PostHog vs Heap
Considering a switch from Heap to a European alternative? PostHog offers full GDPR compliance and EU-only data hosting without the legal uncertainties that come with US-based services. Here's how they compare on features, pricing, and data protection.
Quick Overview
PostHog
EU- Headquarters
- London, GB
- Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
- Yes
Heap
USHeap is an analytics platform that automatically captures all user interactions on web and mobile applications, enabling retroactive analysis without manual event tracking.
The Case for PostHog
- PostHog stores all data exclusively in EU, US, under European jurisdiction. Unlike Heap, which is subject to the US CLOUD Act and FISA Section 702, PostHog cannot be compelled by foreign governments to hand over your data.
- PostHog offers a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) that is fully aligned with GDPR Article 28. There is no legal ambiguity about data transfers or adequacy decisions — your data processor is European, and the law that governs it is European.
- As an open-source solution, PostHog gives you full code transparency. You can verify that the software does what it claims, audit it for security vulnerabilities, and even self-host it for maximum control — something that is simply not possible with Heap.
- You can try PostHog for free before committing. This makes it easy to evaluate whether it meets your needs alongside — or as a replacement for — Heap, without any financial risk.
Why Switch to PostHog?
Concerns with Heap
- US CLOUD Act jurisdiction
- Automatically captures all user interactions without explicit consent per event
- Extensive personal data collection stored on US servers
- Retroactive data analysis creates broad surveillance potential
PostHog Compliance
GDPRSOC 2DPA
- Headquarters
- London, GB
- Data Centers
- EU, US
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PostHog vs Heap — FAQ
Is Heap GDPR compliant?
Heap may offer GDPR compliance features and EU data residency options, but as a US-headquartered company, it remains subject to the US CLOUD Act and FISA Section 702. These laws can compel US companies to hand over data regardless of where it is stored. The EU-US Data Privacy Framework provides some safeguards, but its predecessors (Safe Harbor and Privacy Shield) were both invalidated by the European Court of Justice. PostHog, as a European company, is not subject to these US laws at all.
How does PostHog compare to Heap in features?
PostHog offers Product analytics, Session replay, Feature flags, A/B testing, and 5 more features. While Heap's ecosystem may be larger due to its market position, PostHog covers the core functionality that most teams need. The trade-off is typically between breadth of integrations (Heap) and data sovereignty with regulatory certainty (PostHog).
Can I migrate from Heap to PostHog?
Yes. Most European software providers, including PostHog, offer migration tools or documentation to help you transition from US-based services. Under GDPR Article 20, you have the right to data portability — meaning Heap must provide your data in a machine-readable format. The migration process varies in complexity depending on your data volume and integrations, but for most teams it can be completed within a few days to a few weeks.