--- title: "AppsFlyer vs Google Analytics: Which is Better in 2026? | App Stack Builder" description: "AppsFlyer vs Google Analytics compared for 2026: pricing, free tiers, features, pros & cons. See which analytics tool is the better fit for your startup." source: https://appstackbuilder.com/compare/appsflyer-vs-google-analytics retrieved: 2026-11-06 --- ![](https://appstackbuilder.com/appsflyer.svg) vs ![](https://appstackbuilder.com/google-analytics.svg) # AppsFlyer vs Google Analytics: Which is Better in 2026? Analytics Choosing between [AppsFlyer](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/appsflyer) and [Google Analytics](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/google-analytics)? Both are popular analytics tools. Below we compare them on pricing, free tiers, features, and pros & cons so you can pick the right fit for your stack. AppsFlyer is for: Mobile app marketers who need to attribute installs and in-app actions to paid campaigns. Google Analytics is for: Sites and apps of any size that want free traffic and conversion reporting tied into Google Ads and BigQuery. Quick verdict There’s no single winner; pick on your constraint. Choose AppsFlyer if you run paid campaigns for a mobile app and need to know which ones drive installs. Choose Google Analytics if you want free analytics and are fine with Google processing the data. ## AppsFlyer vs Google Analytics: Side by Side | | AppsFlyer | Google Analytics | | ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | | Category | Analytics | Analytics | | What it is | Mobile attribution platform | Hosted web and app analytics | | What it measures | Installs and conversions by campaign | Traffic, events and conversions | | Self-hosting | No (hosted) | No (hosted by Google) | | How you pay | Per conversion ($0.07 on Growth) | Free; Analytics 360 is paid | | Free access | 12,000 conversions in the first year | Full standard product | | Pricing | Free · then usage-based | Free | | Starting price | Free tier available | Free tier available | | Free tier | ✓ | ✓ | | Best for | Analytics: mobile attribution, paid campaigns, ROAS | Analytics: free, Google Ads, BigQuery export | ## Pros & Cons ![](https://appstackbuilder.com/appsflyer.svg) [AppsFlyer](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/appsflyer) * ✓Free Zero plan: 12,000 conversions in the first year * ✓Pay-as-you-go Growth at $0.07 per conversion * ✓Organic installs are not counted * ✗Zero plan excludes apps with paid activities * ✗Fraud protection is on Enterprise * ✗Measures attribution, not product funnels ![](https://appstackbuilder.com/google-analytics.svg) [Google Analytics](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/google-analytics) * ✓Standard version is free * ✓Links to Google Ads and BigQuery * ✓Free BigQuery export up to 1M events a day * ✗Event data kept 14 months at most on standard * ✗Higher limits need Analytics 360 (price not listed) * ✗Hosted by Google only; no self-hosting ## Key Features Compared ### AppsFlyer * ✓Zero (free): 12,000 free conversions in the first year; not for apps with paid activities * ✓Growth: pay-as-you-go at $0.07 per conversion after the 12,000 free * ✓Growth adds basic mobile attribution for paid campaigns * ✓Enterprise: custom pricing with cross-channel attribution, ROAS optimization and fraud protection * ✓Organic installs and actions are not counted and are free ### Google Analytics * ✓Standard Google Analytics is free * ✓Event data kept for 2 or 14 months on standard; up to 50 months on Analytics 360 * ✓30 key events (conversions) and 50 event-scoped custom dimensions per property * ✓BigQuery export: up to 1 million events a day, plus unlimited streaming export * ✓Analytics 360 raises the limits; its price is not listed ### Choose AppsFlyer if… * ✓You run paid campaigns for a mobile app and need to know which ones drive installs. * ✓You want to start pay-as-you-go rather than sign an annual contract. * ✓You need mobile fraud detection on an enterprise plan. [AppsFlyer review & pricing ](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/appsflyer) ### Choose Google Analytics if… * ✓You want free analytics and are fine with Google processing the data. * ✓You run Google Ads and want conversions in the same account. * ✓You want raw event data in BigQuery without paying for an export. [Google Analytics review & pricing ](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/google-analytics) ## Frequently Asked Questions Is AppsFlyer better than Google Analytics?⌄ There’s no single winner; pick on your constraint. Choose AppsFlyer if you run paid campaigns for a mobile app and need to know which ones drive installs. Choose Google Analytics if you want free analytics and are fine with Google processing the data. What is the difference between AppsFlyer and Google Analytics?⌄ What it is. AppsFlyer: Mobile attribution platform. Google Analytics: Hosted web and app analytics. What it measures. AppsFlyer: Installs and conversions by campaign. Google Analytics: Traffic, events and conversions. Self-hosting. AppsFlyer: No (hosted). Google Analytics: No (hosted by Google). How you pay. AppsFlyer: Per conversion ($0.07 on Growth). Google Analytics: Free; Analytics 360 is paid. Free access. AppsFlyer: 12,000 conversions in the first year. Google Analytics: Full standard product. AppsFlyer vs Google Analytics: which is cheaper?⌄ AppsFlyer pricing: Free · then usage-based. Google Analytics pricing: Free. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change. When should I skip both AppsFlyer and Google Analytics?⌄ Skip AppsFlyer if you only need in-app usage analytics. Firebase Analytics is free. Skip Google Analytics if you want to avoid a cookie banner for analytics. Plausible and Fathom sell cookie-free analytics. Sources · tool facts checked November 2026 1. 1.[AppsFlyer pricingappsflyer.com ](https://www.appsflyer.com/pricing/?view=full) 2. 2.[Analytics 360 vs standard limits (Google Analytics Help)support.google.com ](https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/11202874) See more options in our guide to the [best analytics tools for startups](https://appstackbuilder.com/categories/analytics). ## Still not sure which to pick? Get a free, AI-powered tech stack, including the best analytics pick for your budget and team, in 60 seconds. [Build my stack free ](https://appstackbuilder.com/build-stack)