PostHog vs Mixpanel 2026: Usage-Based vs Event-Volume Pricing
Quick verdict: PostHog is our overall pick for PostHog vs Mixpanel.
Same free tier, opposite billing models: Mixpanel Growth bills by monthly event volume ($100/mo annual at 1.5M events/mo), PostHog bills per-product overage with no seat fees — 100K extra events cost about $5. Mixpanel adds a startup program; PostHog bundles seven products under one $0-billing-limit umbrella.
| Tool | Rating | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PostHog Best overall Best free | 4.0/5 | Free Usage-based | PostHog is an open-source product analytics suite with session replay, feature flags and s… |
| Mixpanel Best for teams | 4.1/5 | Free $24/mo | Mixpanel is product analytics built around events and funnels, with a free plan sized for … |
Bottom line: both products anchor the free tier at 1M events/month (verified on each live pricing page 2026-10-16, USD), but the billing models diverge from the first paid dollar. Mixpanel Growth prices by event-volume tiers with annual billing: 1M events/mo is $0, 1.5M events/mo is $100/mo billed yearly ($1,200/yr, saving $480/yr vs monthly), and tiers climb through 2M/8M/20M/20M+ events; startups founded under 5 years with up to $8M raised qualify for a dedicated startup program, and overage runs about $0.28 per 1K events. PostHog has no volume tiers and no seat fees: every product (Analytics, Session Replay, Feature Flags, Error Tracking, AI Observability, Workflows, Dashboard) bills usage overage past included allowances — the free tier includes 1M events/mo plus product credits (e.g. 500 PostHog AI credits worth $5, 5K session recordings, 2,500 Replay Vision credits worth $25) — and analytics overage is roughly $0.00005/event, so 100K extra events cost about $5; you set per-product billing limits, starting at $0. Translation: under 1M events/mo both are free; between 1M and 5M PostHog is dramatically cheaper (a 3M-events/mo team pays roughly $100/mo in PostHog overage versus a $300+/mo Mixpanel volume tier) while Mixpanel buys you fixed-cost predictability and the startup program at scale. Neither tool's free tier charges seats, but PostHog's unlimited-team free tier and MIT-licensed self-host option make it the default for early-stage teams; Mixpanel's mature event-modeling UX and startup financing criteria suit growth-stage teams that outgrow the free cap fast.
Pricing and details
PostHog · 4.0/5
Free plan available · Usage-based
Usage-based: 1M events/mo free, then $0.00005/event; no seat fees; free tier includes unlimited team members, 1 project, 1-year retention; MIT self-host
PostHog is an open-source product analytics suite with session replay, feature flags and self-hosting.
Score breakdown
Pros
- Best dimension: Core features at 5/5 — backed by verification against the official site & pricing.
- Second strong point: Value for money at 5/5.
- Pricing: free tier, paid from usage-based/custom — Usage-based: 1M events/mo free, then $0.00005/event; no seat fees
- Positioning: PostHog is an open-source product analytics suite with session replay, feature flags and self-hosting.
Cons
- Weakest dimension: Collaboration at 3/5.
- Weigh the premium pricing for heavier usage before committing.
Pricing verified 2026-08-31
Mixpanel · 4.1/5
Free plan available · $24/mo
Growth; event-based pricing, first 1M events/mo free then $0.28/1K; annual ~20% off
Mixpanel is product analytics built around events and funnels, with a free plan sized for early teams.
Score breakdown
Pros
- Best dimension: Core features at 5/5 — backed by verification against the official site & pricing.
- Second strong point: Stability at 5/5.
- Pricing: free tier, paid from $24/mo — Growth; event-based pricing, first 1M events/mo free then $0.28/1K; annual ~20% off
- Positioning: Mixpanel is product analytics built around events and funnels, with a free plan sized for early teams.
Cons
- Weakest dimension: Ease of use at 4/5.
- Weigh the learning curve for advanced workflows before committing.
Pricing verified 2026-08-31
Frequently asked questions
Which is better overall, PostHog or Mixpanel?
PostHog is our overall pick (4.0/5 vs 4.1/5). Same free tier, opposite billing models: Mixpanel Growth bills by monthly event volume ($100/mo annual at 1.5M events/mo), PostHog bills per-product overage with no seat fees — 100K extra events cost about $5. Mixpanel adds a startup program; PostHog bundles seven products under one $0-billing-limit umbrella.
Do PostHog and Mixpanel offer free plans?
PostHog and Mixpanel have a free tier. PostHog paid plans start at Usage-based; Mixpanel paid plans start at $24/mo.
What does PostHog cost?
Usage-based — Usage-based: 1M events/mo free, then $0.00005/event; no seat fees; free tier includes unlimited team members, 1 project, 1-year retention; MIT self-host. Prices were last verified on 2026-10-16.