Quick answer
Flagsmith - Flagsmith wins for most builders because its free tier is materially less constrained on usage and team size, while ConfigCat only pulls ahead if you need stricter governance, audit retention, or more polished paid-path packaging.
How the free tiers compare
These two free tiers solve the same core problem, but they are sized for different starting points. ConfigCat’s free plan is generous for a small project in terms of seats and operational basics, with no MAU limit, unlimited seats, and API access, but it is tightly capped on configuration shape: 10 flags, 2 environments, 2 products, 2 segments, and only 4 targeting rules and rollout options per flag. Flagsmith’s free tier is much looser on product scale: unlimited flags, unlimited environments, unlimited identities and segments, API access, and up to 50,000 requests per month. The tradeoff is that Flagsmith’s free plan is more usage-metered and only includes 1 team member, while ConfigCat is friendlier for collaboration. If you are trying to test feature flags in a real app without immediately hitting structural limits, Flagsmith is usually the easier free start. If you care more about compliance, audit retention, and an established hosted workflow, ConfigCat is the cleaner upgrade path.
ConfigCat vs Flagsmith free tier, side by side
| ConfigCat FTV 60 | Flagsmith FTV 47 | |
|---|---|---|
| Feature flags ConfigCat is capped; Flagsmith is not. | 10 per product | Unlimited |
| Environments This is one of the biggest practical differences for staging-heavy workflows. | 2 per product | Unlimited |
| Segments Flagsmith is much looser for audience targeting. | 2 per product | Unlimited |
| Targeting rules per flag Only ConfigCat provides a stated limit here in the input. | 4 | Not specified |
| Percentage rollout options per flag Only ConfigCat provides a stated limit here in the input. | 4 | Not specified |
| Request volume Flagsmith free is usage-capped; ConfigCat free is capped by config limits instead. | Not specified | Up to 50,000 requests/month |
| Team members / seats ConfigCat is much easier for small teams collaborating on free. | Unlimited team members | 1 team member |
| Audit log retention ConfigCat includes a stated retention window on free. | 7 days | Not specified |
After you outgrow the free tier
ConfigCat uses flat pricing: the first paid tier is Pro at $110/mo, then Smart at $325/mo, Enterprise at $900/mo, and Dedicated at $4,500/mo. Flagsmith also uses mostly flat tiers, starting with Start-Up at $45/mo or $40/mo billed yearly, then Scale-Up at $300/mo or $250/mo yearly, and Enterprise by contact sales. For small-team usage, Flagsmith is cheaper at the first paid step. ConfigCat becomes the pricier option earlier, but it offers more generous seat collaboration and stronger compliance/retention features as you move up.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | ConfigCat | Flagsmith |
|---|---|---|
| One small app with 5 flags and 2 environments Both plans can cover this if Flagsmith stays within 50,000 requests/month. | Free (within tier) | Free (within tier) |
| One app with 20 flags and 3 environments ConfigCat free would be over the listed flag and environment caps. | $110/mo | Free (within tier) |
| 1 team with 3 collaborators and 40,000 requests/month Flagsmith free only includes 1 team member, so this scenario assumes a single user on Flagsmith. | Free (within tier) | Free (within tier) |
| 1,000,000 requests/month ConfigCat pricing in the input is not request-based, so no direct per-request comparison is available. | Not specified from input | $40/mo yearly or $45/mo monthly |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick ConfigCat when…
- You need unlimited feature flags and environments on the free plan for a prototype or side project.
- You want to test segmentation or identity-based flagging without worrying about hitting a small config cap.
- You are evaluating a project that may stay small in team size but still send steady request traffic.
- You want a free path that looks more like a real production rollout, not a demo-sized configuration limit.
Pick Flagsmith when…
- You need more collaboration on day one, since the free plan includes unlimited seats and a permission group.
- You want compliance signals and audit retention from the start, including GDPR, ISO 27001:2022, and 7 days of audit logs.
- You are okay with a small configuration envelope and expect only a handful of flags, environments, and segments.
- You care about a hosted service with a straightforward flat paid ladder if you outgrow free.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, Flagsmith is the better free-tier choice because it gives you unlimited flags, unlimited environments, and a real usage ceiling that is still high enough for meaningful testing. ConfigCat is the better pick if your priority is collaboration, auditability, and a hosted workflow with clear compliance signals, but its free plan is more restrictive on configuration shape. If you expect to grow a small app before a team process, Flagsmith usually delays the paid switch longer.
Read the full listings: ConfigCat and Flagsmith. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.