March 12, 2026
PostHog vs Firebase Analytics for Indie Developers
A factual comparison of PostHog and Firebase Analytics for solo developers and small teams building iOS and web apps. Covers free tiers, feature sets, mobile access, and practical trade-offs.
Feature Comparison
| PostHog | Firebase Analytics | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 1M events/month | Unlimited events (sampled at scale) |
| iOS SDK | Yes | Yes |
| Autocapture | Yes | Partial |
| Session replay | Yes (5K sessions/mo free) | No |
| Feature flags | Yes (1M requests/mo free) | Via Remote Config |
| A/B testing | Yes (free) | Paid only |
| Surveys | Yes (250 responses/mo free) | No |
| Mobile dashboard | Via PocketHog (3rd party) | Firebase Console app |
| Open source | Yes (MIT) | No |
| Pricing model | Per event (usage-based) | Free (analytics), pay for other Firebase services |
Where PostHog Wins
- Real-time data, not delayed by hours
- Product-focused data model vs ad-attribution focus
- Session replay included free
- Feature flags and A/B testing built in
- Open source, no vendor lock-in
- HogQL for custom queries vs limited Firebase query tools
- Home screen widgets via PocketHog
Where Firebase Analytics Wins
- Unlimited free events (PostHog caps at 1M/month)
- Native integration with Firebase Auth, Crashlytics, Cloud Messaging
- Official Firebase Console mobile app
- No setup needed if already using Firebase
Firebase Analytics: Strengths
Best for: Teams already deep in the Firebase/Google ecosystem
- Free with no event limits
- Deep integration with Firebase ecosystem (auth, push, Crashlytics)
- Automatic user property collection
- Firebase Console app available on iOS
Firebase Analytics: Weaknesses
- Reports delayed by hours, not real-time
- Data model optimized for Google Ads, not product insights
- Complex UI — hard to get simple answers
- Feature flags require separate Remote Config product
- No session replay
- Closed source, Google lock-in
Mobile Monitoring
PostHog does not have an official mobile app. Third-party iOS clients fill this gap:
- PocketHog — native iOS app with home screen widgets showing live metrics per project, conversion tracking, sparkline charts, and delta percentages. Supports multi-project feed, chart annotations, and deep links to PostHog Max AI. Available on the App Store.
- MiniHog — Flutter-based, basic event tracking and graphs.
- HogLite — open source, event and insights viewing.
Firebase Analytics offers: Firebase Console app. However, it does not support home screen widgets for at-a-glance monitoring.
Verdict
If you're already all-in on Firebase for auth and push, Firebase Analytics is free and easy. For anyone else, PostHog provides better product analytics, real-time data, and a complete feature set. For mobile monitoring, PocketHog's home screen widgets show your metrics at a glance.
Related
- Best analytics for indie iOS apps in 2026
- Free analytics tools for side projects
- How to put PostHog on your iPhone home screen
PocketHog is an independent third-party client and is not affiliated with PostHog, Inc. or Firebase Analytics.