tier faster.
ConfigCat vs DevCycle free tier, side by side
| ConfigCat FTV 60 | DevCycle FTV 42 | |
|---|---|---|
| Feature flags ConfigCat's free cap is much tighter. | 10 per product | Unlimited |
| Environments DevCycle's free plan does not state an environment quota in the provided input. | 2 per product | Not listed in free plan |
| Products ConfigCat separates usage by product. | 2 | Not listed |
| Segments ConfigCat includes a small segment allowance. | 2 per product | Not listed |
| Targeting rules per flag Only ConfigCat provides a specific rule cap in the input. | 4 per feature flag | Not listed |
| Percentage rollout options per flag Only ConfigCat provides a specific rollout cap in the input. | 4 per feature flag | Not listed |
| Seats Both free tiers allow unlimited team members. | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Client-side MAUs DevCycle is the only one with a free MAU quota in the input. | Not listed | 1,000 included |
| Integrations DevCycle is broader here; ConfigCat names specific integrations. | Listed integrations included | All integrations included |
After you outgrow the free tier
ConfigCat uses flat pricing, starting at $110/month for Pro and stepping up to $325/month Smart, $900/month Enterprise, and $4,500/month Dedicated. DevCycle starts with a $500/month Business plan billed annually, then moves to custom Enterprise pricing. The big cost difference is entry price versus included usage: ConfigCat is cheaper to start paid, but DevCycle includes far more free capacity and then jumps to a higher minimum paid plan. No usage-rate details were provided, so there are no reliable per-unit scenarios to calculate.
When to pick each one
Pick ConfigCat when…
- You want a small, simple free tier for a prototype with only a handful of flags and environments.
- You need ConfigCat’s free compliance posture, including GDPR and ISO 27001:2022 on the free plan.
- You expect to stay under 10 feature flags and do not need unlimited seats to be the main selling point.
- You want a paid upgrade path that starts at a lower monthly price than DevCycle's Business plan.
Pick DevCycle when…
- You want unlimited feature flags on day one without paying.
- You have more than a few teammates and want unlimited seats in the free plan.
- You care about A/B testing, debugging tools, flag schemas, or custom property schemas in the free tier.
- You are building a client-side app and need a free tier that already includes 1,000 MAUs.
- You want the product that is less likely to force an early upgrade as your flag count grows.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, DevCycle is the better free tier because it gives you unlimited flags, unlimited seats, and more product-shaping features before you pay. ConfigCat is the better choice only if you want a smaller, simpler setup and can live within strict caps, or if its lower $110/month paid entry is more attractive once you outgrow free. If you are building actively and expect the flag count to grow, DevCycle is the safer default.
Read the full listings: ConfigCat and DevCycle. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.