Plainview vs Google Analytics
Google Analytics is free and powerful. Plainview is simpler, needs no cookie banner, and includes heatmaps and page grades.
| Plainview | Google Analytics | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From $29 a month | Free |
| Cookie banner needed in the EU and UK | No | Usually yes |
| Heatmaps | Yes | No |
| Dead and rage clicks | Yes | No |
| Grade and fix list for every page | Yes | No |
| Automatic click tracking | Yes | Partly |
| AI assistant traffic as its own channel | Yes | Needs setup |
| Learn it in an afternoon | Yes | No |
| Custom reports and audiences | No | Yes |
| Google Ads integration | No | Yes |
Based on each product’s public website as of October 2026. Check their site for current details.
Pick Plainview if
- You want to know what to fix, not build reports.
- You don’t want a cookie banner.
- You want heatmaps without a second tool.
Pick Google Analytics if
- You need deep custom reporting or audiences for Google Ads.
- You can’t spend anything on analytics.
- You have an analyst who already lives in GA4.
Questions
Can I run both?
Yes. Many people run Plainview next to Google Analytics for a month, then remove GA.
Will my numbers match?
Not exactly. Visitors who decline GA’s cookie banner aren’t counted there, and Plainview filters bots differently, so Plainview usually shows more visitors.
Can I import my GA history?
Not yet.